Getting Your Initiative Through Town Meeting

Gisela Walker, UMass Extension, for the

Highlands Community InitiativeFebruary 2003

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

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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!!