Developing goals for the community

In my previous communities, I worked with the governing board to develop a series of goals and objectives. These goals are designed to serve two principal purposes. First, they provide the Board of Selectmen a basis upon which to evaluate my performance. As part of each goal, a specific measure to determine success or failure is included. Second, the goals provide an opportunity for the Board of Selectmen to direct my extra efforts toward a vision for the town, above and beyond the daily tasks and responsibilities of my job. The goals and objectives are agreed to between the board and me on an annual basis. For now, the goals that I submitted to the board for consideration are for the remainder of this calendar year.I have created five categories for my goals and objectives. While the goals should be attainable with diligent effort, I consider the challenges to be more difficult to achieve, the failure of which is not necessarily considered a critical event for evaluative purposes. My first category is community development — efforts to enhance the town’s quality of life. The goals here include implementing a new town website; submitting a Safe Routes to Schools grant application; and developing a Complete Streets concept for Main Street (more on this in a future column). My challenge is to secure $500,000 in grant funding for the Civil War Soldiers Monument.The second category is economic development — efforts to enhance the town’s financial stability. These goals include recruiting a developer for one of the large vacant buildings in downtown; establishing quarterly meetings with industrial park occupants; and developing a capital improvement plan. My challenge is to prepare a River District Redevelopment Plan.The third set of goals is staff development — efforts to enhance staff professionalism. The goals are crafting a similar set of goals for each supervisor; reviewing the current Town Hall organizational structure; and conducting an off-site team-building exercise. My challenge is to revise the personnel code.The fourth category is professional development — efforts to enhance my abilities. My goals are maintaining my status as a credentialed city manager through my professional organization; spending an entire day with each of the 11 town departments; and completing six hours of continuing education related to negotiation and mediation skills. My challenge is to attain a leadership position with a regional agency.The final category is personal development — efforts to enhance my own quality of life. My goals are deploying to a disaster site when necessary as part of my National Response Team; getting my three daughters to Connecticut for an extended visit; and getting to Boston for a long weekend. My challenge is to take a non-professionally-related class at Northwestern Connecticut Community College.Again, all of these goals and challenges have specific measures to be considered a success, as well as a specific date by when the task is to be completed. As each date arrives, each goal or challenge will be coded green as a success or red as a failure (yellow if something related to the conditions has changed). I do not expect to have everything coded green. The goals and challenges are meant to be difficult to achieve, requiring focus, dedication and the assistance of staff. Despite that difficulty, I look forward to doing my best to accomplish every goal.These goals and challenges were presented to the Board of Selectmen for formal consideration at the May 16 board meeting. The goals are all subject to negotiation and are a critical part of my relationship with the board. I welcome the board’s comments and suggestions.These goals and objectives also provide a general framework for my vision of where to take the town. As a result, they are subject to your review and comment as well. Please share your thoughts about what I described above with me or one of the selectmen. If you desire more detail about the goals, please contact me. I look forward to this journey with you.Dale Martin is the town manager of Winchester.