If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas. - George Bernard Shaw ![]() FairfieldStrategicPlan.com - a crowdsourced strategic plan for Fairfield Welcome to Fairfield Strategic Plan. Initially, you will find here a series of papers that Fairfield Taxpayer (www.FairfieldTaxpayer.com) has written on the subject of A Strategic Plan for Fairfield. We have labeled this site a “crowdsourced strategic plan” because over time we hope our initial papers will inspire contributions from a wide range of stakeholders in Fairfield’s future, and that our collective efforts will make an important contribution to the creation and adoption of a plan that will allow our Town to continue to prosper by keeping it both desirable and affordable for all its residents. As you will see and as we readily acknowledge, at this early stage, our initial papers raise far more questions than they answer. Our primary objective right now is to stimulate thinking and debate among as many of Fairfield’s stakeholders as possible on where we should focus and what additional information and analysis would be most helpful. Our initial views are offered, as we hope many others will be, not as definitive, but as constructive contributions to a much broader discussion that will ultimately engage all interested residents, businesses and other stakeholders in a systematic effort. As we say in Part 1, we should all keep in mind the benefit to our community and its quality of life merely as a consequence of being willing and able to engage constructively with one another on where we think our Town should go and how we think it should get there. This dedicated website has been created because it allows anyone who is interested to add easily their own opinions and suggestions. In other words, this is intended to be very much an open forum for the exchange of ideas and analysis about Fairfield’s future, and it is uncensored except with regard to normal standards of civility, which means no profanity or personal attacks. Fairfield Taxpayer will also be providing updates to incorporate new information, analysis and ideas. We urge anyone who would like to get more involved in this effort to contact us at FairfieldStrategicPlan@gmail.com. Among other things, we envision active future meetings for those who want to be part of the process. To get started, please just click the buttons on the right and access the four parts of this initial report. At the end of each section, including this introduction, you'll be able to add comments for everyone to see and you'll be able to reply someone else's comments. Please also feel free to share your thoughts more widely by linking them to social media like Facebook. If the Town proceeds with its stated intention to begin its own strategic planning effort, we will be happy either to turn this site over to the Town’s Strategic Planning Committee, or to link extensively to and collaborate with whatever means of communication they decide best serve their efforts and the Town.
16 Comments
Jan R. Reber
9/16/2015 01:42:00 pm
Very provocative thinking that should inspire all of us to think about the elements of a more disciplined approach to planning in our Town.
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Urb Leimkuhler
9/16/2015 02:16:11 pm
A most comprehensive and well reasoned approach that should serve as a catalyst to development of ultimate Town plan.
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Mark06824
9/17/2015 09:37:22 am
This seems great! I love the crowdsourcing. What about Tetreau's plan to do a strategic plan?
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ell.in.fairfield
9/20/2015 01:35:41 pm
Demographics—They are unlikely to change, if anything may shift to a younger median. The old poor are dying off/priced out of the market, and the rich poor are pulling up stakes for Fla. and downsizing. Absent a change in the zoning laws toward larger lot sizes ( and thus fewer kids per acre ), it will be tough to shrink the school population aside from natural trends.
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James P. Bohan
9/21/2015 11:45:47 am
In 1835 Alexis De Tocqueville wrote of New England towns with great affection:
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Pat MacMonagle
9/22/2015 07:02:48 am
This is superbly articulated, balanced and very forward thinking. Awesome. As Fairfielders, pooling our thinking and having open, constructive dialogs yields huge benefits for the town. Being able to put all ideas on the table for example for: 1) controlling costs and spending (including maximizing spend consolidation and analyzing risks/benefits of outsourcing vs insourcing) and, 2) generating new and innovative revenue sources, are essential. Balanced, influential, efficient and effective government/citizen working groups for areas like these can help.
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Kate Daniello
9/22/2015 04:46:38 pm
Good explanation, Big Job, should be a helpful tool as the town develops its own Strategic Plan
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9/22/2015 05:19:15 pm
This type of objective, non-partisan effort is exactly what Fairfield needs to foster an environment for prosperity and the highest quality of life for its residents and neighbors over the long-term.
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John Wynne
9/23/2015 05:24:05 am
Wow, a lot of information here. I have read through all of the sections. We have been provided a lot of incredible information - some great, some very troubling. After reading this, can you conclude nothing needs to be done? Really?
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Bob Frigo
9/23/2015 08:17:29 am
Great job of pulling this together. Much too detailed for me , but will provide a lot of help in getting a committee
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DaveF
9/23/2015 10:32:52 am
It's great to see that a group is organized that understands that Fairfield needs to know where it is headed. The town's leaders have talked about a strategic plan for years with none produced. They should work with FSP to develop with them in a bipartisan effort. Wouldn't it be a change if everyone worked toward one goal?
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Scott Pennell
9/23/2015 01:05:46 pm
Excellent comments and thinking. Thank you for your service to the town.
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Ellen Jacob
9/24/2015 05:59:24 am
So many of the problems over which we struggle in town government would be solved with a unified vision and a practical plan for execution. It's the only way to pro-actively take charge of Fairfield's future. The alternative is constant damage control, which is no control at all.
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Gordon Mackenzie
10/6/2015 05:23:13 pm
As most of us know already, it is so much easier to build a plan on a strong foundation vs. having to start from ground zero. This document will serve as a foundation for people of Fairfield, of all persuasions, to build their ideas and suggestions onto a format that is visible to all, commentable by all, and eventually will lead to a Strategic Plan that reflects the brainpower and will power of Fairfield residents who want to make Fairfield an affordable and desirable community that sets an example in its strategic planning process.
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11/12/2022 01:51:46 pm
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