Sackville's strategic plan developed through "grassroots consultation"

Sackville residents have played a key role in setting out a vision for their community.

Mount Allison University professor Michael Fox, who has been developing the town's five-year strategic plan with his community planning students over the past few months, said the greatest strength of the proposed plan lies with the community consultation that has taken place since May.

"This has not been controlled by (town) council or staff in any way," said Fox during council's monthly meeting last Monday night, where he presented the draft document during a public hearing.

Fox and a student research assistant spent the summer interviewing close to 200 local citizens who wanted to be part of the planning process.

"So we've brought forward a vision to council that talks about the kind of Sackville that people told them they wanted," he said.

Fox pointed out that the interviews lasted anywhere from 40 minutes to two-and-a-half hours and believes it was truly a "grassroots consultation" where many issues were discussed, from community values to economic development and tourism, and from residents' expectations to unmet needs.

"We really focused on 'where do we want the community to be five years down the road, what is the vision of the community and what should the priorities be?"

Fox said plenty of recommendations were suggested, and the proposed plan sets out how those goals might be reached.

Open, accessible and transparent local government was a priority that was heard loud and clear, said Fox, and this means communications will need to be enhanced with residents, businesses, Mount A students and staff, and other community partners.

The plan suggested this could be achieved through "increased public input and engagement" in the planning and policy process, and reporting to taxpayers on critical financial documents and plans.

The plan also clearly points to the immediate need to recruit a new Chief Administrative Officer. But this time around, it has been suggested that council, in consultation with the community, develop a CAO bylaw to provide a clear description and good governance model that would "set out a process to hire, recruit and measure results."

Other priorities in the plan include: developing an economic strategy for the town; developing a livable, healthy and sustainable community; enhancing the town's arts, cultural, heritage and recreational opportunities; and enhancing the town's working relationship with Mount Allison.

"A lot of these strategies are already ongoing, but they (council and staff) want to work on strengthening those points," said Fox.

There are 30 action items listed in the plan, everything from developing a multi-year financial plan to moving away from the liaison councillor model to revising council's monthly meeting format to developing a comprehensive communications strategy for the town and implementing a wireless network for the downtown core.

"It's quite an intricate, comprehensive document."

Fox hopes over the next few weeks, prior to the final plan landing on council's desk at the next regular meeting Dec. 14, that local residents will review the draft plan and provide even further input and comments.

Mayor Pat Estabrooks also urged residents to take some time to read the strategic plan and voice their opinions.

"This is a direction we would like to take," she said of the plan.

"This is our roadmap for the next few years so it's important that we get feedback from the public if they think we're going in the wrong direction."

For more information or to provide feedback on the proposed strategic plan document, contact Michael Fox at mfox@mta.ca or 364-2440 or contact the mayor or town councillors.