FARMINGTON, CT — Farmington officials will undertake a major update of the town's long-term development plan while simultaneously surveying residents about their priorities and satisfaction with municipal services.
The Farmington Town Council unanimously voted July 28 to authorize Farmington Town Manager Kathy Blonski to sign a $129,190 agreement with Weston & Sampson for consulting services to update Farmington's Plan of Conservation and Development, or POCD.
The contract includes a townwide community survey that will also help guide an update of the town council's strategic plan.
Blonski, Farmington Assistant Town Manager Kat Krajewski, and Farmington Town Planner Shannon Rutherford discussed the proposal with council members during a special meeting.
The POCD, which municipalities are required to update every 10 years under state law, provides a framework for decisions affecting Farmington's future development.
The update will examine housing, economic development, conservation, transportation, infrastructure, recreation and future land use, according to town officials.
The consultant will review previous town studies and plans, examine demographic and community trends, and conduct public outreach through surveys, workshops, focus groups and meetings with stakeholders.
Town staff recommended combining public outreach for the POCD with a community survey the town council had been considering as part of its strategic planning process.
The survey is expected to identify residents' priorities, measure satisfaction with town services and generate information that can be used for both planning efforts.
Focus groups are expected to include residents, businesses, municipal departments, boards and commissions, and other community stakeholders.
Council members said combining the initiatives should reduce costs and duplication while better aligning Farmington's long-term development planning with the council's strategic priorities.
Officials also discussed the importance of obtaining responses representative of the broader community.
Additional funding is expected to support outreach and marketing, and participation will be monitored while the survey is underway.
That would allow the town to conduct targeted outreach if officials identify groups or areas that are underrepresented.
Council members unanimously approved the Weston & Sampson contract following a motion by Councilor Patricia Boye-Williams and a second by Councilor Dave Wlodkowski.
The council separately voted unanimously to establish an oversight committee responsible for reviewing and finalizing the community survey questions.
Boye-Williams will chair the committee.
Voting members are:
Blonski, Krajewski, and Rutherford will serve as nonvoting members.
The committee's charge is to review and finalize questions addressing both the POCD update and the town's strategic plan.
The committee resolution was also approved following a motion by Boye-Williams and a second by Wlodkowski.
For the minutes of the July 28 Farmington Town Council meeting, click on this link.
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