Bedford’s new conservation agent began his municipal government career in law enforcement.
Jeffrey Summers has been serving in Bedford for a little more than a month. He succeeds Rachel Kelley, who was on the job for less than four months before accepting an offer in January to be director of planning and development in Winthrop.
Summers, who grew up in New Jersey, previously worked as a police officer in Henniker, NH, home of New England College and Pat’s Peak Ski Area.
After 10 years on the force, Summers said, “I wanted to learn more about the environment and environmental issues.” He enrolled at Northeastern University and earned a degree in environmental studies.
Summers was appointed by Town Manager Sarah Stanton after more than five years as the conservation agent in Cohasset, on the South Shore.
He acknowledged the dramatic difference in topography. In Cohasset, much of Summers’s attention focused on things like coastal banks, salt marshes, and proposed beach restorations.
Arriving in Bedford, “I drove around town, and everywhere I looked there was a stream or a brook or an obvious wetland. It’s amazing how much wetland there is in the town; it literally looks like a sponge.”
He said he is excited to learn more about these places. “I’m very happy that I took the job here. People have been great to work with; they are friendly and welcoming.” His next meeting supporting the Conservation Commission will be June 16.
Summers said he is also working to get accustomed to the administrative side and is looking forward to making site visits and inspections and monitoring progress on projects. The agent’s Town Hall office is in the code enforcement suite.
“It’s not my style to try to change things right away,” Summers said. “I first have to learn about how things work here.” That includes scrutinizing the wetlands protection bylaw and regulations.
Summers said he enjoys spending time in the field and is excited about getting to know local conservation areas first-hand. He added that he has been impressed by the accomplishments of the Trails Committee.
Mike Rosenberg can be reached at [email protected], or 781-983-1763
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