Mayor Warren and staff will be holding a community meet-up tomorrow, March 30, to discuss the “desired outcomes that we seek to achieve to help build a more sustainable livable and vibrant 21st century community.”
What I think that means in English is: Department heads will be talking and answering questions about new projects and initiatives that are intended to make Newton a better place to live.
More details here. Or at least prettier pictures. Questions can be emailed in advance to [email protected].
The meet-up takes place from 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the Hyde Center.
Of course they want the questions ahead of time.
I notice that affordable housing is conspicuously absent from the list.
Joanne – it doesn’t say you have to submit questions in advance, just that you can. I think that’s a good thing since it means they can look up any info they need to answer one’s question beforehand.
Actually I read it to mean they will only take written questions. Anyone that went to the meeting want to comment?
It was a pretty amazing event in that one could walk up to any department head in the city — and the School Department — and ask a question or share a view.
The mayor spoke briefly as did David Fleishman, but really this was about one-on-one conversations.
I thought the high turnout of residents and the lines in front of the different department tables, spoke to a need as well as a successful idea on the part of the mayor’s office.I enjoyed the opportunity to take a look at Angier design as well.
I was able to get clarification on a couple of questions in a more informal setting than city hall.
Thanks to all who participated and all who showed up.
I hope they keep this going. It sounds like a great idea.
Kudos to Mayor Warren, his staff and all the Department heads who gave up their precious week-end hours to inform and educate the public about the workings of their departments and plans for the future. Thanks as well to the Commissions and Non-profits who also participated. This City certainly has a lot going on.
I thought the turn-out was disappointing, tho. The 80 or so people in attendance represented 0.1% of Newton’s population, and those folks were the usual suspects: citizens already involved in some aspect of life in this City. Hopefully this will be a repeating event and will inspire a higher participation rate.
It was also disappointing how few Aldermen showed up. Maybe they will plan a similar event of their own.
@Joanne. I only talked with two officials from City Hall and they were both happy to answer the questions I had.