Massachusetts Bays Program

Upper North Shore

The Eight Towns and the Bay Committee (8T & B) is the upper North Shore Local Governance Committee for the Massachusetts Bays Program and works with the municipalities of Salisbury, Amesbury, Newburyport, Newbury, Rowley, Ipswich, Essex, Gloucester and Rockport. Our Committee consists of municipally appointed citizens working to implement the Action Items of the CCMP on a regional scale.

The Upper North Shore is fortunate to have a number of active citizen group and nonprofit environmental organizations working in concert to restore and protect water quality and habitat. The Eight Towns and the Bay LGC was established in 1992 to promote local and regional coastal water quality initiatives, and is comprised of citizens appointed by the chief elected officials in each of the eight member communities. The Mass. Bays regional staff member works with 8T & B to provide an array of technical assistance, such as environmental training and consulting, workshops, and grant writing to the communities.

Photo of boat at sunset. 8T & B Committee members are appointed by the chief elected officials in their communities. The Committee meets monthly, and works closely with local officials, citizens, nonprofit groups and state agencies to promote coastal protection. We provide technical assistance to the community in the form of coastal project identification, grantwriting, and site assessment. The Merrimack Valley Planning Commission (MVPC) began providing staff and technical support to 8T & B in March of 1993.

8T & B Committee members include (as of February 2005):

Jay Baker, Newburyport
Wayne David, Salisbury
Stephan Gersh, Essex
Mike Hale, Gloucester
Franz Ingelfinger, Ipswich
Julie McMahon, Rockport
Orlando Pacheco, Amesbury
Robert Pietrillo, Rowley
Tim Purinton, Ipswich
Scottie Robinson, Essex
Max Schenk, Gloucester, Chair
Jim Stiles, Newburyport
Frederick Tarr, Rockport
Geof Walker, Newbury

Science & Technology Advisory Board:

Tim Purinton
Wayne Castonquay

Education Subcommittee:

Elizabeth Duff, Massachusetts Audubon Society: North Shore
John Halloran, Rupert Nock Middle School, Newburyport

Please visit the official 8T & B website for more information.

For more information on Eight Towns and the Bay, contact…

Peter Phippen
Technical Assistant/Coastal Resources Coordinator
Merrimack Valley Planning Commission
160 Main Street Haverhill, MA 01830
978-374-0519 p
978-372-4890 f

URL: www.mass.gov/envir/massbays/8townsbay.htm
Updated 10/15/07