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Northborough senior center begins strategic‑planning outreach with survey, focus groups and open house
Summary
The Town of Northborough Council on Aging launched a strategic‑planning outreach after its May 12 meeting, calling for wider community input via an online and paper survey, targeted focus groups and interviews with town departments, civic groups and volunteers; organizers aim to finish interviews by July and present findings to the Select Board later this summer.
Fred Bashan, chairperson of the Town of Northborough Council on Aging, opened the May 12 meeting and shifted the discussion to a strategic planning process the council plans to complete this year. "Now I'm going to strategic planning," Bashan said as the group moved into outreach planning.
The council outlined a three‑part outreach approach: (1) an online and paper community survey that staff placed in the town newsletter and on the town website, (2) targeted focus groups and one‑on‑one interviews with groups that already meet at the senior center and with external stakeholders, and (3) a public open house in early June to attract residents who do not normally use center services. Carol, director of the Town of Northborough Senior Center, told members the survey link will run in the town paper the week of May 23 to boost responses.
Why it matters: the council is updating its strategic plan and wants input from users, caregivers, town departments and community organizations before setting priorities and recommendations for services, hours and staffing that could affect future budgets and programming.
Details and process: members named stakeholder groups that the council will engage, including Daybreak participants, volunteer groups, bingo and quilting groups, caregivers, library and recreation staff, health and human services, first responders and civic organizations. The council debated methods and norms: some groups will be convened as open‑ended focus groups; others will be interviewed one‑on‑one to reduce duplication. Members emphasized using a consistent script and advance notice of questions so participants can prepare.
The council set an internal timeline: volunteers agreed to lead interviews during June and July, with a progress update scheduled for the June meeting and compilation of results thereafter. Bashan and others said the council plans to summarize findings for the Select Board once outreach is complete; members discussed presenting survey summaries to the Select Board in August after interviews conclude.
Organizers also asked staff to broaden outreach by sending email invitations to all town boards, committees and commissions and to use town distribution lists to reach more volunteers and residents. Carol said staff can adapt a circulated script for each audience and will post meeting schedules and materials on the senior center website and in email newsletters.
Next steps: volunteers will carry out assigned interviews and focus groups through July, staff will continue promoting the survey and confirm the open‑house date and logistics, and the council will review results at its June meeting and plan a Select Board presentation once data are consolidated.
