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The Future of Public Safety Staffing
By Gregory T. Federspiel
January 27, 2023
One of the bigger issues the Town faces as a new budget is developed for the upcoming Fiscal Year (July 1 start date) is determining the right level of staffing for our public safety departments. The Police, Fire, and Harbor Departments are all confronting new challenges that require a hard look at current staffing and what changes might be needed going forward.
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Getting the Word out – Town Hall Communication Strategies
By Gregory T. Federspiel
The flow of accurate, timely information is a key element of good governance and critical to robust civic engagement. This is true for all levels of civic discourse but is most immediately felt here at the local level. Over three years ago the Town created the new part-time position of Communications Coordinator to bolster the flow of information both to and from residents. Many new strategies have been implemented and new approaches are always being evaluated.
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January 13, 2023
MBTA Zoning Analysis Getting Underway
By Gregory T. Federspiel
The state legislators enacted a new section to the state’s zoning laws, MGL Chapter 40, Section 3a, which seeks to establish by-right multi-family housing within a half mile of MBTA transit stations. The goals of the new law are to promote the use of public transportation, improve air quality and address the need for increased housing. The challenge for Manchester is to see if we can comply with the new law while maintaining the character of the community.
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