Mr. McGregor’s keynote address to the Annual Environmental Conference (AEC) of the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions (MACC) at Holy Cross College on March 1, 2025, marked his retirement from the MACC Board after 50 years.He joined The Board when the MACC was a fledgling organization of a few local commissions, now grown to a be a respected leader in education and advocacy on wetlands, water, wildlife, and open space in the Commonwealth.
Mr. McGregor researched and presented archival photographs, news articles, published profiles, and unfortunately a few obituaries about the “Giants on Whose Shoulders We Stand” which was his keynote theme.
These are the people who were the giants in the history of state wetlands protection laws, conservation commissions, MACC, and our local Home Rule environmental bylaws and ordinances.
Those honored with their photos and biographies included Representative John Dolan, sponsor in 1957 of the original Conservation Commission Act; Senator Allan Jones, sponsor in 1963 of the original Coastal Wetlands Protection Act; and Senator Frank Hatch, sponsor in 1965 of the original Inland Wetlands Protection Act.
These two seminal laws (known all this time as the Jones Act and the Hatch Act) were combined, codified and modernized by the 1972 Wetlands Protection Act, G.L.c.131, s. 40.
Also pictured in Mr. McGregor’s PowerPoint are Stuart DeBard, founder of MACC in 1961; Dr. Norton Nickerson, scientific advocate for the 1972 Act; Nancy Anderson, principal organizer for the Act; and Attorney General Bob Quinn, whose newly created Environmental Protection Division assisted the Legislature in drafting the Act.
Also featured are Sandra Dawson, Esq. and Dr. Sally Zielinski, who were main movers and shakers in advancing science, policy and laws for wetlands protection and open space preservation.
Dawson and Zielinski were co-authors of the MACC Handbook for Conservation Commissions, which has become the “bible” for implementing and enforcing wetlands laws, acquiring and managing open space, and the research and educational responsibilities of commissions.
Other legislators pictured were Senator Bob Wetmore, principal sponsor of Article 97 of the Amendments to the Massachusetts Constitution, which we voters put on the books in 1972; Senator Carol Amick, sponsor of the 1987 Wildlife Habitat amendment to the Act; Senator then Secretary of the EOEEA Bob Durand, sponsor of the 1997 Rivers Protection amendment to the Act; and Senator Pam Resor, originator of the Public Lands Preservation Act (PLPA) to codify Article 97 procedures and standards, finally enacted as the 2022 Open Space Act.
Mr. McGregor paid tribute to the principal authors of the 1978 coastal wetlands protection regulations, MassDEP General Counsel Tom Powers, Esq.; 1983 inland regulations, MassDEP Counsel Carl Dierker; and 1997 Rivers Protection regulations, MassDEP Counsel Pam Harvey.
He created a category of important non-lawyer lawyers, key players in advocacy and education outside and inside MassDEP and EEA. There are Christy Foote-Smith, George Wislocki, Heidi Ricci, Freddie Fawcett, and too many others to name.
Mr. McGregor recognized the importance of the roles of professional administrators and scientists in the Massachusetts Society of Municipal Conservation Professionals (MSMCP) created in 1986 and the Massachusetts Society of Wetland Scientists created in 1991.
His keynote closed with lists of the MACC Presidents 1961-2025, Executive Directors 1980-present, especially our current Dot McGlincy, and of course photos of the MACC staff and volunteers at work and play.
You may enjoy the Slideshow in our website’s Reading Room >>
