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LONG RANGE PLANNING COMMITTEE - QUESTIONNAIRE FAQ and LINK TO RESULTS Frequently Asked Questions about long-range planning: 1. What
is the Long-range Planning Committee (ÒLRPCÓ)
all about?
The Town of Somerset is following a best business practice developed for governments, non-profits, and corporations. It has been established that forming a long-range planning committee to determine future needs is an optimum way to make government responsive to the needs of its citizens. The mission of the Town of Somerset LRPC is to develop guidelines for the Town Council and Mayor for growth, change, and maintenance within the Town. The committee is directed, but not limited, to focus on budget, development, facilities, and governance (including personnel and communications). The goal is to ensure continuation of our quality of life and to meet future needs of residents as the town grows and changes in both an organized and consistent fashion.
The Council wants to take a long-term view to its decision making Ð determining the future in a thoughtful, not haphazard, manner. The Council is responsible for evaluating the Town's governance and facilities, for looking at how development is affecting the Town, and for approving the five-year budget presented by the Mayor (and revised annually). The Council agrees that planning with an eye to the future is the best way to provide consistent and adequate services to residents. This plan will also guide the Council and Mayor when dealing with the community outside Somerset. No. The LRPC will make concrete recommendations on those issues as to which there is consensus in the Town. It will recommend a process for prioritizing projects. It will recommend a process for dealing with issues that do not have a consensus. The Town Council will work with the plan to develop specific projects within the limits of the annual budget, within the five-year budget plan, and with the priorities as identified in an annual review of the plan by the Council with residents and the Mayor. The data will be used to create a blueprint or guideline which will be approved by the Council and/or residents, for the Town government to use annually in their strategic and budget planning. Most long-range planning efforts cost far more than $14,000. Somerset is fortunate to have many knowledgeable and competent residents who are volunteering their time and expertise to this project. The money being spent is to ensure unbiased development of a plan that will be of value to the Town government as it plans its strategy each year. The resident volunteer hours spent on this project far outweigh the costs of hiring an outside consultant. The consultant will guarantee the project truly reflects the sense of residents regarding their Town government, development in and around the Town, the use and maintenance of Town facilities, and the sequence of implementing projects in and for the Town within budgetary constraints. The specifics of the LRPC budget are below. PROJECTED BUDGET FOR
LRPC THROUGH MAY 2002 Volunteer Costs -
donated to the Town Town Pages
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