Changing of the Guard with Medfield Conservation Leadership

(Dave Henkel bio. corrected due to outdated web site information.)

In May 1993, Medfield had just under 11,000 residents and was struggling with how to balance a surge of development with preservation of open space. To help with the task, a town Conservation Agent position was created, and Leslee Willitts was hired and charged with protecting wetlands, and maintaining and promoting town conservation lands and trails.

After 28 years in the part-time position, the last day in the office for Willitts was May 27. With an estimated 1,000 acres of conservation land now in Medfield (and with a population increase of about 2,000-residents based on Census data), one can easily say her retirement is rightfully deserved after nearly three decades of work. Taking over as Medfield's new Conservation Agent is Dave Henkels. Similar to Willitts, his position is part-time.

Looking back over her Medfield career, Willitts most remembers her first year when during the development of Southern Acres, she had to contend with an environmentally damaging mudslide into the Stop River that also shut down South Street extension for days.

“Conservation Commission only had jurisdiction over four lots in the Southern Acres development, and warnings about the need to provide erosion controls on the slope were ignored,” said Willitts.

The Conservation Commission recap in the 1993 Town Annual Report provides additional detail about the chain of events after the developer clear-cut nearly the entire site, and without the controls Willitts referenced.

The report states, “It (developer actions) violated federal regulations, as well as the Wetlands Protection Act and Wetlands Bylaw.”

As a result of the environmental disaster that caused problems for more than five years, Willitts and Conservation Commission advocated for a tightening of town bylaws and regulations to prevent future harm to town wetlands; amendments were subsequently approved by the Town.

When asked about the challenges now facing Medfield, Willitts noted the need to continually strengthen Town bylaws related to wetlands and open space since they are "important tools for land protection.”

With regard to top priorities, Willitts cited these Conservation Commission tasks:

• Finalizing and submitting to the Commonwealth the Medfield Open Space and Recreation Plan (with Parks & Recreation; status is currently "conditionally approved") which makes Medfield eligible for grant money;
• Advising other Town boards on wetlands and open space preservation and protection needs; and
• Recruiting and retaining conservation stewards, including Conservation Commissioners, as well as residents willing to put their properties under Conservation Restrictions and/or negotiating land acquisition deals with the Town for conservation purposes. Willitts cited the Kenny (Red Gate Farm), Cronin and Standley family efforts as examples.

Willitts said she enjoyed her time in Medfield, and especially working with many Conservation Commissioners over the years. “The Town has always had good commissioners. It’s good to work with people who have a feel for the role, and understand it well -- it makes your own work much easier,” she said.

In the midst of organizing files on the day of her departure, Willitts made a point of welcoming Henkels to the position noting, “The Town will benefit by having a set of fresh eyes and new ideas. Things can always be tweaked! After today, this office will be ready for him.”

About Dave Henkels

Medfield’s new Conservation Agent Dave Henkels serves on the board of the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions (MACC) as an Executive Officer. Based on the MACC website, he has served on the Sudbury Conservation Commission for six years (and is now chair), and was the Conservation Agent for Townsend. Following a 30-year career in the insurance industry, he became trained in wetlands science and storm-water management, and is nearing completion on MACC Fundamentals certification.

More information about Medfield Conservation Commission can be found here.