HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-07-25-2020-min (Implementation Committee)
2020 Vision Implementation Committee
July 25, 2003 – Meeting Minutes
7:45 a.m. Selectmen’s Meeting Room
Members Present
: Peter Enrich, Jeanne Krieger, Helen Cohen, Nancy Wilson, John Bartenstein, Jerome
Smith, and Ellie Epp.
Others:
Paul Hamburger, Rick White, Candy McLaughlin, Elaine Sterzin, and Kerry Evans.
Administrative Matters:
The minutes from the June 20, 2003, Implementation Committee, were
presented for approval. The minutes were unanimously approved.
Suggested Timeline and Next Steps in Process:
Candy presented the “Suggested Timeline and Next Steps in Process” handout created by Wendy Rundle.
Concerns were voiced regarding the involvement of the Study Circles. Questions included: do they
already have topics they are set to discuss and what is their timeline? Are the people who attend the
Study Circles those members of the community 2020 is trying to reach? A suggestion was made to
collaborate with the Study Circles, but for that to be only one avenue of the process. It could be used to
discover issues and as a part of value-driven discussions. The next step, referred to the Process
Subcommittee, is to work with the Study Circles to set topics and determine a process that works for both
groups. In terms of moving forward with the next steps in the process, concerns about timing and the
focus of next step were raised. Specifically, discussion was held on whether fall was the correct time to
go forward with this process and whether the next step would solely be used for discussing previously
determined goals or if there would be an avenue to allow for other goals to be presented and considered.
Discussion with representative from Appropriations Committee:
Paul Hamburger from the Appropriations Committee, as invited by the Process Subcommittee, attended
the meeting to help the Implementation Committee find a way for the next step in the process to be shown
within the fiscal constraints facing the Town. By adding the idea of finite resources to long-range
strategic planning, it is the hope that the process will be more “real” to the community. Paul cautioned
about the dangers of projecting too far out, stating that, given the current economic climate, it is hard to
predict more than one to two years out. There was concern voiced that if there is too much focus on
budget issues and problems, that the divisiveness and polarization that is beginning to occur in the Town
will worsen. It was suggested that the process needs to be open and should compel people to get
involved. A complete financial picture, including positives and negatives, should be examined. There
was concern and discussion around the idea of this group educating on budgets etc – if this were to
happen, it would be best to take it out of the experiential and illustrated in terms of patterns. Many of the
group, however, felt that it would be appropriate to do and asked Paul to go back to the Appropriations
Committee to ask for their help. The Process Subcommittee will work with the Appropriations
Committee to develop a process to help educate the public on the fiscal constraints that will face the
Town as it plans for the future.
Meeting with Selectmen:
Groups of 2 or 3 people have been identified to meet with individual selectmen and will conduct these
meetings in the next two weeks.
Upcoming dates:
8/8 – Process Subcommittee
9/5 – Implementation Committee
Meeting adjourned at 9:04 am.
2020 Vision Implementation Committee 1 July 25, 2003