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Getting Your Initiative Through Town Meeting
Gisela Walker, UMass Extension, for the
Highlands Community InitiativeFebruary 2003
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Strategies and steps to help your fellow residents
accept your new bylaw, zoning amendment,
or resolution
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Big Issues
Master Plan, Open Space Plan, Community Preservation Act,
Funding for a new school addition, Affordable Housing
Controversial Zoning Changes, e.g for an Industrial Park or Half-Way
House3
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Small IssuesIndividual Parcel Zoning
Change,New Police Cruiser
Supporting an APR application with town funds
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Sometimes…….…the issue emerges in town first
and people attach to it haphazardly – in response both for and against,
and…..
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Sometimes….. …..certain people get together to initiate a new approach.
They by nature are the early supporters
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So let’s assume there is…• An Issue/new situation/special interest• A group of people –YOU- who promote a
response/solution/creative idea• A need to bring it to town meeting
either formally or for non-binding endorsement
• Some uncertainty about its reception
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You need to get out there and..
•Network with likely partners•Build Coalitions as broad as
possible•Research the likely opposition•Educate the general public•Present a good case
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The stages of the process are:
• Developing your proposal and your network
• Educating the public about it
• Managing the town meeting vote
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Developing Your Proposal
• Content/subject matter
• Participation: Who should be involved and when
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Content of your Initiative/Proposal
• Research Its History in Town!
• Be Clear in Wording and Legal Aspects
• Keep the Scope As Limited As Feasible
• Get Help From Outside Experts – BUT...
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Participation: Who should be involved
SupportersImplementers
AuthoritiesEffected people
Opponents
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Who benefits from and would support your proposal?This is not always clear. For example:Groundwater protectionOpen space protectionCurb cut bylawCluster DevelopmentBig Box applicationCell Towers
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Supporters:• Help spread the workload of developing and lobbying• Begin to create a base of
support• Spread the responsibility• Bring in multiple expertise and local familiarity
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Implementers:If your initiative requires the work of • DPW staff• Water or Sewer Commissioners • Teachers• Police• Assessors
……you should have them on board
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Authorities:
Who in town government will have to put their authority behind your initiative?
Selectboard, Finance Committee, Board of Health?
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Effected people:Does your initiative try to help farmers, teenagers, affect landlords, homeowners in a certain section of town, impact the view from someone’s house…?
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Form a Coalition
•Out of these groupings, put together a group of proponents.
•Work among yourself to expand your base as much as you can
•Use each member to reach out to others you may not have thought of
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o
Opponents
• You have to deal with them anyway: so take the initiative
• Where do you find them?1) Town meeting personasWhat will their arguments be?What is their following?
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Opponents continued2) Who will have to pay some
price for your proposal?3) Who has a stake in not
changing things? 4) How does your proposal fall
within the usual camps of political differentiation?
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How to work with your opponents
•Bring them in as early as you can afford without getting derailed
• Don’t waste your time on the ‘no way’ people and work with the ones you can negotiate with
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How work with opponents cont.
•Bring them into your network•Hear their concerns•Look for room for compromise
or clearly state the differences•Find out who they listen to
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Public Outreach and Education•You need to take control
over how your issue is ‘spun’•Don’t let others frame it for
you•Be consistent in your message•Use all avenues possible to get
the word out
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Watch your Language•Smart Growth vs Community
Preservation - what images are you conjuring up?
•What terms are your opponents using?
•What terms have a history in town?
•Avoid jargon and cliches
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State the facts• Describe the purpose of your
Initiative: Why, how, costs, benefits, basic science or statistics. Be honest!
• Even complex facts can be described so people can grasp them without talking down to them
• Ask for feedback and send out trial runs
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Media package• Create 1 page brief sheets for mail
drops• Newspaper articles or information
sheets for your local stringer• Give contacts for people who have
questions• Make a list of all possible venues
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Public Hearings or Meetings• Public Hearings – may be
required by law depending on your issue (zoning)
• Otherwise: call a public meeting to smoke out all the opinions and players well before town meeting and to make your case
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Timing• You need enough time to create a
successful campaign and to build momentum
• But don’t drag it out long enough for people to get tired of your issue, or for outside factors to make you lose control
• Don’t go to town meeting until you are quite sure you have the vote!!
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Managing the town meeting vote• Annual or special town meeting:
weigh your pros and consoWho will be speaking on behalf
of your initiative?oWhere is your initiative on the
agenda – late, early? After a very controversial issue?
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Town meeting vote•Don’t get emotional, be the
reasonable side. Let the unreasonable ones reveal themselves
•Don’t try to appease every concern, you may get embroiled and lose good will
• Be willing to lose gracefully - you can always come back
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Finally…Pat
yourself on the
back and CELEBRAT
E!!