AGENDA REQUEST
GENERAL DISCUSSION ITEM
Subject:
title
• Draft a schedule for Informational Forums/Gatherings.
end
Background:
Department Comment/Recommendation:
(type text here)
Meeting Action Detail:
Community Relations Committee Meeting 04/19/2023
File #: 22105 Version: 1
Type: General Discussion
Title: Continued discussion and possible action draft a schedule for Public Information Forums to present to residents the types of services the town offers; how to access services and the authority residents should direct concerns regarding services.
Action: Continued
Meeting Note:
Councilor Paul stated the Community Relations Committee had previously agreed that they would like to host a Booth at three Farmers’ Market’s this summer as follows:
• June 21, 2023 or July 19, 2023 - Mental Health Awareness
ü Brian Dagle Healing Hearts Foundation
ü Home heating fuel through Thames Valley Council for Community Action (TVCCA) and other assistance programs.
ü Utilities - Electric/Water Assistance.
ü Homeowners Assistance program that provided no interest loans to help people replace their furnace, roof or septic system, etc.
ü Home meal delivery available for those who cannot get out to grocery shop through Thames Valley Council for Community Action (TVCCA)
ü The Linda C. Davis Food Pantry located in Ledyard Center.
ü United Way located in Gales Ferry was a great resource.
ü Connecticut’s Paid Family Medical Leave Program
ü Police Department “Green and/or Blue Envelope” for drivers with Autism or Hearing Impaired.
Councilor Rodriguez stated that she reached out to President Anne Dagle to see if she would be available for either of the two dates the Committee would like to feature Mental Health Awareness. She stated that she has not heard back from Ms. Dagle yet and would reach out to her again and report back to the Committee.
• August 30, 2023 - Library Services
Councilor Paul stated Library Director Jennifer Smith attend the Community Relations Committee’s March 15, 2023 meeting and that she was on-board with the Committee’s ideas to feature the Library Services as follows:
ü Community Relations Committee to host a Booth at the August 30, 2023 Farmers Market’s noting that the Market Theme that week was “Back to School” and that the Committee felt that the Library services would be in-keeping with the Market Theme. At their Booth the Community Relations Committee would provide literature regarding the services the Library offered and refer residents to stop by the Library Open House.
ü Open House - The Library would hold an Open House at the same time the Community Relations Committee was hosting a booth at the Farmers Market. When the Farmers’ Market ended at 7:00 p.m. there would be an Informal Gathering at the Bill Library during which time Library Director Jennifer Smith would give a short presentation and then provide a tour of the Library to bring awareness to the many programs, services and resources the Library had to offer.
Councilor Paul stated the Community Relations Committee was hoping to broadcast live Library Presentation and Tour using Zoom. He stated although the Informational Presentations have not been well attended in the pasta, that residents could view the zoom video recording at any time, noting it would be posted on the town’s website, as they did with the Public Works Department Presentation.
• September 19, 2023 First Responders - Volunteers “Home Town Heroes”
Councilor Paul stated the Farmers Market Theme for September 19, 2023 was “Home Town Heroes”. Therefore, he suggested that the Community Relations Committee use that week to promote the many organizations and committees that are operated with volunteers from the community. He stated that perhaps they could provide information on how people could get involved and volunteer to serve on the Ledyard or Gales Ferry Fire Department, or on a town committee/commission or board or become a Police Officer, etc.
Councilor Saums suggested the Community Relations Committee invite the following to attend their Booth that day:
ü Representative from the Police Department
ü Representative from the Ledyard Center Fire Company
ü Representative from the Gales Ferry Fire Company
ü Chairman from each of the town’s committees/commissions/boards.
Councilor Saums stated that this would provide residents the opportunity to talk to someone from the Organization they were interested in to find out what that organization did, the time commitment, and how they could get involved.
• Land Use Processes - Councilor Paul commented on the Committee’s interest to provide information to the community regarding the Land Use Process. He noted at their February 15, 2023 meeting the Community Relations Committee discussed with Land Use Director Juliet Hodge scheduling an Informational Forum to present to residents the Land Use processes relative to the approval of applications, in an effort to help residents understand the complexities involved as they relate to Regulatory, State Statutes, and the Plan of Conservation & Development (POCD), etc. He stated because the Land Use Department has been short staffed that the Land Use Informational Presentation would be deferred until Ms. Hodge could work it into her schedule.
Councilor Paul concluded by stating that he would like to have a confirmation from the Brian Dagle Foundation regarding the date they could participate before he reached out to others such as Chief Rich and Farmers’ Market Committee Chairman Lauriann Hary to reserve space for a Booth on the dates the Community Relations Committee has targeted as noted above.
Action: Continued
________________________________________________________________________
Community Relations Committee Meeting 1/18/2023:
File #: 22941 Version: 1
Type: General Discussion - Agenda Item
Title: Draft a schedule for Informational Forums/Gatherings.
Action: Continued
Minute Note:
The Committee discussed the following topics for Informational Forums:
• Land Use Processes - Councilor Paul noted that the Land Use Department was currently short-staffed; and due to vacation schedules he has not had the opportunity to meet with Land Use Director Juliet Hodge to talk about the details of holding an Informational Forum to present to residents the Land Use processes relative to the approval of applications, to help residents understand the complexities involved relative to Regulatory, the Plan of Conservation & Development (POCD), etc.
Councilor Paul went onto state that the Community Relations Committee had also discussed including a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) Sheet as part of the Presentation that would answer general land use questions, noting the FAQ Sheet could be posted on the town’s website, the meeting portal, and be linked to social media pages.
The Committee agreed that they would like to provide the Land Use Informational Presentation in April or May, 2023.
• Fraud Presentation- Sergeant McKinney gave a 30-minute presentation regarding Fraud at Saint David’s Church in Gales Ferry. It was very informative, and the Committee discussed inviting Sergeant McKinney to give the Fraud Presentation at the Community Relations Committee’s March 16, 2023 meeting. The Committee discussed the importance to get this type of information out to residents and especially to their Senior Citizens community.
Councilor Saums stated he just texted Sergeant McKinney about inviting him to give the Fraud Presentation at the Senior Citizens Center on March 16, 2023. He noted that Sergeant McKinney responded stating that the first Fraud Presentation he gave was at the Senior Citizens Center about a year ago. The Committee agreed to keep the Fraud Presentation on their schedule and to consider holding the event at a different location.
• Library Services - Councilor Paul stated rather than invite the Library to a Community Relations Committee meeting that the Committee work to do something with the Library. He suggested hosting a booth at the Farmers’ Market that would feature the Library and the many community services that they provide. Councilor Saums suggested the Library host an Open House while the Community Relations Committee was hosting a booth at the Farmers Market. He stated they could provide some literature regarding the Library at their booth and then refer them to stop by the Library Open House.
Councilor Paul suggested at their February 15, 2023 meeting that the Community Relations Committee develop a calendar with the events that they would like to feature during the upcoming months. He stated having a schedule in place would allow them to plan and coordinate with other departments/organizations/entities that they would like to feature.
Action: Continued