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Meeting Minutes – 02/11/2026 
Attendance: 
● Mike Toohill - Chair
● Ana Lockwood - At Large
● Colleen Shapiro - Parks and Recreation
● Chris St.Germain - Conservation
Approval of Minutes 
● The committee reviewed the minutes from the December 10, 2025, meeting.
● It was noted that no meeting was held in January 2026 due to a posting error at the
Town Clerk's office.
● A motion to accept the December 10th minutes as drafted was made by Ana and
seconded Colleen
● The motion passed unanimously via roll call.
Bylaw Process Update 
● Mike T oohill (Chair) reported on a meeting with Town Counsel (Adam Costa) 
regarding the draft bylaw and mission statement.
● Counsel recommended that the Select Board serve as the appointing authority for the  
committee, rather than the Planning Board, to improve political viability.
● The committee discussed ensuring that representatives from other boards (Parks,  
Conservation, Agriculture) are appointed directly by their respective groups to avoid 
unnecessary bureaucracy.
● Mike is scheduled to present the draft bylaw to the Bylaw Review Committee on  
February 12, 2026.
● The committee aims to get the bylaw on the Town Meeting warrant before it closes on  
March 16th.
Committee Membership Status 
● The committee is still awaiting a response from the Agricultural Commission (AgCom)
regarding their interest in a designated seat.
● If no response is received by the next meeting, the committee may vote to return that
seat to an "at-large" position.
Other Board Reports 
● Conservation Commission: Chris reported significant turnover, with himself and Mary
stepping down as full commissioners but remaining as associates. He provided a
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positive update on the new Conservation Agent, Jamie, noting her professionalism and 
thoroughness. 
● Economic Development Council (EDC): Ana reported that the EDC is researching
how other towns, such as Leominster, manage projects and events with limited budgets.
● Parks Commission: Colleen noted her term on the Parks Commission ends in May, but
she may continue as the representative to Open Space if the commission agrees.
Meeting Schedule 
● March 11, 2026: Ana Lockwood will chair the meeting as Mike Toohill will be out 
of town.
● April 8, 2026: Regularly scheduled meeting.
Adjournment 
● A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Ana and seconded by Colleen.
● The motion passed unanimously .
● The meeting was officially adjourned at approximately 7:57 PM.
Minutes approved by roll call vote on 3/11/26
Respectfully submitted,
Michael Toohill, Chair