Politics & Government

City Stakeholders Brainstorm Summit's 2012 Goals

Common Council members and city officials workshopped some ideas for the future of Summit.

Armed with worksheets and the city's top stakeholders, including the Chief of Police and the Mayor, the City of Summit looked at what's on its collective plate for 2012. The goal setting meeting was meant to brainstorm ways to make Summit better, and since last month's emergency snowstorm: safer.

But it wasn't just safety that was the key talking point for everyone gathered. The Whitman Room at City Hall included top members of every city department as well as outgoing and incoming Common Council members. Pension savings and health benefits savings were included in the analysis delivered by City Administrator Chris Cotter and explained by Common Council President Dave Bomgaars, who said the city would realize those savings around July. He felt that would help manage the tax rate.

According to Cotter's presentation, there was a reduction of full-time city workers from just over 200 to 199. Municipal debt going into 2012 remains slightly unchanged at $36 million.

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Bomgaars went around the room soliciting input from council officials, followed by the public.  Some of the recurring themes, which Cotter said didn’t differ much from the 2011 goal-setting meeting, paid close attention to issues of parking and fiscal management.

Among Mayor-Elect Ellen Dickson’s concerns going forward was closer attention to emergency management in the wake of the Halloween snowstorm and renewed focus on infrastructure issues such as the city sewer system. 

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The room grew momentarily quiet, when Coucilman Steven Murphy called for a need for “greater transparency among elected officials.”

Talk of the recent snowstorm and massive power outtages dominated most of the discussion with Councilman Rich Madden bringing attention to the “two calamities” that hit Summit, referring to Tropical storm Irene and last month’s snow fall. “Infrastructure is extremely important in terms of the electrical grid,” he said, adding that tree inspections were another issue that needed to be considered. “We’ve got to visualize another Hurricane Irene. We’ve got to think out of the box."

The issue of infrastruture brought bridge repair into the fold, with Getzendanner pointing out that there were three potential bridge outages, with at least one repair project along Morris Avenue getting pushed back.

He also asked to reintroduce paid parking. “We’ve got to get on with that,” he said. Getzendanner called for soliciting corporate sponsorship for local athletic fields, as well.

Talk of the city stepping up its efforts in the social media space was also mentioned several times. Police Chief Robert Weck talked about the increase in the users to the Nixle alert system, which has over 2,000 subscribers now, he said. The city has been going on a blitz to promote Nixel with street signs and a sign in the lobby of City Hall, asking people to sign up.

Weck also reiterated his beliefs in community policing and his interest in upping foot patrols in the city. “I think we do need to get out more,” he said. To give officers more of a friendly presence in the community he also mentioned the possibility of putting pictures of officers in the library.

Council member- elect, Ward II, Pat Hurley asked if there was a way to create a forum to air resident concerns about the response to October's snow storm. Taking cues from lessons learned during Tropical Storm Irene, the response to last month’s snow storm was the first time the city had a long term sheltering program like that for residents.

Still, when the issue of safety and emergency preparedness came up again, the idea of community was attached. Weck mentioned restarting a neighborhood watch program, with so-called block captains who could help check in on neighbors during disasters. 

Director of the Department of Community Programs, Judith Leblein Josephs felt that there needed to be more of a focus on encouraging “humanity” during a weather crisis in Summit. People needed to be more inclined to check on the elderly, or those withought power generators.

One thing that most of the people assembled could agree on was that the goals for 2012, while not drastically different from 2011,  will require a mayor and Common Council with fresh ideas to tackle some of the same problems.


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