Newcomer attempts to plan for town's future
Published on June 24th, 1998
STONEHAM, MA - Despite being on the job for just six months, one of Stoneham's newest employees has made it his biggest priority to find out what residents envision for the town's future.
Steve Sadwick, Director of Community Development since January, has embarked on what he calls his Community Visioning project aimed at reaching out to the neighborhoods, engaging the public in dialogue and finding out what they want their town to look like.
Sadwick said he has already heard many suggestions from the public regarding the direction in which the town is heading.
"How much time and resources should the town be committing to without knowing what the citizens want?" questioned Sadwick as he described the need for this project. He added that it is important to make sure that what is being worked toward "is in the town's best interest and what the people have articulated."
The Community Visioning project received Board of Selectmen approval at its recent annual goal setting meeting.
"This project dovetails into the Board of Selectmen's vision over the past five years regarding improving the quality of life in Stoneham," said Sadwick.
This Wednesday's meeting with all town committee chairpersons will officially kick off the project with Sadwick presenting the idea and acquiring feedback regarding the process of going forward. His hope is to create a citizen steering committee which will decide how best to get input from residents.
"I have a personal interest in hearing from people we haven't heard from yet," stated Sadwick, and called it a "challenge" as to "how we are going to get to that group."
One of his main responsibilities has been planning for the town. He has been working with the Board of Selectmen, the Planning Board and various other town committees and boards (including the Spot Pond Committee and the Town Common and Parking Committee), by serving as a coordinating agent among the different groups as they move forward with their projects.
As these various projects progress, Sadwick stated that "We need to know 'Are we moving in the right direction?' 'Should we focus our energies elsewhere?'
"This (the Community Visioning project) also gives us the opportunity to hear from the citizens regarding what the town's priorities should be. This helps me in my job knowing that something has the support of the citizens," he added.
Sadwick, who reports to Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting, has also been charged with overseeing Inspectional Services, a new division designed to encompass the Building Department and a health agent and clerk for the Planning and Zoning boards. He will try to coordinate all of the efforts by July 1.
"We're trying to increase efficiency and customer service," stated Sadwick who advised that all of the departments' services will be available to the public at one counter.
Under the umbrella of Inspectional Services, these departments will be housed in the same area of the Town Hall to allow easy access of shared services and automated records. From a coordinating point of view, stated Sadwick, the Conservation Commission is also included, to a degree, within Inspectional Services.
Economic development is another responsibility that Sadwick has assumed which involves assisting and recruiting businesses in the town. This, said Sadwick, requires the need for "sensible growth in our tax base."
"I've been hearing suggestions from people. They're concerned about what happens...We need to be sensitive in realizing that this is predominantly a residential town. We need to be sensitive in listening to what residents have to say," he stated.
Sadwick can be spotted at any number of committee meetings in town and stated that he has "no problem jumping in at anytime, trying to help when needed, then stepping out."
Before coming to Stoneham, the Syracuse, New York native worked for the City of Syracuse for six years in various capacities, including Planner, Housing Assistant and Economic Development Specialist.
Prior to that, he spent four years in the Navy. For much of that time, Sadwick recalled, he was stationed in Newport, Rhode Island and since then, he and his wife "have always wanted to get back to New England."
Since his arrival, Sadwick has been making the five-hour trek back to Syracuse almost every weekend where his wife and three-year-old son remain. He is looking forward, however, to his family's permanent arrival at the beginning of July.
Sadwick stated that he has been received fairly well and he has found people in Stoneham thus far to be very professional and very friendly.
"I can't say enough how pleased I am to be here," he stated. Besides, "it snows too much in Syracuse."
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