About >> Environmental Service Awards

Robert Conway
Conservation Commissioner of the Year

Robert Conway has served on the Stoneham Conservation Commission for over 10 years. This former chair is regarded by his colleagues as "an effective communicator mediating solutions to complex environmental tasks". Robert's civil engineering and Commission leadership skills were challenged when the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority began multimillion dollar water system improvements within and adjacent to his community. As chair, he steered his Commission judiciously through the enormous environmental issues surrounding these projects.  For example, during the rehabilitation of the Spot Pond Pump Station, the Commission's rapid involvement of the Department of Environmental Protection mitigated contaminant releases into Spot Pond Brook and Middlesex Fells Reservation. Robert also took the lead in the rehabilitation of Sweetwater Brook. He worked to mediate the impacts of the Tri-Community Bike Path Project on wetlands and bring together neighboring parties.  Robert works with all applicants in an open and friendly manner, never compromising the best interests of his town.

Richard Colter
Local Environmental Advocacy
(Posthumous)

Richard Colter recently retired from the Edgartown Conservation Commission after thirty-two years of continuous service. He is one of the original members appointed to Edgartown's first Commission in 1967. Dick was instrumental in formulating the town's first Open Space and Recreation Plan, and in acquiring numerous tracts of land. He led efforts to create a small park in the town center at the site of a burned out theater. Dick was active in the 1978 negotiations to acquire the Katama Airfield and adjacent Great Plain, an important nature preserve and part of the sandplains grassland restoration area. He also participated in acquisition of the 200-acre Katama Farm and has been a stalwart champion of agricultural preservation in Edgartown. The selectmen, fellow Commissioners and others have noted that Dick's plainspoken "tell it like it is" style, his sharp wit and his knowledge of town history will be sorely missed.  His dedication exemplifies the ideas of community service, integrity and the democratic process.

Frank Anderson
Regional Environmental Leadership
(Posthumous)

Frank Anderson compiled an outstanding record as a conservationist and environmentalist. For well over twenty years he worked to protect valuable open spaces, wetlands and beaches from Newburyport to Boston for future generations.  Frank pursued these goals as a state legislative liaison. He served as President of the Concerned Coastal Sportsmen's Association and chaired the committee overseeing the dredging of Winthrop Harbor and the Belle Island Inlet. He also served on the board of the Friends of Rumney Marsh and was active with many watershed, clean water and barrier beach groups.  Frank spearheaded the effort to designate all the salt marshes in Revere, Malden, Saugus, Lynn, East Boston and Winthrop as Areas of Environmental Concern. The Revere Neighborhood Coalition cherishes him as "The Steward Extraordinaire of the Rumney Marsh".  Frank's legacy is the open spaces and thriving marshes in the shadow of downtown Boston and some of the most densely populated communities in the Commonwealth.

Tom Tidman
Conservation Administrator of the Year

Tom Tidman became the Conservation Administrator for the Town of Acton in 1987 and has served in the enhanced position of Natural Resources Director since 1995.  His achievements are many and remarkable. Tom was a guiding force in the Acton Wetlands Protection Bylaw amendments of 1990 and . He has been instrumental in writing the town's open space plan, and implementing open space acquisition, management and stewardship. Tom's knowledge and guidance helped Acton Stream Teams successfully complete a shoreline survey of over 25 miles of the town's streams.  He has conducted outdoor education programs, and works with the schools to develop hands-on environmental activities, including construction of bluebird, wood duck and kestrel houses. An important underlying skill was noted in one of the many nominating letters: "The quality without which all the rest would not be fully realized is his ability to work with people."