Contact Information: Susan Cabeceiras, (401) 738-2000 extension 6286

Description:
The Warwick Wildlife and Conservation Commission were established by City Council Resolution on March 18, 1974 in response to RIGL 45-35-1.  The Warwick Wildlife and Conservation Commission is constantly striving to assist the Planning Department and the City sustain a balance between residential and commercial development while maintaining the integrity of the City’s wildlife and other natural resources.

The purpose of the Warwick wildlife and Conservation Commission is to preserve the City’s natural resources while promoting development of the environment in an orderly responsible fashion; to protect the watershed resources, preserve and enhance natural aesthetics and wildlife habitat, to promote an ecological balance between preservation of the natural landscape and the man made environment.  Some of the Commission’s current duties include: routinely reviewing tax title properties and requests to purchase City property; administering the Coyote Commission’s recommendations; trails work on Dawley Farm; annual Arbor Day tree planting:  representation on the Pawtuxet River Anadromous Fish Restoration steering committee; and representation on the Board of Directors of the RI Association of Conservation Commissions
 
Membership and appointment:
(1) Membership is restricted to bona fide residents of the city.
(2) The commission shall consist of seven (7) members appointed by the Mayor with advice and consent of the City Council.
(3) The members shall be appointed for  (3) year terms to the end that the appointment shall be staggered and so that the vacancies shall not reoccur at the same time.

1. In the event of a vacancy, interim appointments may be made by the appointing authority to complete the unexpired term of such a position.
2. Members shall serve without compensation.
3. A guideline for selection of membership shall consider the following professions, disciplines and/or interests: Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Environmental Conservation, Geography, Engineering, Attorney, Historians, Preservation, Planning, Biology, Botany and Ecology.  This provision shall not be construed to exclude dedicated and knowledgeable residents who are not conservationist or design professionals.
4. Any member who fails to attend three (3) consecutive meetings for reasons other than ill health shall be required to vacate their position and a new interim member shall be selected.
5. The current members are:  Lee Whitaker, Chair, Henry Brown, Phil Virgadamo, Anne Holst, Steve Lamarre, Mike Clark and Joe Bucci.

Resources:

For more information or additional archived meeting minutes, PLEASE CLICK HERE

Coyote Commission report

The Eastern Coyote in Rhode Island

Information on Ticks and Lyme disease