SHUTESBURY — The chair of the Conservation Commission has stepped down, a decision she said stems from alleged personal attacks and interference by elected and appointed officials at Town Hall.

Miriam DeFant’s decision came just days before the Jan. 16 Special Town Meeting — which has since been postponed until Jan. 23 due to Tuesday’s snowstorm — involving a vote on a wetlands protection bylaw. DeFant has been a member of the commission since being appointed Sept. 29, 2020 and has chaired the panel for the past 2½ years before her resignation on Thursday.

“The backdrop to my resignation includes blatant disregard for environmental regulations, unnecessary polarization, resistance to providing the commission with necessary resources (such as access to legal advice), and pressure campaigns to interfere with the commission’s work,” DeFant wrote in a 10-page letter titled “Don’t Drain the (Wetland) Swamp!”

Some of DeFant’s letter, which provided a timeline of her concerns with wetlands issues in town, centered on the Selectboard hiring Boston attorney Gregor McGregor to review both the wetlands bylaw and the wetlands regulations associated with the bylaw, that were adopted in October, and the Selectboard’s initial opposition to providing the commission its own legal counsel. The Selectboard eventually relented and allowed the Conservation Commission to hire attorney Elisabeth Goodman of Williamstown.

“Shortly after joining the town government, I was shocked to learn of Shutesbury’s municipal laxity regarding environmental regulations,” DeFant writes. “The record shows that this dynamic predates my appointment by over a decade. Knowing that many of my neighbors share my passion for the environment and open spaces, I was surprised to learn that our municipal government was much more laissez-faire about the environment than the rest of us.”

DeFant also cites the gasoline and PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) contamination at the Fire Station on Leverett Road and the gasoline found in the soil at the future library site, also on Leverett Road, as well as the flooding and erosion in the area of Lake Wyola, caused by heavy rain, over the summer.

“Now, more than ever, we need strong environmental protections and independent boards to administer these protections,” she writes.

DeFant said she wants the community to have open, robust discussion and that diversity of opinion should be welcome, saying it is easier to resolve issues when everyone feels they have had input and are heard. DeFant said she will continue her service on the Historical Commission and Energy and Climate Action Committee.

Selectboard response

At Thursday’s Selectboard meeting, DeFant’s resignation was accepted.

“I want to thank Miriam for her service,” said Chair Rita Farrell. “She put in a tremendous amount of time working on both the regulations and the bylaw.”

Member Melissa Makepeace-O’Neil thanked DeFant for her work, including site visits she has conducted and giving out permits.

“Certainly her career was very helpful to the town, and I appreciate it,” added member Eric Stocker.

In an email, Farrell gave a limited response to many of the allegations contained in DeFant’s resignation.

“The Selectboard does not agree with the representations included in this letter,” Farrell wrote. “At this time we will have no further comment regarding the contents of the letter.

“The Selectboard is confident that the four remaining members of the Conservation Commission will continue the important work of educating townspeople about wetlands and ensuring that Shutesbury’s precious natural resources are protected,” Farrell added.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.