Lakeville committee advances town outreach campaign, plans warrant for informational mailing

The Town of Lakeville Open Space Committee on March 6 agreed to move forward with a neighborhood outreach campaign that will pair free conservation brochures with a committee-produced informational flyer and an invitation to a public presentation.

The committee decided to prepare a warrant article for the spring town meeting (submission deadline April 14) asking for funding to cover printing, postage and modest refreshments for an informational presentation. Committee members discussed a working budget estimate of $2,000 to cover printing, envelopes, mailing labels and light refreshments; the final figure will be set after vendors provide price quotes.

Why it matters: Committee members said the mailing and flyers would inform landowners about conservation options (including Chapter 61 enrollments and conservation restrictions) and promote town open-space amenities. The plan pairs a targeted mailing to large parcels with townwide publicity and drop-off brochures at public venues so residents beyond the mailing list can attend a fall presentation.

Key decisions and timeline - Prepare a draft warrant and cost estimates by the committee's April 3 meeting so the warrant can be finalised before the April 14 submission deadline. If the town approves funding at the town meeting in June, the committee expects to do a mailing in late summer and hold a public presentation in the fall. - Target mailing size: committee members discussed a manageable targeted mailing of about 250 addresses, with flexibility to scale up or down once the mailing list is finalized and price quotes are received. Several members said a mailing of 250–500 is typical for similar programs. - Brochures and speaker support: the committee expects to use free brochures supplied by the outside program the meeting referenced as “Mass Woods” (the committee will confirm exact provider and obtain sample brochures and weight/size information to calculate postage).

Logistics and outreach materials Committee members laid out steps to finalize materials and logistics: obtain weight and sample brochures from the brochure supplier, get printing quotes for a color, double-sided informational flyer, determine envelope/labeling approach (in-house volunteer labeling vs. paid service at a print shop), and estimate postage via the post office once final package weight is known. The committee also discussed venues and AV needs for the presentation (options included the public library gallery room, the Old Town Hall and other town facilities) and noted some venues restrict refreshments; the committee will confirm venue availability and AV accommodations before scheduling.

Funding and process Members said the town administrator supported the outreach proposal and suggested the warrant request would need a town meeting vote to authorize funds. Committee members also discussed whether the committee should seek a modest annual operating budget for incidental expenses; they plan to ask the finance/select board staff for guidance on the correct process to request recurring or one‑time funds.

Next steps The committee chair will contact the brochure provider for samples, weight and typical quantities; solicit printing and postage quotes; draft a warrant article for review at the April 3 meeting; and assemble a final cost estimate to present with the warrant request. If town funding is approved, the committee will proceed with printing, mailing and scheduling the public presentation in the fall.

Ending: The committee framed the outreach as educational rather than a fundraising or land‑purchase request: members emphasized that the materials will explain conservation tools available to landowners and inform residents about Lakeville’s open‑space amenities.