The Master Plan Open Space Subcommittee would like to form a new committee with the nine entities in town that deal with open space. There’s only one hiccup ­­– the Marion Open Acquisition Space Committee doesn’t seem to want to join.

Subcommittee Chair Margie Baldwin presented the idea for the committee to Selectmen on Tuesday night, saying it would be a way to bring the groups together “in a more consolidated effort,” to improve communication and to get more accomplished throughout town.

“Communication has not been the greatest,” said Baldwin. “The problem is that the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing when it comes to open space in this town.”

The committee could also work on a booklet, similar to one in Rochester, that maps out open space areas in town, suggested Tinker Saltonstall. Maintenance on trails and signage on open space were also suggested as possible improvements the committee could organize.

The only dissenter was John Rockwell, who said he spoke on behalf of his board, MOSAC.

“We just see it as another layer of bureaucracy that distracts from the group's mission,” he said. “Communication is good, but this is a lot of work as opposed to sending emails out.”

He intimated making the committee an official group would also limit what members could discuss in emails and thus would actually “impede communication.”

Baldwin disagreed and wanted to speak with the MOSAC group as a whole.

Selectman Steve Gonsalves said he understood both positions but leaned towards approving the new committee.

“I’m an under-one-umbrella type of guy, and I think that’s what this is going to do,” he said.

Selectman Steve Cushing agreed that something needs to be done.

“I think it’s a matter of trying to get everyone moving in the same direction,” he said.

Ultimately, Selectmen decided postpone approval of the committee until Baldwin spoke with MOSAC. Selectmen will discuss it again on March 7. If approved, Baldwin’s group would propose members for appointment by Selectmen.