TOWN OF MANSFIELD

COMMUNICATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Monday, June 16, 2008

Audrey Beck Municipal Building, Conference Room C

 

Minutes

 

Members Present: Toni Moran, Aline Booth, Bill Powers, and Richard Pellegrine

 

Absent: Joyce Crepeau, Patrick McGlamery, Leila Fecho

 

Staff Present: Matt Hart, town Manager, Jaime Russell

 

1.      Meeting called to order at 7:00pm by chair Moran.

 

2.      Minutes from last meeting had not been complete so no action was taken.

 

3.      No public were present.

 

4.      Old Business: Town Manager Hart gave the committee an update on the Town Council’s decision on the referendum date, place (Town Hall) and hours (6am to 8 pm).  Basically the Council followed the advise of the Registrars of Voters who indicated the expense and other persuasive arguments for having one place for voting on the referendums and district 19.          

Under a discussion of the placement of signs, Mr. Hart indicated to members that some of the placements suggested by this committee would be placed on State of Connecticut road rights of way and would be taken down by DOT.  A permit has to be granted to place signs on DOT property.  Mr. Hart indicated that the first batch of signs put out by the town were ones that were used previously and new ones with better visibility and design would replace the originals.  The committee entered into a discussion of all the Town owned facilities where signs should be displayed.

Regarding the Council meeting with the Downtown Partnership, the Town Manager reported that an attempt be made to publish the showing dates of the program on the local access channel.

A discussion then ensued on how the results of all the committee’s efforts affected the turnout at the referendum.  Town Manager Hart suggested that perhaps a simple questionnaire could be initiated in tax bills to judge how effective the advertising had been.  The suggestion was also made to ask town staff to compile the results of the election, such as the number of people who voted (voting percentage).

 

5.      New Business:  There will be no meetings of this committee during the month of July.  Meetings will resume in August and special arrangements will have to be made for September since our regular meeting falls on Labor Day.  The Committee asked if it would be possible for town staff to compile a summary of all the things that have been done by the town to keep citizens informed about Town events and/or town government, and likewise this committee should compile a summary about our activities up to this point.

 

6.      Meeting adjourned at 8:15 pm, motion by Pellegrine, seconded by Powers.

 

Respectfully submitted, Richard Pellegrine, acting secretary