BRIGHTON — Members of the Brighton/Island Pond community are being invited to participate in a series of forums in town to share their concerns and ideas and develop a concrete action plans for the future of the town.
The event will take place on October 4, 2016.
This first step in this Community Visit Process will be “Brighton Community Visit Day,” an opportunity to come together to discuss assets, challenges, and opportunities for action within six focus forums being held throughout the day.
“Come engage in an exciting conversation about the future of our town and enjoy a free community dinner with your neighbors,” said Brighton resident and Selectboard Chair Doug Niles, who has stepped up to serve as the chairperson of the Community Visit Process.
The Brighton Community Visit Day will include focus groups on six different topics at meeting rooms in the town and a free community roast pork and ham dinner at the American Legion.
There will be free childcare and activities available for kids ages 3 and up provided by the Northwoods Stewardship Center at the Island Pond Library during the forums.
Forum topics were decided by a town steering committee representing people from varied occupations and parts of town.
The topics they set as starting points for the forums on October 4 include transportation and infrastructure, addressing substance abuse and mental health, growing the economy, revitalizing downtown, the future of their school, and recreation and natural resources.
“There is no better way for townspeople to express their opinions and volunteer their ideas than VCRD’s Community Visit Program,” said Town Administrator Joel Cope. “This event will provide the opportunity for involvement of the public to visualize the town’s future and to learn about and connect with resources available to help realize that vision.”