Town Council Goals and Guidelines 2023

2023 Town Council Goals

The Freeport Town Council is committed to engaging our residents, and one another, in respectful, constructive dialogue about issues facing our community. Freeport is a wonderful place to live, work and visit, and has a reputation for inclusiveness and kindness. It is within this organizing principle that we adopt these guidelines:

1. The Council will oversee the Town’s revenues, assets and reserves; and prioritize, evaluate and control expenditures in operating and capital budgets to mitigate the impact on the taxpayers and maintain a stable tax rate, while providing the highest quality services possible within the resources available.

1. The Council will promote accountability, transparency, the open exchange of information and collaboration between Councilors, while conducting town business in a fair and efficient manner. The Council will prioritize: (a) transparency of decision-making and of Town government operations; and (b) attendance at Town Council and assigned Committee meetings.

1. The Council will promote efforts to engage Freeport residents and businesses in the governance, operation and activities of the Town of Freeport, and acknowledge those efforts and accomplishments.

1. The Council will support a community that is welcoming and supportive of all people in Freeport including newcomers and existing residents of all income and mobility levels.

1. The Council will prioritize the care and stewardship of Freeport’s natural resources.

6. TheCouncilwillsupportincreasingmulti-familyhousingandmixedusedevelopmentin DowntownFreeport.

7.The Council, together with the will diligently follow up on and communicate openly with each other and with the public regarding approvedactions.

In addition to the guidelines set forth above, the Council will work on the following goals in 2023:

1. The Council will pursue more frequent communications with residents on a wider variety of channels to draw in a wider variety of audiences. This may include encouraging Councilors to be visibly active in the community and increase communication channels by two.

1. The Council will implement our Downtown Vision Plan. We will start 4 projects and complete 2 in 2023.

1. The Council will review policies that could encourage participation on Town boards and committees and make service to the Town more attractive to a wider audience. We would know that by increasing applications by 5%.