Council releases strategic plan, New vision for regional prosperity and quality of life

Today The Hampshire Council Governments released a new strategic plan that offers a vision for prosperity and quality of life for the region. The plan is combined with the organizational structure to realize the vision and an ongoing commitment to the kind of dynamic stakeholder interaction that drove the planning process. The plan is excerpted below, and is available here (5 page PDF).

Highlights include: a fresh mission and vision, plans for an energetic new Council administrator, a new commitment to green energy, and a structure for membership expansion and diversification.

This strategic plan is the result of a six-month process which included: outreach to a very wide range of Council stakeholders using a very wide range of formats. The process also included a comprehensive organizational assessment and two facilitated strategic planning exercises.

This plan is the beginning of a new era for the Council, and the starting point for several exciting new projects. – William Barnett, Council Chairman (Belchertown).

This is an ever-evolving venture and the Council will continue to review the plan and process to ensure that it meets our needs and the needs of the region. – Davio Danielson, Councilor (Plainfield).

Final planning session: substantive, more to do

The final planning session of the Council’s 2010 strategic planning process took place on June 8, 2010. The session was very substantive (see video above), and benefited from the participation of staff and councilors.

Great public planning session and media coverage last week! [Update: video added]

I was so pleased to have thirty people from all over Hampshire County join us to help create a road map for the Council of Governments. The discussion was great. I am particularly grateful to Elise Ford (Springfield Institute intern), Lydia King (Councilors’ office), and the representatives from member and non-member towns who took the time to help inform this process.

Here (PDF) are the materials we used to guide the discussion, and see “In the News” for two great articles about the session (and the assessment). Stay tuned for video from the session, and a final strategic plan by the end of June. Thank you!

Final assessment released, public strategic planning exercise THIS THURSDAY

We are very pleased to present the results of the comprehensive participatory assessment of the Hampshire Council of Governments The assessment is the starting point for a strategic planning exercise on May 20th, THIS THURSDAY, at the Hadley Senior Center, 46 Middle Street. All are welcome. The assessment is the result of an interactive multi-format evaluation (focus groups, online survey, interviews, interactive blog, etc.) of the Council’s programs, administration, and finances. Over 200 regional stakeholders—including councilors, municipal employees, staff, elected officials, and residents—have participated in the process thus far. The goals of this process are to learn more about what towns need, and to plan the future of the Council around those priorities. The success of the process depends on broad participation.

The recommendations include:

• An energetic and accessible new administrator (possibly by merging with the Franklin Regional Council of Governments),
• A strong commitment to stakeholder engagement, and
• Creative approaches to alternative energy

Read the report and supporting materials for more recommendations, analysis, and reference material:

• Media release
• Summary
• Full report (36-page PDF)
• Media coverage

The final product will be a strategic plan for the Council that clarifies and updates the organization’s mission, and translates that mission into an implementation plan, outcomes, and a new approach to accountability and communications.

Thanks to all the folks in every corner of western Massachusetts who have participated in the process so far!

75 people from 21 towns complete Council survey

One element of our multi-format, multi-stakeholder assessment of the Council was an online survey. Seventy-six elected officials, municipal employees, and regular residents from twenty-one towns throughout western Massachusetts participated in the ten-question survey. Click here or on the slide below to see the responses to each of the questions represented graphically.

Belchertown focus group video (May 31, 2010)

Survey: We want your two cents!

SURVEY CLOSED. CLICK HERE FOR RESULTS.

Were you unable to attend a focus group? There is still a chance to contribute your perspectives.

We have put together a short survey (10 questions, about 10 minutes) which will allow us to find out what you think the Council can do to better serve you and your town. The survey covers regionalization, the administrator position, green energy, and other topics.

Everyone is encouraged to complete the survey, regardless of where you live or affiliation. Click here to start the survey. Thank you!

Governor Patrick, Senator Rosenberg, and town officials call for regionalization [video]

Governor Patrick and Senator Rosenberg’s comments (video below) just added more momentum to the active regionalization debate at Saturday’s Hampshire/Franklin Municipal Conference in Northampton (full program here). Combined with comments from other participants, and the results of a live survey conducted at the March 18 Joint Selectmen’s Association meeting in Greenfield, some interesting themes seem to be emerging:

• Small towns and large ones can save money
• Services can improve (win-win)
• Councils of government can help deal with increasing amounts of red tape
• Reducing red tape can increase local control and help offset local aid cuts
• More COG outreach is necessary

Consider attending one of the upcoming focus groups (details here) or contacting one of us directly to contribute your perspectives as both COGs map their future, and figure out how to seize this historic opportunity to do more for towns.

Franklin fears loss of local control, but Hampshire wants to merge? Live survey results.

Pretending to be American Idol audience members, select board members from towns all over Franklin and Hampshire Counties used remote control clickers to answer survey questions at the March 18 joint Selectmen’s Association meeting in Greenfield. The responses were instantly tallied on a screen at the front of the room. Here are two highlights:

• When asked about the main barrier  to  sharing  services  regionally, the most popular response was “loss of local control” (mostly Franklin County respondents). The second most popular response was “getting started” (mostly Hampshire County respondents).
• When asked how the two COGs should collaborate, the most popular response was to “coordinate without overlapping.” But the second most popular response (mostly Hampshire County respondents) was “Merge.”

Now this was a small and selective sample (about fifty select board members), but these are interesting responses to compare to other data collected as part of this process. The full presentation, including the 14 questions and responses, can be downloaded here (42-page PDF).

Cummington focus group [video]