By Greg Reilly
Moderator
Stratford Community Conversations moderator Greg Reilly announced that the discussion meetings for the general public will resume their every-three-week schedule on September 13th from 6:30 -7:30 p.m. at the Stratford YMCA.
Additional Conversations have been scheduled for October 4th at the Unitarian Universalist Church on Huntington Road, and then October 25th, November 15th, and December 6th at venues to be announced. All Community Conversations are from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Over the course of five Community Conversations since the series launched in April, topics have ranged from town parks; sidewalks; trees; automobile speeding; hordes of bicyclists and motor bikes on the roadways; police enforcement and education; land use at the Seawall in Lordship; public notifications about Town government meetings; elections; redistricting; early voting; the mayor’s proposal for redevelopment of Shakespeare Park; and Town and the community’s support for the homeless, the lonely and the hungry.
Without being critical or pointing fingers with blame, the nearly 125 people who have attended the Conversations have brainstormed positive steps that might be taken by the community to respond to some of the issues. In fact, a few ideas for responding have been put into practice as a result of the Conversations. Speed limit enforcement was conducted in an area of expressed concern; a pastor who has homeless individuals living on and around the church property was put in contact with a committee of Town staff and community organizers that is working to serve this segment of the population; and there has been more news coverage of Town government meetings by Stratford Crier.
All Stratford residents, businesspeople, community leaders, government leaders and staff, and others are invited. Topics are generated by attendees. No reservations are required, and there is no charge to attend.
For more information, contact organizer and moderator Greg Reilly at [email protected].
I have attended all of the Community Conversations and truly enjoy the valuable opportunity to hear from other residents about their concerns for our community.