The proposal represents a historic assault on wetlands regulation at a moment when Mr. Trump has repeatedly voiced a commitment to “crystal-clean water.”
The commissioners emphasized that, at the moment, there is no proposal. And besides, their charge was a narrow one: to interpret and enforce the state Wetlands Protection Act. Further approvals would likely be the purview of the planning board.
The town’s attorney has reviewed the citizen petitions, five of which refer to school district finances, and determined that their effect would be non-binding and advisory only, according to Town Manager Jennifer Tabakin.