Stratford Community Conversations
June 28th at First Congregational Church
By Greg Reilly
Mayor Hoydick’s new proposal for Shakespeare Park, redrawn Town Council districts and homelessness in Stratford were three topics that were raised by attendees and discussed at Stratford Community Conversations meeting held June 28th at First Congregational Church Stratford.
The next Stratford Community Conversations will be Wednesday, July 19th, at Sterling House Community Center, and then they will resume in September and run every three weeks through the fall. The new series has drawn over 100 attendees in the first four meetings, which are bringing community members together to discuss issues in a positive, non-critical way and gain a better understanding of others’ views about life in Stratford.
The June 28th meeting also returned to a few topics – a desire for more advance communications about Town government meetings, protecting trees in Longbrook Park when two tennis courts are rebuilt and another two are added, and taking down dead trees around town.
The next Stratford Community Conversations will be Wednesday, July 19th, at Sterling House Community Center, and then they will resume in September and run every three weeks through the fall. The new series has drawn over 100 attendees in the first four meetings, which are bringing community members together to discuss issues in a positive, non-critical way and gain a better understanding of others’ views about life in Stratford.
Topics are generated by attendees, and all Stratford residents, businesspeople, community leaders, government leaders and staff, and others are invited. Attendees may simply listen or join the discussion. There is no charge to attend.
Positive Steps
As the meetings are designed to focus on positive steps that might be taken in response to issues rather than looking to criticize people, organizer and moderator Greg Reilly has tried to highlight suggestions that arise before changing to a different topic.
Shakespeare
Regarding the mayor’s proposal for an open air stage, improved utilities, restrooms, designated space for food trucks, and an indoor theater, suggestions included presenting the proposal to the public using the new audio-visual equipment in the Stratford High School auditorium, possibly placing the amphitheater so the stage does not face Elm Street, and consider certain theater construction specifications if professional, union-member actors will be invited to perform. The proposal is at stratfordct.gov/spp
Voting and Homelessness
An attendee suggested that the Town send out a Voter Card to all registered voters once every 10 years, so they know their Council district and where to vote. The subject of local homelessness led to a suggestion that churches collaborate with the town government to find solutions, and one person said that maybe empty commercial buildings could be used for emergency housing.
Communications
Ideas for getting information about Town meetings pushed out to the community via email, social media or other digital methods pointed to the task being done by either the Town themselves, an independent member of the community, or the Stratford Crier.
For more information, contact organizer and moderator Greg Reilly at [email protected].
