Committee tries to put Generations in Action
Published on November 25th, 1998
STONEHAM, MA - Often, the first stage of a committee's life involves tedious organizational discussions and lengthy debate about how best to begin its work in the committee.
Although this hold true for the Generations in Action: Strides with Pride committee, Stoneham's new visioning group which will seek out the public's wants for the community's future, some definite movement is being made.
Last Thursday, the committee met and began discussion on how to best communicate with the public through publicity and outreach channels.
Since communication with residents is of the utmost importance in the committee's work, publicity will be a key to success. Committee members discussed the compilation of press releases which would be sent out to public access cable, local newspapers, the High School and other town organizations. These updates would allow residents to keep abreast of the issues being discussed and about future activities in which public participation is requested.
In addition, mail-outs and drop-offs to residences, which could include questionnaires allowing for input from citizens and business owners, are likely channels of communication between the 18 committee members and the public.
The first step in publicity, however, will be recognition. Committee members hope to have the name Generations in Action become a "household name" in Stoneham, and hope that the topic of ways to improve the community will become an area of discussion in the homes of locals.
The outreach subcommittee has set a goal at Thursday's meeting to reach all demographic groups in town. The committee hopes to gain input from students, seniors, businessmen and the common working class in order to ensure that Stoneham's future will meet the needs of all who have a stake in the town's future.
Once the name of the committee and its agenda are well-known, the committee will conduct focus group discussions in which residents will be able to give their opinion about what the town should look like 10 years from now. At this time, residents can offer their opinions on capital improvements, governmental changes and innovative programs in which the town should endeavor.
In the coming months, beginning with the first focus group meeting in the late winter/early spring, the committee hopes to meet with the community several times and compile a lengthy list of improvement items. This list will then be prioritized.
Committee members discussed the possibility of presenting a warrant article at a future town meeting which would force town government to recognize the community's wants and, possibly, to act upon the top priorities accordingly.
According to Steve Sadwick, the town's director of community development, the Town of Arlington underwent a similar process and has been successful at implementing projects based on its visioning committee's findings.
Alan McClennen, Arlington's director of planning and community development, told the Independent that his community began the visioning process in 1990. In 1992, the town formed the Vision 2020 team which was and is still composed of town government leaders as well as interested citizens.
Over the span of its existence, the group was able to get input from approximately 4,000 residents, McClennen said. A lengthy list of items for the town's review was adopted at a 1993 town meeting and is added to or deducted from each year.
As a result, the town is currently undergoing a school building and infrastructure project and is involved in the development of open spaces throughout the town. In addition, work is progressing on human rights-related work in the school system and community-wide.
"In a community like Arlington and like Stoneham, a series of broad goals seems to work best," McClennen said of the priority list. "I think it's (the program) worked incredible well here. It takes a lot of work, but we're seeing results."
On December 3, members of the Generations in Action group will be trained to lead focus groups and explain the process.
The group hopes to hear from five to 10 percent of the town's residents (1,000 to 2,000 people).
"I don't think there's any doubt that we have been severely short of money here, but we're working very aggressively on that," Ricks said. "We do have an outstanding water bill here. We're not going to stiff the town for their water."
He did maintain that the bill would likely remain unpaid until the sale was finalized.
Cicatelli said that the town is done playing the waiting game, however.
"It's not even a partial payment plan being offered at this point. This is ridiculous," he expressed.
"It hurts the town. It's crazy."
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