Adams Continues Strategic Planning Process
ADAMS, Mass. — The Selectmen have begun drafting a strategic plan document that will reflect the vision of the board and the community.
The Selectmen used Wednesday's workshop meeting to continue the process of whittling down thoughts from the community strategic planning sessions held this past summer.
Town Administrator Tony Mazzucco said the draft reflects that community effort and many large goals within the draft plan are consistent with discussions that took place.
"I think as a whole it is consistent with what we went through," he said. "There was a general agreement on big picture ideas, which is what a vision is."
Mazzucco added that the board should use a format when filing all of the town goals and actions into the document.
"We have to come up with a form for each section that will help us inform how the information goes in and what goes in," he said. "We can come up with what that standard format would look like for each area and that will help us start putting that data in."
He added that this will help weed out goals the town may not have a plan for right away. He said if something does not fit in the plan, it can always be filed away for a later date.
Director of Community Development Donna Cesan and Selectman Arthur "Skip" Harrington provided two different drafts of a vision statement that will anchor the document.
Both documents focused on maintaining a community that is excellent to live, work, and play in for both residents and visitors of all ages. They also mentioned the importance of protecting and capitalizing on natural and historic resources as well as fostering an artistic and cultural community.
The board agreed to combine the two documents and condense them.
"It should be something that you should almost be able to memorize," Selectman John Duval said. "I think that it should be something people should be proud of and pass on."
Selectman Joseph Nowak then provided notes on the importance of fostering a small-town feel in Adams.
"A small town is not defined by its physical size but feeling of community," he said. "Maintaining our small town feel will become more difficult as our longtime family trees and generations of families dwindle."
Nowak said the town should be open to change and embrace diversity. He said it should continue to advocate for volunteer-driven events for all members of the community.
He also read that safety and crime should continue to be a concern if they want to maintain the small-town feel. He added that the government also has a role in creating a tight-knit community through the regulatory process of zoning and building laws.
Nowak also read his thoughts on the importance of maintaining the natural beauty of Adams and the environment.
"A natural environment is an environment that is as close as possible to its natural state," he said. "One that is relatively unaffected by human activity."
He advocated for harnessing the natural beauty as an economic catalyst, but with the foresight to "maintain the harmony within the environment" and protect it.
Nowak concluded by pointing out the many farms in Adams and noted other communities in the Berkshires that do not have as many or the agricultural history. He advocated for resurrecting the Agricultural Commission and supporting farms.
The board agreed to condense the material to create a more consistent document. The Selectmen will continue to run through the plan during its workshop meetings.
Mazzucco said the Selectmen should create policy that forces them to review the plan and update it so the plan does not just sit on a shelf. He added that it would also be beneficial as the board
"If it becomes the policy of the board it will be good for future boards because they always change," he said. "Five years from now when we have a whole different board we will still have plan and will be on schedule."
Tags: master plan,
