Bill Ashe’s letter to the editor in recent papers is a perfect example of mis- or disinformation. Mr. Ashe has been following, or involved in, the Devens rebuild story for at least 13 years and yet he knows nothing about the Devens Enterprise Commission (DEC), or the commissioners themselves.
First of all, Mr. Ashe forgets that retired professor Hermann Field, now deceased and formerly of Shirley, was an initial appointee to the DEC. Hermann Field founded the Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning at Tufts University. He was instrumental in setting up the initial charrettes that led to the reuse plan for Devens described in Chapter 498 and ancillary documents, and he participated in that effort.
Second, appointed in 1995 to the DEC, and still serving, is Lisa McLaughlin of Groton, a registered professional engineer. Ms. McLaughlin holds a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College in chemistry and environmental studies and a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Renssalaer Polytechnic Institute. Her thesis was on modeling fluvial systems. She has her own consulting business and was among the first technical people certified by the state for the general practice of toxic-use reduction planning. Ms. McLaughlin has been a heavy contributor to DEC’s environmental activities.
Additionally, our director of activities, Peter Lowitt, AICP, has a long history of emphasizing sustainability and environmental policies as called for in Chapter 498. Mr. Lowitt invented and launched the EcoStar program at Devens that emphasizes environmental and sustainability issues with local Devens businesses. Ms. McLaughlin is also very active in the EcoStar program.
Mr. Lowitt is invited to speak all over the world on the Devens experience and environmental issues.
Finally, our newest member to the staff, Neil Angus, AICP, won the Agent of the Year award from the Connecticut Association of Inland and Wetlands Commissions.
And along with the recognition the DEC is receiving worldwide, we have several environmentally oriented awards. Here are a few:
2005: Commonwealth of Massachusetts—State Agency Environmental Purchasing and Sustainability Award:
2006: Worcester Business Journal and Massachusetts Audubon Society—Environmental Award for Business-Public Collaboration; 2007: The Environmental Council Nicholas Humber Environmental Award for Public-Private Collaboration; 2007: Pioneer Institute, first prize and a $10,000 cash award for expedited permitting while retaining an emphasis on environmental sustainability.
Mr. Ashe’s words: “The DEC has no commissioner with environmental expertise, nor has it had any in the past. Deliberate? You figure.”
Really??
Paul von Loesecke, a Warren Avenue resident, is vice chairman of the Devens Enterprise Commission.
