NEWTON SAFETY COMPLEX COMMITTEE
Bob Bartlett – Committee Chair 603-382-4464
Meeting Minutes of January 19, 2006
In attendance: Bob Bartlett, Chair, Bill Ingalls, Chief, Eileen Patterson, Norm Harding, Horace Williams, John Ownes, EMD, Rick Daniels, Bob Donovan, Larry Streeter, Chief.
Guests included: Rep. Kim Casey and Dr. Andrew Smith, UNH
Meeting called to order at 6:30 PM
Minutes of December15, 2005 accepted.
New business/discussion: An invoice from Samyn-D’Elia Architects, in the amount of $2,755.10, was approved to be paid by the Selectmen. The invoice was forwarded on to the Selectmen’s office.
Town Survey – Dr. Smith presented and discussed the results of the survey taken by UNH. A substancual amount of information pertaining to Newton was obtained through the survey. The most apparent information is that the majority of people feel that the taxes are very high and that the town does not offer enough services. A large percentage of those interviewed, feel that both the police and fire personnel do a very good to good job, and feel that the complex is needed. The reason people felt that they wouldn’t vote for the complex was lack of information about it, and the present tax situation.
Dr. Smith made suggestions of how to move on with public relations. He made suggestions such as targeting specific groups of people, new people to town, elderly, etc., by putting out information through the newspapers, flyers, and on cable TV. To make people aware that although the departments are doing a very good job now, they won’t be able to maintain that status with growth of the town, deterioration of the buildings, the future need to house a full time fire department, and a smaller than recommended police department.
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The committee then discussed the results of the town survey and possible ways of targeting certain groups, and getting the media’s attention. Members are asked to brainstorm and bring back ideas to the next meeting on how to get the necessary information out to the community.
The next meeting will be on January 26, 2006, at 6:30 PM at the Central Fire Station.
Meeting adjourned at 8:15 PM.
Eileen Patterson
Recorder
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