Conservation Commission
The Conservation Commission protects Billerica's natural resources, wetlands and watershed and manages the town's conservation land. It was established under the Conservation Commission Act (G. L. Chapter 40, Section 8C, enacted in 1957) by Article 87 of the March 1962 annual town meeting, on a petition of the League of Women Voters of Billerica; the meeting struck the limit of three to seven members and directed that the members appointed by the Select Board include members of the Town Forest Committee. The first commission (1962) was Joseph H. Johnson (chairman), Orris J. Nile (secretary), Natalie Mills, Francis X. Hynes and Town Forest Committee members William E. Davis, George S. Flint and Gustav Wagner. Wagner chaired it from 1964 to 1977, and the commission and Town Forest Committee met jointly for years.
In 1972 the commission took over from the selectmen the hearings under the Wetlands Protection Act (G. L. Chapter 131, Section 40), which became its main regulatory work, joined in 2002 by a local Wetlands Protection By-Law. Under Nicola Micozzi (chairman 1978-1987) it carried out the Nutting Lake Water Quality Restoration Project (dredging 1978-1985) and opened the town beach there, named the Nicola Micozzi Beach in 1987. The 1979 Town Charter continued a commission of seven members appointed by the Board of Selectmen, now for staggered three-year terms ending June 30. Later chairmen included Carlo Piacenza Jr., Crystal Card, JoAnne Giovino, Diane DePaso, Norman Beloin Jr., James Miller, Brian Morgan, Thomas Woodford, Ilana Freedman, Paul Hayes and William Bulens.
The commission is supported by a professional staff, the town's Conservation Agent under several titles: Fredric W. King, Environmental Affairs Investigator (1970s to 1981); Martin W. Houlne, Environmental Investigator and later Director (1980s to December 2007); Markus Pinney, Director of Environmental Affairs (from January 2008); Adam Bossi (2012-2013); and Isabel S. Tourkantonis, Director of Environmental Affairs (from 2013), assisted by a Conservation/Land Use Assistant. Staff are not included in the roster, and associate members are omitted.
Sources: Billerica annual town reports 1961-2025 (warrants and town meeting minutes, lists of appointed officers, and reports of the Conservation Commission).