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Committee outlines outreach plan: FAQs, side‑by‑side comparisons, presentations and social media
Summary
Members discussed public outreach for the charter proposal and agreed to prepare clear comparison materials, FAQs and social‑media content. They recommended presentations to civic groups and the select board and suggested that staff or paid help be engaged to manage regular social‑media updates and materials distribution.
The committee discussed how to explain its charter recommendation to voters and how to structure public outreach ahead of any ballot or town meeting action.
Members recommended producing two primary deliverables for presentations and online publication: (1) a side‑by‑side comparison showing what remains the same and what would change under the proposed council model, and (2) a frequently asked questions (FAQ) document that anticipates and answers common concerns. "I have found in life that an FAQ...heads things off very effectively," one member said, calling for a concise, shareable document for presentations and social media.
The group suggested a multi‑pronged outreach approach: appear at civic and service groups (for example, Kiwanis, Rotary and other local organizations), present to the select board, attend planning‑board and advisory‑board meetings, and host public forums (a Saturday and an evening option were suggested). Committee members also discussed creating short social‑media posts and graphics, posting meeting highlights and producing short sound bites taken from recorded meetings to keep content regular and shareable.
Several members recommended retaining or hiring someone (paid or contracted) to manage the outreach stream: social‑media posts, regular updates, and downloadable handouts. Members said the committee’s existing web page should contain updated materials (comparisons, FAQs and flowcharts) and noted that some previously posted FAQs were not currently visible on the town web page.
Next steps: staff and volunteers will draft a side‑by‑side comparison and an FAQ for the committee to review; committee members proposed breaking into smaller working groups to prepare materials but requested staff confirm public‑meeting posting rules before forming subcommittees. The committee also asked staff to restore and keep updated a study‑committee web page with the materials and to prepare a schedule of presentations to civic groups.
Ending: members agreed that clear, consistent materials and a steady social‑media presence would improve public understanding and asked staff to return with draft deliverables at the next meeting.
