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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-08-13-2020-min (Streering Committee) Meeting Notes Steering Committee – August 13, 1999 Members Present: Chuck Benson, Todd Burger, Helen Cohen, Robin DiGiammarino, Peter Enrich, Alan Lazarus, Peter Lee, Paul Mammola, Fred Merrill, Peggy Perry, Marjorie Platt, Fernando Quezada Consultants Present: Joe Brevard Facilitator Present: Jack Wofford Staff Present: Rick White, Candy McLaughlin, Michael Baker Call to order Discussion and sharing – big picture direction Each committee member was asked to summarize the concerns they have about the process to date and the direction in which it is going. The following themes emerged from the discussion: the lack of a clear path for the future the need to broaden participation and ensure inclusivity resolving differences of opinion within the committee planning for the Fall Meeting the need to focus less on process moving ahead from the June workshops clarifying the expectations of all the participants in terms of the roles they will be playing From here, the committee answered the question, “What was Phase I all about?” Responses included: an exercise in eliciting values and issues, and an effort in recruitment and increasing visibility. Some expressed an expectation that in Phase I, the committee would have agreed on a roadmap for the rest of the process. Agreement on core framework for Phase II Members of the Steering Committee reiterated their concern that there was uncertainty about where the process was going and indicated a need to communicate to the participants, as well, the direction of the process in more detailed terms. Peter Enrich noted that as he understands it, there is agreement about the larger-scale Phase II process items, including a small set of working groups and the provision of opportunities for participants to reconnect, even though the details haven’t been worked out yet. Shortly thereafter, Candy distributed a handout that presented a draft core framework of Phase II and listed a series of unresolved questions under each major area. Candy asked if the committee agreed with the core framework. Alan Lazarus suggested that the process may need a second town-wide meeting to be held after the “green papers” have been developed and before the townwide vision has been drafted (between stages 3 and 4 on the handout). Peter Enrich indicated that perhaps a third town-wide meeting would be needed after the draft of the vision, but before the final consensus and celebration stage. Aside from these suggestions, the committee agreed that the essential large-scale pieces of Phase II had been captured, and the resources would be allocated and details would be worked out in an iterative process over the next several weeks. The committee debated the merits of having a constituent assembly. On one hand, the group may be perceived as exclusive, yet on the other hand it may be difficult to obtain a credible product and ensure accountability of the participants without creating such a body. Furthermore, committee members expressed a desire to cultivate the current participants and ensure that they have been given the opportunity to play a special role and maintain a consistent presence. A constituent assembly will also allow the steering committee to create a group that is appropriately representative of the entire community, further ensuring that there won’t be a group that complains of not having a voice as the process moves toward an implementation stage. Having decided that it was important to develop a constituent assembly, renamed the “Core Participants,” the committee then asked the question, “how and when should this group be formed?” Initially, the idea of inviting core participants to a special meeting prior to the fall event was discussed. The committee agreed that time constraints would make this exceptionally difficult, and decided that the core participants group would emerge from the fall event, and representation gaps would be filled in after the fall event. Next steps There was no time for substantive discussion under this agenda item. The next step is a Steering Committee on Friday August 20 to focus on key events between now and the end of October, and the content of the fall meeting.