A subcommittee charged with coming up with a plan to protect town wetlands told the town there is little it can do to achieve its mission, two years after it was formed. Town councilors reluctantly granted the subcommittee’s request to be dissolved.

In a letter, subcommittee members said they had done research on wetlands in town, but recommended against any legislation because of strong opposition among residents. The subcommittee said it was unable to do anything to educate the public through a cable television program, brochure, walking tour or other means.

“Unfortunately, we could not make these items happen,” the subcommittee wrote. “Our efforts were impeded by a lack of public interest, difficulty in obtaining speakers and lack of a budget.”

Several councilors reacted to the letter at an Aug. 13 meeting, saying they were disappointed with the subcommittee.

“Basically, what they’re doing is throwing up their hands and saying, ‘We’re done,’” said Town Councilor Paul Roy.

“They sat there and educated themselves but that didn’t educate the town,” Bill Dermody added.

Dermody made a name for himself in town by opposing a proposal of some wetlands conservationists.

In 2006, he led a charge of property owners against an amendment on the town election ballot that would have created a 50-foot buffer around high-value wetlands. One year later he successfully campaigned for another amendment that exempted property owners from any future attempts by the town to expand buffers or setbacks around wetlands.

In an e-mail to Town Manager Russ Marcoux, Conservation Commission Chairman Mervyn Taub said he hoped the issue could go away quietly.

“This was a highly contentious matter a few years back and it would be better if it just slipped away with as little fuss as possible,” Taub wrote on Aug. 5. “Otherwise we risk ruffling the same feathers. ... This issue is what got Bill Dermody to run for council.”

The council has directed the Conservation Commission to recommend to the council how the town can devise a strategy for conserving wetlands in the future.

In its letter, the subcommittee indicated that it might be willing to do more work in the future.