Town Lists Top Concerns

In Newtown Survey

By John Voket

While fewer than four in ten, a “significant minority,” of residents responding to a townwide survey conducted last fall want to see a town hall project at Fairfield Hills stopped, residents’ concerns about a lack of governmental vision, access to information, traffic speed, and substance abuse were identified as “urgent” top-tier issues.

These and dozens of other points and nuances were presented and discussed by approximately 40 residents who turned out January 8 to hear Newtown survey and statistical expert Paul Lundquist present the outcomes of his survey, which was conducted last fall and handled through his national survey firm, Harrison Group.

The presentation report is available for viewing or downloading from The Newtown Bee website, www.newtownbee.com.

Projecting charts and breakdowns on the wall of Edmond Town Hall’s Alexandria Room, Mr Lundquist was able to get through about 15 minutes of his two-hour-plus presentation before several residents began questioning and interpreting his observations.

Among them was resident Kevin Fitzgerald, who is a longtime opponent of a municipal office project at Fairfield Hills. He countered Mr Lundquist, whose survey identified 38 percent, or a “significant minority” of respondents, wanting to stop the town hall project at Fairfield Hills.

“The way I read it, 93 percent of people don’t want the project,” Mr Fitzgerald said, referring to the seven percent of respondents who said they trusted town officials opinion that a new central town hall was needed, and supported the project.

Mary Ann Jacob, a local PTA leader who has helped crunch statistical data following recent failed budgets, was on hand to defend the project. She counted herself among the 11 percent of survey respondents who thought the project was appropriate use of the space at Fairfield Hills.

“I was at that town meeting, I voted for it and I expect my vote to stand,” Ms Jacob said. “I don’t want somebody telling me now my vote didn’t count.”

The town hall proposal was clearly what many of the people came to this week’s presentation to talk about, despite the fact that Mr Lundquist was prepared with statistical data on a variety of issues, ranging from satisfaction with local schools, opinions about senior and recreation programs, even participants’ favorite thing about living in Newtown.

“That would be the two-dollar movies at Edmond Town Hall,” Mr Lundquist said to a round of nods and a spatter of applause from the audience. He said two-thirds of residents said Newtown is the favorite place they have lived, having made many of their very best friends here in town.

After counting down the favorite things about Newtown, the statistician quickly shifted to the town’s top concern, that town government lacks a clear vision of the future, and its ability to provide clear and comprehensive information about programs and where tax dollars are being spent.

Speaking about the opinion that Newtown’s government lacks the ability or willingness to communicate to residents, Mr Lundquist acknowledged the comprehensive amount of information provided 24/7 through the municipal website, newtown-ct.gov, and weekly reports on town meetings and projects in The Bee.

“It’s something the town does have, but the perception among members of the public is that it’s lacking.” He clarified that two-thirds (76 percent) believe the town government lacks a clear vision for the future, and 57 percent perceived a lack of ability to communicate with residents.

Mr Lundquist then moved to the greatest public health concerns.

“Sixty-seven percent of those surveyed said substance abuse among teens was the ‘most urgent,’ or ‘major’ problem facing the community,” he said, adding that several social networking websites offer plenty of corroboration that Newtown teens can access parties with alcohol and drugs available, “virtually every weekend of the year.”

He also pointed out that more than half responding believe the prevalence of ticks and Lyme disease is an “urgent” problem.

During the end segment of his presentation this week, Mr Lundquist discussed his “take-aways” after considering the full body of statistical results.

“Town leaders must develop and communicate a clear vision for the future of Newtown,” he said. “This is currently the top perceived problem for the town. If there is a formal vision that has been developed, allow residents to understand it and ‘kick the tires’ of this plan to see how it aligns with community expectations.”

He said the survey clearly directs town leaders to communicate better with residents.

“Embrace 21st Century technology,” he said. “Nearly everything residents should know should be easily available on the Internet.”

Mr Lundquist said officials should take traffic management concerns seriously.

“Speed is easier to address than congestion — but both must be dealt with,” he said.

“The town should take steps to better understand how big an issue teen substance abuse really is,” he said. “This is not a reputation we should perpetuate, if untrue, or sweep under the rug, if true.”

Putting aside the controversial town hall development, Mr Lundquist said officials, including the Fairfield Hills Authority, should “hit a home run on residents’ recreation desires.”

“This will build good will and help welcome other commercial development options on campus,” he said. “The purpose should be to help fund the resources the community will directly benefit from. Residents generally desire commercial development, but Fairfield Hills is not necessarily seen as the ‘main stage’ where this should occur.”

A total of 852 surveys were completed in September and October, and the results were weighted through various methods to provide a three percent plus or minus variable of accuracy. Following the meeting, Mr Lundquist reiterated his offer to visit local boards, commissions, and other groups who might want survey presentations on specific outcomes in his survey.