While still on the Stratford Town Council, he sponsored the establishment of the first municipal conservation commission in Connecticut; then in his freshman year as state senator, he co-authored the first law to regulate and restrict activities allowed in tidal wetlands.
wˌaɪl stˈɪl ɔnðə stɹˈætfɚd tˈaʊn kˈaʊnsəl, hiː spˈɑːnsɚd ðɪ ɪstˈæblɪʃmənt ʌvðə fˈɜːst mjuːnˈɪsɪpəl kˌɑːnsɚvˈeɪʃən kəmˈɪʃən ɪn kənˈɛɾɪkət; ðˈɛn ɪn hɪz fɹˈɛʃmən jˈɪɹ æz stˈeɪt sˈɛnəɾɚ, hiː kˈoʊˈɔːθɚd ðə fˈɜːst lˈɔː tə ɹˈɛɡjʊlˌeɪt ænd ɹᵻstɹˈɪkt æktˈɪvᵻɾiz ɐlˈaʊd ɪn tˈaɪdəl wˈɛtləndz.