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Note: Although the Supervisor is the coordinating person, interested Board members will be fully involved with the whole process. 

 

CHANGES IN POLICIES:

• You will be encouraged to email us.  On the website you will be able to email your questions, complaints and suggestions. All of the emails will be read, considered, and addressed. 

• At first, all of the emails will be directed to the Supervisor.  The Supervisor will read all of them and sort them into appropriate categories (Highway, Parks, Administration, etc.) so that they can be addressed.  The supervisor will, as a result, be able to get an overview of the scope of issues/problems (both individual and systematic) and suggestions.

 

Complaints:

• The Supervisor will then take the lists of issues (derived from the complaints received) and discuss them with the relevant Town personnel, ascertaining facts, assessing resources, and developing proposed plans of action. 

• A public, community meeting will be held for each set of issues (ex/ roads/sewers, parks, procedures, etc.).  All the people that emailed with their individual problems will be specifically invited, but the meetings will be open to anyone who wishes to attend.  In the meeting, the residents present will be able to look at all the facts involved and discuss possible solutions.  The residents will have all the information that the Supervisor and the Town Board have.  The discussion will be professional and focused on problem solving.  Subsequently, a plan of action will be developed to address as many of the issues identified as possible.   As with all public meetings, the meeting will be live zoomed, recorded, and posted on the website so that people who cannot physically attend the meeting will still be able to participate through email. 

• Using the public input, a plan to address the problems will be developed. 

• Once a plan for a specific set of problems has been developed, it will be posted on the website.  It will be clear, concise, and easily readable.  The Supervisor may post an explanation, if necessary.   Any questions received will be addressed.

• The same will occur for each set of issues raised, until all issues have been addressed.

 

Suggestions:

• The same process will be used with the suggestions received.  The Supervisor will group them for the relevant departments/personnel, discuss them, then have a public meeting to discuss the suggestions (either on individual topics or as a whole, depending on volume).  Plans may be developed, depending on the nature of the suggestions.

 

Implementation:

• After all the plans of action have been developed, everything will be brought back to the Town Board for discussion and a vote for implementation. 

• The Supervisor will then coordinate with the relevant town personnel to ensure that the plans are implemented.

• Once again, having Town Board Members that want change is essential. 

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PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:

Surveys:

• An online survey system will be developed in which each resident will be able to voice his/her opinion regarding current issues/policies/programs and proposed policies/programs. For each topic, factual information will be posted so that the reader can read the facts before forming an opinion.  For some topics (depending on its nature) arguments both for and against the project may also be presented.    The results of the survey will be posted online and will be presented to the Town Board for consideration.  The Town Supervisor and the Town Board would then have a real sense of the will of their constituents. 

• Residents will aways be able to email their questions, issues and suggestions.

• Every email will be read, considered and answered.

• Residents will be able to ask questions, raise issues and make suggestions at the community meetings and have them truly considered when Town policies are determined.  

 

TRANSPARENCY:

Public meetings:

• All Town meetings will be professional, receptive, and productive.

• All Town meetings will be transmitted via zoom and copies of the videos will be maintained at the Town office. 

• A video/audio recording of the meeting will be made available on the website so that individuals can view meetings at their convenience. 

• Residents will be able to submit questions/suggestions/requests prior to the meeting.

• An agenda will be posted on the website before the meeting.

• All questions/grievances/suggestions will be answered and discussed during the meeting.      

• If time does not allow for some questions, they will be noted, and the person will be answered individually. Follow-ups will be conducted, if appropriate. 

• Accurate minutes of the meeting will be made available online, including any updates on topics discussed.  The format of the minutes will be clear, self-explanatory, utilizing a bullet format.  Anyone would be able to read the minutes and understand exactly what was discussed, voted on and what action will occur as a consequence.

• At every meeting, the Supervisor will move to set aside the Rules of Order so that the meeting is less rigid and formal.  The meeting will still be run on a specific agenda, but the less rigid format would allow for more questions and discussions on topics when needed. 

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Budgets:

• The current budget will always be available on the website.  A summary overview will be available and will include a description and explanation of any changes made to the previous budget. 

• Next budget season (prior to votes), a section on the website will be added with brief, clear descriptions of proposed budget allocations.  (A public meeting would be held to discuss particulars.)

 

Town Regulations:

• The full local code book will be posted, but short, simple, quick reference lists (consisting of the most common inquiries) will be available:

  • Parking regulations.

  • Nuisance laws (noise, dog, etc).

  • Permit requirements.

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COMMUNICATION:

• A (voluntary) mass email system will be developed.  You will be able to receive notifications with information about scheduled meetings and surveys. Additional information will be available on the Town website and Town calendar. 

• The Supervisor will have a section in which she will keep the reader updated with things that are going on in the town.  She will discuss the current topics, including meetings, results of surveys, local events and topics before the Board.  It will be updated often.

• Calendars: 

  • A Town calendar will be established listing all scheduled meetings. 

  • A community calendar will be established, listing local (non-political) events (lectures, fundraisers, memorials, neighborhood garage sales, etc.).  It would be continuously updated. 

• Each Town Department (Highway, Police, Fire, Parks, administrative, etc.) will enhance their section on the website.  Each section will provide much more information, specific to the Department.  Example - The parks section will be expanded, simplified, and will contain more information about each park, including a detailed map.  Current and proposed park projects will be posted and described. 

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FAIRNESS:

• The distribution of all resources will be based on need, not who you know (or don’t know).  (For example, areas that have been physically neglected will be put in the action plans so that their issues can be addressed).

• All positions that become available in the Town (whether administrative or in the field) will be posted on the website.  Applications will be considered equally based on qualifications. 

• All contracts that become available will be posted on the website and will be awarded based on cost efficiency and quality. 

• The workplace environments for town employees will be professional, supportive and will encourage employee feedback and suggestions. 

• For Town employees, political petitioning/campaigning will not be allowed in the workplace.   No Town employee will ever be pressured to support any political candidate/party.