To the Editor:

A petition is circulating in Marion which asks Selectmen to consider the Marion Open Space Commission be in charge of Sprague's cove at Silvershell Beach, rather than the Conservation Commission.  The petition currently has more than 54 signatures from concerned voters as of this writing.  Voters are angry that their "no" vote on Town Meeting floor is being ignored which called for funds to be appropriated to Conservation Commission to continue their work at Sprague's Cove.

Voters are angry that the Conservation Commission tore up a working filtration system for storm water, installed a stone wall in wetlands, and destroyed habitat used for decades by birds, turtles and waterfowl. Most people understand that invasives such as fragmites need to be taken out, but this recent destruction by the Conservation Commission included ripping out shrubs and plantings paid for and planted by residents as a community project. This filtration system was created in the 1990s and was working.

I propose that the continuation of management of Sprague's Cove be handed over to Marion Open Space Commission.  The difference in having this committee do the work is that they are well-equipped to continue maintenance of invasive species while protecting the filtration system with finesse. They have the expertise and experience to do this. Voters contribute to the Open Space Commission through their real estate taxes; therefore, the cash is already there to continue maintenance.

The Open Space Commission has the energy to care for wetlands as they already do in several areas of town and if they can't do certain parts of a project, they have human resources to use from a newly created subcommittee of experts in wetlands filtration systems and environmental impact projects. The integrity of a working storm system should not be sacrificed any longer. I respectfully urge the Marion Selectmen to assign the care of Sprague's Cove to the Open Space Commission.

Sue Maxwell

Marion