My Goals
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Accountability | Accessibility
- Defining the Chain of Command
- City Council: Clearly define the roles and responsibilities of the City Council, including their oversight of budget approvals and the authority to question department heads.
- Mayor or Business Manager: Specify the role of the mayor or city manager in overseeing department heads and ensuring that budget submissions align with the city's goals and policies.
- Department Heads: Clarify the responsibilities of department heads in preparing and managing their budgets, as well as their obligation to answer questions from the council.
- Budget Submission and Responsibility:
- Budget Submission Deadline: Establish a clear timeline for budget submissions by department heads, ensuring that they submit their budgets well in advance of budget review meetings.
- Budget Workshops: Hold budget workshops where department heads can present their budgets to the council, answer questions, and provide justifications for their proposed expenditures.
- Accountability: Make it clear that department heads are accountable for the accuracy of their budget submissions and for managing their budgets within approved limits.
- Council Questions and Information Flow:
- Information Requests: Require council members to submit their questions regarding budget items in advance of council meetings to allow department heads time to prepare comprehensive responses.
- Transparency: Ensure that budget-related information is accessible to council members and the public well in advance of meetings to promote transparency.
- Policies, Procedures, and Rules:
- Establish Policies: Develop clear policies and procedures related to budget preparation, review, and approval, including guidelines for communication and information sharing.
- Training: Provide training and resources to department heads, council members, and staff to ensure everyone understands and follows established policies and procedures.
Community Growth
- Attracting Businesses and Supporting Employee Recruitment:
- Economic Development Initiatives: Collaborate with economic development agencies and chambers of commerce to attract new businesses to Vernon.
- Incentive Programs: Offer incentives such as tax breaks or grants to encourage businesses to establish or expand their operations in the town.
- Streamlining Business Permits::
- Business Permit Task Force: Form a task force comprising current business owners, government officials, and experts in regulatory processes to review and streamline the permitting process.
- Online Application System: Implement an online portal for businesses to submit permit applications, making the process more efficient and accessible.
- Entrepreneurship Support::
- Business Development Division: Establish a business development division or resource center to assist entrepreneurs in starting and growing their businesses.
- Workshops and Seminars: Organize workshops and seminars on business planning, financing, and marketing to provide entrepreneurs with essential knowledge.
- Senior Services | Education:
- Community Education: Partner with our local senior center and our local organizations to offer educational programs on senior services, including healthcare options, legal matters, and retirement planning.
- Information Resources: Create a centralized information hub or website where seniors or their family members can easily access resources and information related to their needs.
- Transportation Services:
- Senior Shuttle Services: Implement a senior shuttle service to provide transportation to and from the senior center, shopping areas, and medical appointments. - It's believed the only resource may be through Sussex County.
- Public Transportation: Explore partnerships with public transportation providers to enhance accessibility for all residents.
Public Services
- Equipment and Vehicles:
- Regular Maintenance: In-house DPW responsibility involves maintaining a fleet of equipment and vehicles. Evaluate the cost-effectiveness of routine maintenance and repairs performed by in-house and hire enough staff to assist with maintaining the township vehicles, roads, property/parks.
- Equipment Upgrades: Assess the cost implications of purchasing and upgrading DPW, Police, Fire and EMS equipment and vehicles, considering factors like lifespan, resale value, and the need for specialized equipment.
- Shared Services Comparison: Compare the costs of equipment and vehicle maintenance under shared services agreements with neighboring municipalities or private contractors to determine how Vernon Township can help them.
- Training:
- In-house Training: Calculate the costs associated with providing ongoing training to public service employees and volunteers on safety measures, equipment operation, and environmental compliance. Include expenses related to trainers, training materials, and staff time.
- Shared Training Resources: Explore the potential for sharing training resources with other municipalities to reduce training costs while maintaining or improving the quality of training. Ensure firefighters and emergency service members receive comprehensive training, including fire suppression techniques, rescue operations, and hazardous materials handling.
- Training Effectiveness: Evaluate the effectiveness of in-house training programs in terms of safety records and compliance with environmental regulations, and compare this to the outcomes of shared training programs.
- Emergency Response:
- In-house Emergency Response: Assess the cost efficiency of in-house police, fire, EMS and DPW responsibilities related to emergency response, such as rescuing residents and road clearing during inclement weather. Consider expenses associated with personnel, equipment deployment, and overtime pay.
- Emergency Preparedness Plans: Develop and regularly update comprehensive emergency preparedness plans that involve all relevant departments and agencies.
- Funding and Resources:
- Grant Applications: Seek federal, state, and local grants to support the acquisition of equipment, vehicles, and training programs for emergency and public services.
- Budget Allocation: Allocate sufficient funds in the town budget to meet the needs of emergency services and public safety departments.
