Information About the MMOC

MMOC Members

MMOC board discussing business

The Muddy River Maintenance and Management Oversight Committee, usually referred to as the “MMOC”, consists governmental landowners, citizens and representatives of interested organizations and agencies. Voting members are largely volunteers who have long been active in Muddy River issues. MMOC meets monthly and additionally many members serve on sub-committees.

Here is some background on each of the voting members:

Kate Bowditch* – A Brookline resident and hydrologist with Charles River Watershed Association, Kate chairs the Water Quality sub-committee and has been leading MMOC’s efforts to improve water quality.
Kelly Brilliant* – Kelly is Executive Director of the Fenway Alliance, an association of over a dozen of Boston’s most well-known cultural and educational institutions. Kelly serves as Treasurer and on the Operations sub-committee
Ed Burke* – a Fenway neighborhood resident for thirty years, Fens Victory Gardener and board member of the Fenway Civic Association, Ed serves on the Operations sub-committee.
Julie Crockford – of the Emerald Necklace Conservancy represents the Conservancy on MMOC.
Frances Allou Gershwin – As Chair of MMOC, Fran guides the day-to-day activities, serves as ex officio member of all sub-committees, and represents MMOC to the public. Fran is an attorney whose legal expertise and willingness to focus on the details is often a resource for the Committee’s work.
Betsy Shure Gross — Longtime advocate for The Olmsted legacy and safe, accessible, well maintained parks. Former Special Assistant for Community Preservation and Executive Director of Office of Public Private Partnerships, Executive Office of Environmental Affairs. Betsy serves as Vice Chair of MMOC on the Operations sub-committee and on the Commiunity Outreach and Public Participation Committee.
Arleyn Levee* - a noted landscape historian and Olmsted scholar, Arleyn has often provided advice on historical preservation aspects of the Project.
Jack Malone* - as Director of Physical Plant Services for Northeastern University, Jack has mobilized a number of University resources to improve the nearby Back Bay Fens.
Kay Mathew* - a Mission Hill resident and activist.
Arlene Mattison* - President of the Brookline GreenSpace Alliance, Arlene also serves on the Operations sub-committee.
Hugh Mattison* - serves as MMOC Administrator and has been active in other Emerald Necklace restoration activities and Brookline town affairs for 30 years.
Frederika Veikley* - Freddie is a longtime Fenway resident and activist, and prime force in creating Ramler Park.
Jan Henderson - Jan represents MASCO on MMOC.
Non-voting members and their representatives include:
Andrew M. Pappastergion (Brookline Department of Public Works),
Antonia Pollak (Boston Parks & Recreation Dept.), Brona Simon (Massachusetts Historic Commission), Patrice Kish (Dept. of Conservation & Recreation), Samantha Overton Bussell (Dept. of Conservation & Recreation), Margaret Dyson (Boston Parks & Recreation Dept.), Tom Brady (Brookline Department of Public Works), Erin Chute Gallentine (Brookline Department of Public Works)
* Served on Emerald Necklace Citizens Advisory Committee