Council debates survey length and reach; forms to be shortened and split

Council members performed a detailed review of a proposed survey intended to guide future programming and outreach for the new facility. Multiple participants said the draft was too long and urged trimming or splitting it into targeted instruments — one for current participants and another for the broader community — and using branching logic for paper copies so respondents do not answer irrelevant sections.

"This surveyed this long for especially that's aimed at elderly folks is pretty pretty likely to cause survey fatigue," a member with experience in survey design said during the discussion, urging a shorter instrument and optional follow-ups. Members proposed removing participation lists that the town already tracks, focusing essential questions on barriers to participation and what new programs residents want, and adding a short demographic set that includes an option to "prefer not to answer." The council agreed to form a working subgroup to revise the draft (volunteers named during the meeting) and to coordinate multi-channel distribution — in-person, paper, digital, and mailed postcards — to reach housebound residents and those unaware of the center's services.

The group also recommended testing the shortened instrument with a small convenience sample at a lunch event to check completion time and clarity before townwide distribution. Staff will circulate a revised Google Doc for comment and present a cleaned draft at the next meeting for approval.