Hi...
My family (wife and 2 kids) has lived in Medway since 2000. We moved here because small town feel, community spirit, and school system. Since 2000 we have seen a town struggle with its finances and leadership at all levels of government. As we enter into the summer of 2007, I am excited about your election to the BOS and have some suggestions/recommendations for you and your colleagues...
- Better marketing town meetings and elections through door-to-door campaigns, town signage (see Holliston's town banner), flyers, and phone calls. Most recently, the turnout in our town elections was deplorable. I am 37 years of age and it is disappointing to see how few citizens vote or show up to meetings. Regardless of age or generation, we need to do a better job of getting the message out to attend town meeting and vote during town elections.
- Selectman "sit-downs" with residents at local restaurants. I realize most of the selectman work full-time but visibility is critical with all townspeople so questions/concerns can be addressed. It also will help reestablish trust between the townspeople and the Medway Town Government.
- Placing on next year's ballot a Proposition 2 1/2 override. I realize this may be pre-mature but it is clear that level funding for our schools, library, etc. is not meeting the needs of our town from a quality standpoint. We need to get the message out ASAP on the importance of an override. One idea I have raised at Town Meeting is to have a choice on the ballot. This concept will allow for the voter to choose what services they would support as part of an override instead of an "all or nothing" vote. The town of Wellesley routinely does this when faced with an override on the ballot. As a result, the townspeople in Wellesley know exactly how the funding will be applied to each area of the budget.
- Linking this blog to the Medway Today and the Medway Town Hall web sites in order to increase readership and participation on this blog. I would like to see other selectman and the town administrator post topics, host Q and As, etc. It is a great tool to help "get the message out" to the citizens of Medway. An idea for a future topic would be for the Town Government Study group post their findings and discuss their results and next steps.
I look forward to your response.
Best Regards,
Mark Der Garabedian 5 Royal Heights Drive, Medway, MA