Since NEIWPCC’s formation in 1947, our Commissioners have played a critical role in setting NEIWPCC’s priorities, evaluating staff programs and projects, and representing their state’s interests.
35 commissioners—five from each member state—oversee NEIWPCC. Each commissioner is appointed by their state governor. A state’s delegation typically consists of the heads of its environmental and health agencies, who generally designate representatives to attend NEIWPCC meetings on their behalf, supplemented by three highly experienced individuals from outside state government. This approach provides NEIWPCC with diverse, expert leadership. The number of Commissioners from each state may vary from year to year due to the gubernatorial appointment process.
All of our Commissioners meet three times per year. The Executive Committee, a subset of the Commissioners which consists of the heads of our member states’ environmental agencies or their representatives, conducts four regular meetings annually.
Each year our Commissioners elect a chair and vice-chair, with these officer positions rotating among the states to ensure equal representation.
Officers
Pete LaFlamme
Chair
Since 2007, Pete LaFlamme has been director of Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC’s) Watershed Management Division. Previously, he established DEC’s stormwater program and developed and managed a number of stormwater regulatory and policy initiatives including a comprehensive program for managing stormwater-impaired state waters. Throughout his career, LaFlamme has specialized in mathematical modeling of water resources and water resources engineering. He did graduate coursework at the University of Vermont’s Water Resources Research Center, focusing on water resources analysis and modeling, and has a bachelor’s in environmental analysis from the University of New England.
Jennifer Perry
Vice Chair
Jennifer Perry is a licensed professional engineer, with 28 years at the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Perry has extensive experience in wastewater systems, ground water and surface water permitting, dam safety and infrastructure management. She has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Connecticut.
Harry Stewart
Treasurer
After serving for thirty years at the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES), including 16 years as Water Division Director, Harry Stewart is currently a senior associate at Normandeau Associates in Bedford, N.H. where he works on diverse water-related projects and Clean Water Act regulatory and permitting issues. He also previously worked for the U.S. EPA. Stewart served on the NEIWPCC Executive Committee (16 years) and as NEIWPCC chairman and was also a longtime board member including a term as president of the Association of Clean Water Administrators (ACWA). He has received career awards for his contributions to clean water policy including ACWA’s Environmental Statesman Award, the New England Water Environmental Associations’ Alfred E. Peloquin Award and the New Hampshire Business and Industry Associations’ Above and Beyond Award. Stewart received a master’s in business administration from Northeastern University, a master’s in sanitary engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and a bachelor’s in civil engineering from Tufts University and is a registered professional civil and sanitary engineer.