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A commitment to renewal recognizes that a strong community requires effective review and updating of its actions, practices and assets. The Town of Plaistow undertook a number of renewal projects during 2007, some apparent to the general public and others in operations. These have aided the Town to move forward in a productive and re-energized direction for the future.
Most visibly, we continued the renovations of Town Hall. Building on the structural work completed several years ago, this year’s work focused on the finishing touches of paint, carpet, lighting and furnishings. Staff and the public benefit from professional workspaces that are both visually appealing and productively organized. I appreciate the patience of both staff and the public as we moved things around and temporarily relocated offices during the work.
Our digital “Town Hall” underwent a major overhaul during the past year, too. The Town’s updated website is intended to be easier for users to find things and is much easier for staff to update. As the project goes forward, the plan is to continue to make useful information readily available to the public. Please advise any of the staff if there is something that you would like to see on the website. In the coming year, we expect to dramatically increase what is on the site, including easy to use on-line mapping building on the Town’s Geographic Information Systems databases.
With the support of Town Meeting voters, we continued to make responsible deposits to various equipment capital reserve funds in order to prepare for future equipment replacement. This year, reserves were used for replacement of a Highway Department truck. Additionally, we continue to expand the fire suppression water line, with this year’s work occurring in the vicinity of the Old County Road/Route 125 intersection. Impact fees from development were used for improvements on Wentworth Avenue, continued planning for Safety Complex expansion and a mobile office trailer to handle growth of the Police Department. The Fire Department secured grant funding and matching donations through the Fireman’s Association that allowed installation of a new cascade system that allows for onsite refilling of oxygen tanks
used by firefighters. Finally, funds raised this year, as well as reserves from previous years, brought the new recreation fields off Old County Road to completion for opening in the spring of 2008.
Behind the scenes, several renewal efforts also occurred. With the help of the Planning Department and the CIP Committee, the Capital Improvement Plan was completely overhauled and updated. Many Town departments participated in a comprehensive review of all document storage requirements in an effort to better manage Town records. New polices were written in a number of areas including donations, credit card use and internal controls. All departments were involved in a GIS needs assessment that identified enhanced ways to use technology to improve operations and service to the public. A full review of equipment for cable program production and distribution occurred, with new equipment planned for installation at the end of 2007 and beginning of 2008. The Town’s mosquito control program, developed by
the Health Officer, continues to serve as a model for other towns as the region seeks to educate its residents and to protect, where possible, from the threat of EEE.
Lastly, we undertook, with the assistance of an engineer, a full assessment of the water line to develop strategies for future maintenance and renewal.
Within the community, development projects at State Line Plaza, a proposed Starbucks and extensive widening and median work on Route 125, prepared our retail corridor for future growth. At the same time, plans were finalized for the upcoming replacement of the Garden Road Bridge. This year also marked the first year of road improvements based on detailed planning from a pavement management program. In addition to road work, major drainage improvements also were installed on Duston and Stanwood Avenues. Other proposed developments raised more challenges for boards and staff, notably plans for elderly housing that generated significant discussion and a special town meeting to repeal the article enabling these projects.
Financially, the Town saw several positive developments. First, with the support of department heads carefully monitoring spending and adjustments to tax billing, the Town’s cash flow management program allowed avoidance of all tax anticipation borrowing. At the end of 2006, the Town borrowed in advance of taxes and avoiding that was a key goal for 2007, requiring weekly monitoring and strategizing with the Finance office and Treasurer. Additionally, the Town benefits from a decision of the Library Trustees to advance payment of the library bond, which will result in lower debt service payments in 2008 and 2009. Finally, in the area of assessing, a review of commercial values along Route 125 occurred this year, as the ratio of sales to assessed value did not meet the same level of targets as other property in
town.
The Town benefits from the active participation of its citizens in various boards and committees. These committees are a vital part of town operations, from planning and zoning to events like Old Home Day. Maintaining momentum for renewal relies on input from many sources. An informed citizenry is vital for future success. One tool the Town uses for such information is the Town Report. The 2006 Town Report was recognized by the Local Government Center as the First Place report in the state.
Finally, the Town is blessed with a smart, creative and dedicated staff. Working with these people on a daily basis, I see their commitment to public service and to improving our community. Many of their actions go unrecognized or unheralded because they are just “doing their job.” I am grateful to all Town staff for their support over the past year and their service to our community. It is an honor to work with these professionals as well as the dedicated citizens that populate our boards and committees as well as those residents who simply drop in to offer advice, make a phone call or send an e-mail. With all of these people working together, Plaistow will continue renewal, growth and change into the future.
Respectfully submitted,
Jason Hoch
Town Manager
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