Steps To Effective Management

To the Editor:

The Independent Party of Newtown has been advocating for a strategic long-range plan for Newtown for the past three years. I have pledged that as first selectman, I will set that process in motion.

However, the real work is creating the implementation structure necessary to carry out a long-range plan. Businesses understand that its implementing and measuring the results that make the difference between success and failure. The Fairfield Hills Master Plan is an example of a plan that was ill-conceived and poorly executed, resulting in millions of dollars of unanticipated expenses.

Therefore, along with a long-range plan and process, Bill Furrier, my running mate, and I will institute a professional, up-to-date system of performance and project management. How effectively and timely a long-range plan or budget is implemented will be key to solving many of Newtown’s problems effectively and cost-efficiently.

A number of steps are important to effectively managing an enterprise such as our town. Strategic Plans and other projects, including budgets, have to be broken down into achievable goals. Detailed plans have to be established for each goal. There has to be a timetable and milestones. Each step of the plan has to have a person or group assigned who is responsible for completing the task. Each step can and must be budgeted so we know the expected costs and can measure them step by step. That’s how you stay on budget and avoid any surprises. Ongoing performance targets, measurements and communications have to be established ensuring that the plan is being carried out. Each step has to have a quality component that allows us to measure how effectively the tasks and, ultimately, the plans have been implemented.

The plan has to be constantly reviewed to keep it on course, solve problems solved and assess continued feasibility. We need to communicate the plan and its steps to the community. We must keep them abreast of our success and our failures so we can learn from them. Keeping the community advised will help residents understand what we are doing with their tax dollars and reassure them that their tax dollars are being invested in our community wisely.

The benefit is that Newtown will have an efficient performance management system to deliver the results you, the voters and taxpayers, expect from your town government. There will be fewer surprises. Costs can be driven down and productivity increased. Those doing the work will feel more organized and satisfied with their projects. And, most importantly, Newtown will achieve more of our goals and desires on time and on budget.

Bruce Walczak

Candidate for First Selectman

12 Glover Ave, Newtown                                       September 15, 2009