I applaud our town leaders for initiating the SWOT analysis. In fact, an annual survey of resident values, needs and preferences should become standard governing practice. A successful survey would be:
- Thoughtful – concise & well-organized with questions that make sense.
- Comprehensive – one survey covering all departments rather than multiple surveys from individual departments.
- Timely – West Boylston’s town elections are in March and its town meeting is in May. A survey in April might help create civic momentum and inform residents and our newly-elected officials about community priorities in advance of the town meeting.
- Heavily promoted – in advance using multiple communication channels to increase the response rate.
- Online – using one of many free, quality survey tools with built-in analysis capabilities. Residents without internet access could be encouraged to use the free broadband access at the Beaman Library to complete the survey.
- Analyzed rapidly – with results published via the same communication channels used to promote the survey.
Focusing on what we value is the vital first step toward funding what we value. Read full article.
