ANNOUNCEMENT RE: DCR FFVP PUBLIC FORUMS - ADDITIONAL FORMAT & CHANGE IN AMHERST LOCATION
Bill Logue
PLEASE NOTE CHANGE IN LOCATION OF BOTH AMHERST FORUMS
TO AMHERST REGIONAL MIDDLE SCHOOL CAFETERIA
170 Chestnut Street
Amherst, MA 01002
To All Interested Members of the Public:
As you may be aware, on January 22, 2010, the DCR Forest Futures Visioning Process Technical Steering Committee (TSC) released their draft recommendations to the general public for review and comment. You may review the full text of the TSC’s recommendations by clicking here.
As was previously announced, DCR is sponsoring a series of five (5) public forums across the Commonwealth to give citizens an opportunity to provide feedback on the TSC’s draft recommendations. These forums were designed and will be facilitated by the MA Office of Dispute Resolution & Public Collaboration (MODR). After the announcement of the public forums, MODR received requests from some stakeholders to offer an alternative public forum format. In an effort to be responsive to those requests, MODR is adding an additional public forum on Thursday, February 9, 2010 from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. at the Amherst Regional Middle School, 170 Chestnut Street, Amherst, MA 01002 . At this forum, citizens will be invited to sign-up on a first-come, first-served basis. The first 35 citizens to sign-up will be allotted two minutes to present their feedback on the draft recommendations orally to the TSC and to other members of the general public in attendance. Additional citizens may be heard if time allows.
The format for the five (5) original public forums is as follows:
· Welcome & Introductions
· Brief Overview of DCR Forest Futures Visioning Process
· Presentation of TSC Draft Recommendations
· Question & Answer Period with TSC Members
· Facilitated Table Discussions on Draft Recommendations. Public will be given opportunity to discuss substance of recommendations and to provide feedback. Comments, suggestions, concerns, etc. will be captured by scribes stationed at each table and will be forwarded directly to the TSC. All feedback will also posted on the DCR website for public viewing. Members of the public will also be given index cards and can also provide individual written comments should they choose to do so.
Below is the revised public forum schedule:
Thursday, February 4, 2010
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Westborough Public Library
55 West Main Street, Westborough
(Snow date: Tuesday, February 16)
Saturday, February 6, 2010
10 a.m.– Noon
North Adams Public Library
74 Church Street, North Adams
(Snow date: Saturday, February 13)
Saturday, February 6, 2010
2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Berkshire Community College – Melville Hall Room 201
1350 West Street, Pittsfield
(Snow date: Saturday, February 13)
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
5 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.
*Amherst Regional Middle School - Cafeteria
170 Chestnut Street
Amherst, MA 01002
**Tuesday, February 9, 2010
7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Amherst Regional Middle School – Cafeteria
170 Chestnut Street
Amherst, MA 01002
Thursday, February 11, 2010
5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Taunton Public Library
12 Pleasant Street, Taunton
(Snow date: Thursday, February 18)
The public is also encouraged to provide input on the draft recommendations via email to MODRD...@umb.edu and/or by completing an online survey.
*Location has been changed to accommodate a greater number of interested citizens.
**Additional forum was added to accommodate requests for an alternative forum format.