Is it one step forward, two steps back for the North Attleboro Board of Selectmen regarding appointments to the conservation commission?

After controversy was stirred by the 3-2 appointment of Fred Bottomley, an active developer in town, Bottomley took it upon himself to contact the state ethics commission for a clarification of his situation. He found he had too many outstanding permits in town to avoid conflict of interest and resigned after a week on the commission.

But Bottomley had been the only applicant for the opening on the commission. Listings on local cable access and other media failed to draw out other candidates. And now chairman Mark Roberts has resigned after 14 years on the commission.

That leaves the board with two seats to fill. It's time for North Attleboro residents with an interest in conservation - and without outstanding permits with other boards - to step up on behalf of the town's wetlands.

No help here North Attleboro selectmen may not be expecting much help from townspeople after their experience with town meeting last week. They had asked for a non-binding vote on how to settle the "Afghans" controversy. Ultimately, RTM voted not to sell the painting, but only after a series of exchanges that made it plain that RTM would like the selectmen and school board to lock themselves up in a room and settle the controversy amongst themselves.

Gracious exit

Here's a tip of the hat to Mary Ann Greanier of Plainville, who has withdrawn from an expected appointment to the Plainville Housing Authority, in favor of letting long-time member Susan Fennessy stay on. The Patrick Administration had planned to dis-appoint Fennessy in favor of Greanier, who has been a loyal Patrick supporter.

Let Norton in

And here's a word of encouragement to the Bi-County Collaborative to favorably accept the Norton school department's application to join the collaborative. Membership would help the school department reduce some of its special education expenses.

Role model 1

Former Foxboro resident Dora Fitzgerald made a grand statement about her priorities on Oct. 8: She voted. An hour after her write-in ballot was mailed from her home in South Carolina, she died. "She can rest easy, knowing that her voice was heard," said her son, Terry Fitzgerald. In her 93 years, Mrs. Fitzgerald acquired much wisdom.

Role model 2

Our condolences go to St. Martha's parish, and to the friends and family of the Rev. John Walsh, inset, who died Wednesday at the age of 63. Pastor of the Plainville parish for 10 years, Father Walsh oversaw improvement to the parish property and will be remembered as a loyal shepherd who represented his faith with a kind, generous and smiling face.

Role model 3 Adults, of course, are supposed to set an example for children, especially in hard times. Friends tell us those roles were reversed with Madeleine Savoie, who broke hearts all around Norfolk when she died Oct. 16 at the age of 10. For the previous two years she had looked cancer in the eye, but found a way to keep on smiling, and to win everybody over with her sense of humor. Maddie threw herself into fund-raising for Cops For Kids With Cancer, as well as her art, painting and music projects. She never missed a chance to be outdoors, or to brag how she had out-fished her dad. She showed the adults around her how to live a full life.

Numbers of note

$322,000. Amount collected by the Attleboro inspection department for permits issued this year, up from $185,000 for the same period last year.

5.3 percent. Massachusetts unemployment rate, 0.8 percent below the national average.

$415,000. Amount released by North Attleboro Representative Town Meeting this week for installation of sidewalks and road improvements.

1. Violator ticketed during Operation Yellow Blitz on Wednesday in North Attleboro, a crackdown on motorists who fail to stop for school buses. The number had been far higher in the previous two editions of the Blitz.

5. Days the Seekonk Speedway's liquor license has been suspended next season as a penalty for poor supervision of patrons' drinking at a July 6 Thrill Show.

3,000. Miles logged by Chiyoko Campbell of Plainville to earn the record for lap swimming at the Attleboro YMCA. Mrs. Campbell, who was also an accomplished artist and gardener, died last Sunday at the age of 81.Kudos to:

John Lepper, who has been chosen as the Attleboro Area Chamber of Commerce's Person of the Year. It's one of many recent honors collected by Lepper, who is retiring after 12 years as Attleboro's state representative.

To former recreation commissioners Bob Lepper, the state representative's brother, and Richard Brousseau, for whom the gymnasium at Attleboro's Bartek Recreation Center is being named.Mike Whyte of Attleboro, a part-time diver at the New England Aquarium in Boston, for taking the plunge that led to recovery of a wedding ring dropped into the Giant Ocean Tank in July.

Kendall Nye of Rehoboth, former operations manager of The Sun Chronicle, who has received a Distinguished Service Award from the New England Newspaper Association.

Seekonk's Bill Harley, a Grammy-winning children's performer, who will be showcased today in "Yes to Running," a one-hour special from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. today on WGBH-TV.

Jane Larkin, former Attleboro School Committee member, who will be receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees.

Norfolk Town Moderator Daniel Winslow, who is again conducting a series of "Town Meeting 101" seminars to help crack the mysteries of local government.