Town of North Stonington
Town Government Structure Committee
Wheeler Library
February 2, 2017
Meeting was called to order by Dan Smith at 7:05 pm.
Attendance: Nita Kincaid, Dan Smith, Dan Spring, Anne Nelson, Bill Ricker
Absent: Paul Simonds
Minutes from January 25, 2017 approved with corrections. 4-0-1
General discussion and overview of committees work thus far and review of survey and results,
Organization Chart discussion/revisions.
Organizational Chart:
-BOF-oversight board but not necessarily autonomous
-Not supervised by BOS but collaborative relationship with first selectman
-New position options for supervision
- -Board of Education-separate entity not under not under BOS
-Checks & Balances important-ethics issues
-Commonality with POCD and hiring person with planning/community development skills.
Bill Ricker will discuss with Paul Simonds about changes on revised Administrative Chart.
SURVEY RESULTS: Highlights
>Responses with approximately 46% responding to online survey and 8% paper survey.
>Affordable housing for families/seniors low although a priority on POCD
>Lack of coordinated effort
>Good intent but falls flat, momentum gets lost
>Hold Annual Meeting-people want it! (Arrange event/screen)
>Economic Development needed
>In our recommendation, strong push for economic development skills, studies and survey supporting hypothesis
>Cluster Comments together, commonality of responses, consistent themes
>Capacity-leadership and economic capacity not there-cohesiveness needed
>There are many stewards of the town and involved in process, many whom have been there for decades or more.
>Define response to each to each one of the questions
>APPENDIX: RAW Data-survey submissions: Iowa Study, (footnote), List of data including Preston, Bolton
>Review Bolton information leadership and teamwork
>Emphasized-Coordination and Communication centralized and defined
White Paper Contents
Reviewed Dan Spring’s first draft of introduction, comments and suggestions made
“This is why changes needed and supported by –strongly felt in other similar communities and what a difference it can make”
Survey-obligation to respond and provide results to participants
Outcomes: Where we are going
Move with data we have
Build Capacity, need focus to move forward
Day to Day activities and Moving Forward into the future
Review of Survey Question Highlights:
Question 1:
>We can do a better job of resourcing
Question 2:
>Economic Development the driver
>Coordination of the boards/commissions
#26 says it all with summary
>Leadership (cooperation between common goals)
Question 3: (38 people answered this question
>POCD good response and knowledge of the document
>Every board and commission needs to be talking of their goals in relationship to the POCD
>Town website now being re-vamped and should be up by early summer
Question 4:
>Preserving environment progress point
>Survey results in POCD: Housing needs not met–town can be subject to predatory development as we lack the numbers. Has happened previously
>Virtually NO progress in housing or affordability
>Positive ED-Propane at old MacDonald’s site, Ghee factory and Jovial foods and Fischer Controls building. These were not businesses that were a result of ED work, just lucked out
Question 5:
>Lack of clear accountable goals, lack of coordinated effort
Question 6:
>Annual Meeting supported widely (Create event/ “State of the Town”
>Utilize social media
Question 7:
>Need better communication
>Increased support leading to better outcomes
Question 8:
>Economic Development issues. Why? Need more information, communication and updates from meetings
Question 9:
>Not satisfied with Economic Development
>No dedicated effort in NS
Question 10:
>Different types of management, dedicated expertise, cooperation
Nita Kincaid will work up draft for survey results. Dan Spring will re-work white paper. Paul Simonds will make changes we discussed (Bill Ricker will send Paul update) and finalize organizational town chart.
Anne Nelson will work on Appendix for white paper.
Meeting adjourned at 9:05 pm. Next meeting to be held on February 8 at 7:30 pm, Wheeler Library.
Respectfully submitted,
Anne M Nelson
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