Conservation Committee approves draft bylaw wording for alternates, Select Board liaison

The Conservation Committee approved revised draft wording for alternate-member procedures and the Select Board liaison role and agreed to continue work on additional bylaw sections before final adoption.

Members debated whether the Select Board liaison “shall” or “may” be required to attend and reviewed two condensed versions of alternate-member language. Concerns included ensuring voting and quorum language is clear when an alternate is seated and whether condensed wording omitted important details. The committee voted to accept the revised wording as a draft to be placed in the bylaws work folder; AW will make edits and TR will integrate them into the working documents.

Committee members also noted statutory updates (section 36A) that should be reflected in the bylaws and discussed separating operational material (rules and procedures) from the bylaws text to keep the bylaws succinct. Members agreed to aim for completion of core bylaw updates by the March meeting and to seek town-counsel review before final adoption.

Next steps: AW to finalize edited wording; TR to place revisions in the working folder; committee to continue sectional work and consult town counsel prior to adopting bylaws.