Lenox conservation measure to protect public water supply
Boston — Rep. William “Smitty” Pignatelli, D-Lenox, and Sen. Adam G. Hinds, D-Pittsfield, have announced that, under their leadership, the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate have enacted H.3833, An Act authorizing the town of Lenox to convey a conservation restriction on certain parcels of land.
The home-rule petition was jointly filed on behalf of the town by Pignatelli and Hinds in July after the proposal was passed with a unanimous vote at Lenox’s annual town meeting May 4. On Sept. 13, the bill received a favorable report from the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government.
H.3833 authorizes Lenox to place a conservation restriction on municipally owned land where the town’s public water supply and watershed are located. Lenox officials have worked closely for several years with the Berkshire Natural Resources Council and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to prepare a conservation restriction on the land. As this legislation affects Article 97 land, it required a two-thirds roll call of both the House and Senate to receive enactment. On Nov. 13, the House voted 154–0 to enact the legislation; the Senate vote, taken Tuesday, was 37–0.
The legislation will now go for final approval to Gov. Charlie Baker, who has 10 days to review the bill and sign it into law.
