[IMC-Boston-Dispatch] Fwd: Sierra Club Statement on Romney's Appointment of Stephen Burrington

[News at JamaicaPlainGazette.com]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: "Jeremy Marin" <jeremy.marin at sierraclub.org>
> Date: September 1, 2005 1:17:48 PM EDT
> To: "'James McCaffrey'" <director at SierraClubMass.org>
> Subject: Sierra Club Statement on Romney's Appointment of Stephen  
> Burrington
>
>
> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 1, 2005
>
> CONTACT: James McCaffrey (617) 423-5775
>
>
>
> Statement by James McCaffrey, Director of the Massachusetts Sierra  
> Club
>
>
>
> Governor Romney has fallen well short of providing “World Class  
> Parks” for the Commonwealth.  We are confident that Commissioner  
> Burrington has the dedication and the vision to lead the agency, we  
> can only hope the Governor and the legislature will give him the  
> necessary resources to get the job done.  It is imperative that  
> Commissioner Burrington work closely with the DCR Stewardship  
> Council to help create a world class parks system.
>
>
>
> Mr. Burrington will face many challenges in his new role as  
> commissioner of a chronically under-funded agency, including  
> completing the gargantuan task of merging the urban parks system  
> with the state forests and parks system.
>
>
>
> This funding crisis has created millions of dollars in deferred  
> maintenance, safety issues at understaffed or closed facilities,  
> crumbling park infrastructure.
>
>
>
> Other management challenges the new Commissioner will face include:
>
>
>
> An increasing number of conflicts from non-compatible uses like off- 
> road vehicles illegally tearing up fragile habitat in our state  
> forests and parks.
>
>
>
> Developing a comprehensive siting policy for renewable energy  
> resources (like wind towers) on state owned parklands.
>
>
>
> Developing a management planning process for the system so we know  
> just what we have and how to best protect it.
>
>
>
> We have always had a good relationship with Mr. Burrington and  
> admire his dedication, and accomplishments in the past.  He is an  
> “ideas” man that likes to see tangible progress.  We look forward  
> to working closely with him to truly create a world class parks  
> system in Massachusetts.
>
>