Chris Payne Appointed to Conservation Commission

I’m very excited to announce that I have been appointed to a commissioner’s role on the Conservation Commission for the City of South Portland, Maine!

The purpose of the commission is to act as an advisory group for any conservation and environmental issues relating to South Portland. The commission is made up of seven volunteers and each person commits to a three-year term. The city has numerous projects lined up dealing with watersheds, invasive species, stormwater runoff, and stream rehabilitation.

My family and I are new to the South Portland area, so I thought this would be a great way to make a difference in our community. As a commissioner, I will act as a resource for the City Council—which is as close to politics as I have ever been. I understand there will always be differences in opinion, and people who won’t always listen to both sides. But I believe that leaders in science can either sit and complain about minimal progress being made on issues that are important to them, or step up and try their best to make an impact.

The best I can do is utilize the resources, education, and skills I’ve acquired throughout my career to provide the city with what I believe is best for its future. I plan to do this by presenting the city and public with facts based in science, in conjunction with possible—and realistic—solutions.

What’s a Conservation Commission?

Maine legislation states that a municipality may establish a conservation commission with the duties to keep records, conduct research, coordinate activities, and keep an index of all open areas within the municipality.

A conservation commission has the power to:

●        Advertise, prepare, print, and distribute necessary materials

●        Have the care of public parks and direct any necessary, approved expenditures

●        Acquire land in the municipality’s name

●        Receive gifts in the municipality’s name

South Portland’s Conservation Commission is supported by the Maine Association of Conservation Commissions (MEACC), a non-profit organization with the goal of helping its members educate, advise, and organize within their communities to protect their natural resources.

The Importance of Leadership in My New Role

As a leader within the scientific community, I recognize that leadership skills are necessary to succeed in my new role as commissioner. I expect there to be challenges, like communicating important ideas to multiple stakeholders.

How can I, along with the Conservation Commission, achieve continued success for the City of South Portland? By focusing on strengthening specific leadership skills:

1.       Active Listening

There will be many people—the public, City Council, commission—providing their own opinions, ideas, problems, and solutions. Prior to making any decisions, it will be important to listen, reflect. and respond. When people feel they are really being listened to, they feel respected, and trust is established. It will be important for me to listen to the many viewpoints I will be inundated with as I begin this new position.

 2.       Collaboration

This commission will be working with the City Council as well as many businesses and organizations within the community. It will be important to establish clear expectations, roles, and responsibilities while also holding each other accountable and recognizing their efforts.

 3.       Feedback

Our ideas, research, and efforts may be met with pushback and constructive feedback from the community and the city. It’s important to listen to their thoughts and opinions so the commission members and I have a better understanding of how to approach city members with new ideas in the future.

 4.       Emotional Intelligence

Having emotional intelligence is about being self-aware of how you act or react in situations while also recognizing what triggers those emotions. Self-awareness, self-management, relationship management, and social awareness can all help a leader approach situations with reduced stress and emotional reactivity. In my role, I will be working within the commission to continually try to convince people with conflicting ideals that certain actions are in the best interest of the city and its resources—which has the potential to be stressful. I need to identify which situations trigger my emotions and be prepared to handle them.

 5.       Conflict Resolution

How could there possibly be conflict when it comes to conservation? Unfortunately, conflict is inevitable amongst the commission as well as with the City Council and the public. It’s up to us as leaders in the community to handle conflict maturely and appropriately. This means utilizing those active listening and emotional intelligence skills to work through problems. Conflict management is best approached with patience and without judgment. Leaders should listen to each side, identify the facts, keep the conversation present, and find a way to compromise or collaborate.

 6.       Public Speaking

At times, it may be necessary to provide presentations to the City Council or the public. It will be important for me to practice my public speaking skills, so I am recognized as competent and knowledgeable. Great public speakers are confident, prepared, authentic, and enthusiastic about what they are sharing.

 7.       Motivation and Inspiration

Leaders find ways to motivate, inspire, and influence others. I’ve been trying to motivate and inspire people to invest in conservation for the majority of my life. I believe that when it comes to inspiring others to take action through conservation, it’s better to share ideas with facts, realistic solutions, compassionate understanding, and enthusiasm. Show them how they can help and why it’s important to do so without lecturing or putting people down.

 8.       Trust

It’ll be important for me to put all these skills together as often as possible in order to establish a positive relationship with the City Council and the public. I want them to know that I am trustworthy, straightforward, and, even if we disagree on topics, I’m going to be honest with them about how I think we should move forward.

 9.       Decision-Making

I believe decisiveness is a very important quality for me to have in this new role. I will need to make the best decisions I can with the information provided. I will do my best to research each topic brought to my attention and find as many possible solutions as I can. But, when pressured to make a decision, it’s in the best interest of everyone that I stick with what I believe in—not what I may be getting pressured into.

I’m very excited, and even somewhat nervous, about taking on this role, but I believe I can make a positive impact on the conservation efforts in the City of South Portland. With so many stakeholders invested, I’m eager to learn how to work together, gain an understanding of how each of us works, and establish the best possible solutions for the protection of our resources here in this beautiful coastal community that I now call home.