Midcoast, Maine: Brunswick–Bath–Wiscasset–Damariscotta

Town Manager: John Eldridge
Town Council: W. David Watson–District 1, Stephen S. Walker–District 2, Abby King–District 3, Sande Updegraph – District 4, Jennifer Hicks – District 5, Nathaniel Shed – District 6, James Mason – District 7, Chair, and Dan Ankeles, At Large, and Kathy Wilson, At Large.
IT / Communications / Economic & Community Development: Sally Costello
Wikipedia
Website

TO BE PROPOSED

IN PROCESS– a rough draft

A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF BRUNSWICK, MAINE TO RECOGNIZE THE ROLE OF HER CITIZENRY AND THE REAL OPPORTUNITIES THE TOWN HAS TO SHOWCASE HER CITIZENS, WE ADOPT THE FOLLOWING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES REGARDING THE PUBLIC’S PARTICIPATION IN ONE OF THE TOWN’S PRIMARY ACCOUNTABILITY STRUCTURES FOR HER CITIZENS:

WHEREAS, the websites of the Town of Brunswick are ostensibly the property of her citizens, we hereby move to open pages for the expressed purpose of having her citizens comment on the priorities for the work of all the departments of the Town.

WHEREAS, the Town Councilors and Mayor, herein known as the “Leadership of Brunswick,” all have their own priorities for the town of Brunswick, Maine we hereby move that each of these representatives of the people, be given open pages on the website of the the town of Brunswick whereby each can add and update no less than their top five priorities — work to be done — in order that the citizenry may weigh in to increase or decrease the prioritization of those efforts.

WHEREAS, within the citizenry of Brunswick there are innumerable experts touching most every aspect of human life and endeavor, the website shall be further opened so citizens can comment and vote on the importance of the top problems within the town and then add their own. These added priorities would be valued by other citizens in much the same way as they vote and value those presented by the Leadership of Brunswick.

WHEREAS, the town recognizes that there are extraordinary resources with depth of learning among the faculty and administrators of our colleges and universities, especially all the College so pivotally positioned within the town, we move that all citizens be encouraged to adopt one of the seventeen ongoing unsolved global problems identified by the United Nations or any one of the many unsolved problems as identified within Wikipedia. Or, in the spirit of these unsolved problems, citizens are encouraged to propose their own, and that these unsolved problems also become part of the town’s web resources such that the entire town is intellectually active and working together toward common goals.  

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED FOR AND BY THE PEOPLE OF THE TOWN OF BRUNSWICK:

SECTION 1. Recognizing the invaluable resources of ideas and expertise, the town commissioners would request of all those who have voted online and added insights, that they consider volunteering to be a spokesperson for citizenry of Brunswick regarding that issue and to be able to “opt-in” to be called on by the local, state, and national media to comment on it in light of their contributions posted on the town’s website.

SECTION 2. Further recognizing these insights and expertise, the Leadership of Brunswick requests that ________, Director of the the Information Technology Department of Brunswick, create a web-based infrastructure to support the goals as outlined.

SECTION 3. Further recognizing these insights and expertise, the Leadership of Brunswick requests th__________, Director of the Communications Department of Brunswick, initiate print and electronic media to local, state and national outlets regarding these initiatives in order to generate positive publicity of the town’s citizenry and the town’s activities.

SECTION 4. ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Town Council of the Town of Brunswick, held in Town Hall, Brunswick, Maine this day,___, of _____ (Month, Year).

Attest:

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Attest:

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