ADAMS -- Future drafters of the town's next 5-year strat egic plan will be in good company, as officials aim to include a broad range of interests for a 2-part brainstorm session at the Adams Visitors Center.
Town Administrator Jona than Butler said at a Select men's meeting Wednesday night that he'd like these sessions to occur sometime in January, 2013, with a document produced that spring. He suggested one be held on a Friday evening with the next following all day Saturday.
The sessions will consist of exercises, discussion and forming strategies, leading to a draft reflecting "broad concepts that have some specific punch points" and "a pretty sound framework to start moving the process forward."
On the second day, Butler said, participants should break up into smaller groups for focused conversations. Offi cials plan to hire a consultant to help draft the plan.
"From there, hopefully we have our strategic plan," Butler said. He called the process "useful" and referred to it as a measure to supplement the budget process.
Participants are to include a member of the Finance Com mittee, a member of the Plan ning and Zoning boards, a member of the Parks Com mission, an Adams Free Lib rary trustee, members of the Fire District, members of Adams-Cheshire Regional School District, public safety officials, a member of the Events Committee, members of the Pro Adams group, bank and church representatives, students
They will join Butler and Selectmen, the Community De velopment Department, Highway Superintendent Tho mas Satko, Council on Aging Director Erica Samson and Adams Police Chief Donald Poirot for the sessions.
Selectman John Duval, a champion of the project who's been working with Butler on outlining goals for the sessions, stressed community participation and the representation of "different ideas and different visions."
"A lot of us at our age group have been through this a few times," Duval said. "It'd be nice to see some new faces in on [the plan]."
Duval also added that the final plan would then be re viewed each year to check progress and make necessary amendments.
"It's not going to be write a plan and let it collect dust," Duval said.
Selectman Scott Nichols contrasted the current idea with how previous 5-year plans were drafted, largely by the Board alone.
"It's definitely a different way to approach it, which I think is good," Nichols said.
Butler said he hopes participants will have "done their homework and [are] ready to roll on Friday."
The SWOT analysis method -- meaning strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats -- is expected to be one of the techniques used in drafting the document.
To reach Phil Demers, email
pdemers@thetranscript.com.
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