Selectmen approve strategic plan

WINSTED —  After a series of meetings throughout the year to develop a strategic plan for the town, the Board of Selectmen approved the plan at its meeting on Monday, Dec. 5.

Originally, the board approved a schedule for developing the plan in November 2015.

Meetings to develop the plan were held throughout 2016, and some of the meetings were facilitated by Stacy Litke.

Litke was a member of the town’s Economic Development Commission, but moved out of town earlier this year.

Plan development

As set during a selectmen’s meeting in November 2015, the goals of the plan are to identify “why our local government exists, whom it serves, what benefits will be derived from the services it provides and the vision our administration has regarding how citizens’ needs can be best served. The strategic plan will be the deliverable as the result of this process and serves as a blueprint for how the Board of Selectmen will achieve their vision.”

The 17-page plan was developed through a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis, along with peer analysis and brainstorming sessions. 

The introduction of the plan says, “Developing a well thought out strategic plan is one of the most important tasks an organization undertakes. Unfortunately, these plans are often created halfheartedly and ultimately end up untouched.” 

“This plan was developed and adopted by the full Board of Selectmen and is a bipartisan effort,” Mayor Candy Perez wrote via email after the Dec. 6 meeting. “We spent four Saturday morning sessions last January and February to discuss the plan and then followed up over the next few months. [Town Manager] Bob Geiger was involved, as we need his input and follow through with staff on some goals.”

Perez added that appropriate town funding was not available for various goals and projects listed in previous plans.

SWOT report and statistics

The first few two pages of the report lists the SWOT analysis and is divided into recreation, tourism, infrastructure, education, economy and location categories. 

“​I think the most important item in each of the categories is human capital and the ability of groups of people,” Perez wrote via email. “The Board of Selectmen, [municipal] staff, commissions, the citizens and businesses [are the ones who can] continue the momentum building in town.”

As for peer analysis, the town compared various statistics to those of other towns in the area, including Plymouth, Thomaston, Torrington, New Hartford and Canton.

Statistics compared included population, new housing projects in 2013, unemployment statistics in November 2014 and per capita income.

Under key observations of the peer analysis, the report says that Winsted has a “debt per capita that is quite a bit lower than similar towns in the area. Perhaps conservative lending options could be leveraged to achieve some of the initial goals that require funding, including marketing, promotion and initiatives to attract businesses.”

According to the statistics provided in the report, Winsted’s per capita debt is $442.

In comparison, New Hartford’s per capita debt is  $1,400, Torrington’s per capita debt is  $842 and Canton’s per capita debt is $826.

Also, the report says that “operating expense [for Winsted] as a percent of revenue could be lower. May be room for some efficiencies.”

Winsted’s operating expenses are given as 30.9 percent of revenue.

Mission statement

As part of the plan, the board reviewed and revised the town’s vision and mission statement.

“The former mission and vision statement was one that I don’t think the Board of Selectmen had written,” Perez wrote via email. “During the process we updated it and adopted it formally.”

The vision statement, as given in the plan: “The Town of Winchester seeks sustainable growth that protects our natural and historic resources, while preserving our values, qualities, and culture.” ​

The new mission statement adds more detail to the vision statement: “The Town of Winchester strives to promote and improve quality of life, enhancing a sense of community, and preserving the integrity of our small-town identity and heritage. We are committed to fostering respect, decorum, and hospitality.  Town government supports initiatives that create a welcoming and affordable environment for residents, businesses and visitors alike. We strive to provide excellence through a responsible and accessible town government. We encourage public participation and collaboration from our citizens and businesses. Winchester welcomes all to join in our renaissance.”

Goals, objectives and 

strategies

The report establishes various goals and strategies for economic development and growth for the town. 

The listed goals include the establishment of various town programs by set deadlines throughout 2017.

The first goal listed is for Town Manager Geiger and employees of the building department to create a program to “reduce or rebate building permits for new construction and renovation” by June 1, 2017.

The second goal is for Geiger, Town Planner Steven Sadlowski and other various municipal staff members to create a program “for tax incentives for new and existing buildings for expansion, renovation and hiring” by April 15, 2017.

Another goal is for Geiger and Sadlowski to create a revenue map “for current and potential residential or commercial areas of development.”

The revenue map would “encourage the development of commercial and industrial growth in all sectors of the town.”

The deadline for the revenue map will be on or before March 1, 2017 and will be published on the town’s website.

The full report is online at www.townofwinchester.org/sites/winchesterct/files/file/file/strategic_pl...