(Jan. 15, 2015) Looking for public input on the future of the town, Berlin officials last week officially announced dates for its strategic planning sessions.
The town will introduce planning facilitator Christine Becker during a kickoff meeting at Town Hall on Thursday, Jan. 15 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Berlin Mayor Gee Williams said the kickoff was “our way of doing our homework before the community meetings start.”
Williams added that the meeting would function as a public work session between Becker, the mayor and council and town staff.
Four community meetings will follow: Thursday, Jan. 29 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the multipurpose building; Saturday, Feb. 7 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Buckingham Elementary School; Thursday, Feb. 12 from 6-9 p.m. at Town Hall; and on Saturday, Feb. 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the multipurpose building.
After Thursday evening meetings, on Jan. 29 and Feb. 12, the town will hold an after-hours event at the Visitor’s Center.
The process will conclude at Town Hall during a pair of public meetings on March 11 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on March 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“At the end of this process, we’ll have a plan that will take us through the next couple of years in detail and through the next five to 10 years conceptually,” Town Administrator Laura Allen said.
Becker said the town had not yet discussed any specific ideas or issues – that will begin during the kickoff meeting – but stressed the importance of community involvement.
“We hope the community meetings will engage citizens in thinking about Berlin’s future – what they love about the town, what they want it to be like in the future, and what they think are the most significant issues facing Berlin,” she said. “We want to start with big picture-thinking, which will provide the basis for developing a strategic plan that will guide the town’s work over the next three years.
“We hope participants will enjoy the conversations and leave feeling that they were heard and that their ideas will be considered as the strategic plan is developed,” Becker continued.
Williams echoed Becker in urging public participation.
“I hope everyone will take the opportunity to come to the community meetings and be a part of co-creating Berlin’s future,” he said. “Now that we’re cool, we want to hear from our community where they want us to go next.”
The town will introduce planning facilitator Christine Becker during a kickoff meeting at Town Hall on Thursday, Jan. 15 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Berlin Mayor Gee Williams said the kickoff was “our way of doing our homework before the community meetings start.”
Williams added that the meeting would function as a public work session between Becker, the mayor and council and town staff.
Four community meetings will follow: Thursday, Jan. 29 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the multipurpose building; Saturday, Feb. 7 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Buckingham Elementary School; Thursday, Feb. 12 from 6-9 p.m. at Town Hall; and on Saturday, Feb. 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the multipurpose building.
After Thursday evening meetings, on Jan. 29 and Feb. 12, the town will hold an after-hours event at the Visitor’s Center.
The process will conclude at Town Hall during a pair of public meetings on March 11 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on March 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“At the end of this process, we’ll have a plan that will take us through the next couple of years in detail and through the next five to 10 years conceptually,” Town Administrator Laura Allen said.
Becker said the town had not yet discussed any specific ideas or issues – that will begin during the kickoff meeting – but stressed the importance of community involvement.
“We hope the community meetings will engage citizens in thinking about Berlin’s future – what they love about the town, what they want it to be like in the future, and what they think are the most significant issues facing Berlin,” she said. “We want to start with big picture-thinking, which will provide the basis for developing a strategic plan that will guide the town’s work over the next three years.
“We hope participants will enjoy the conversations and leave feeling that they were heard and that their ideas will be considered as the strategic plan is developed,” Becker continued.
Williams echoed Becker in urging public participation.
“I hope everyone will take the opportunity to come to the community meetings and be a part of co-creating Berlin’s future,” he said. “Now that we’re cool, we want to hear from our community where they want us to go next.”