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Strategic Planning Committee
Cumberland County began strategic planning with its 2001 Strategic Plan in 2001 with great results. The county is now in its second strategic planning process, having completed its 2006 Strategic Plan. Implementation of the 2006 plan began in June of 2007. The mission of the Strategic Plan Implementation Committee is to work with the county commissioners, the county manager, and others to review the subcommittee reports as well as help determine the best path of action for implementing the 43 recommendations. They will be asked to help shape future strategic investments and changes in Cumberland County Government that will be implemented over the next five years.
History (Excerpt from the 2006 Strategic Plan)
In the fall of 2005 the county manager recommended to the Board of Commissioners and Pam Plumb, the chair of the 2006-2010 Strategic Planning Project, that this next plan should place a greater emphasis on the future of the region. In essence, it was felt that this strategic plan initiative should both address some important internal issues and lay the groundwork for a very dynamic discussion about a number of regional issues. As part of that discussion, it was decided that some fundamental questions should be asked about public health and economic development and what role, if any, Cumberland County Government should play in these issues.
With that in mind, ten subcommittees were agreed upon. It was later decided that the issues assigned to the Civic Center Subcommittee could be more effectively addressed through another process. Of the nine remaining subcommittees, there were five external or visionary subcommittees: 1) Public Services, 2) Public Health/Human Services, 3) Regional Relationships, 4) Economic Development, and 5) Schools-Support Services. In addition to this, as in 2001, there were four subcommittees that focused on internal topics: 6) Space Needs, 7) Finance, 8) Technology, and 9) Justice & Public Safety. Click here for Members & Meeting Minutes.
The 2007 planning process included over 100 town managers, business leaders, nonprofit executives and others. In addition to this outreach effort, there were articles placed in newspapers across the region encouraging citizen participation in the strategic planning process with an open invitation to the kick-off meeting that took place in February of 2006. At the kick-off meeting each subcommittee met for the first time to discuss their charge. From February to June the subcommittee members and their chairs rolled up their shirt sleeves and really went to work. The Space Needs subcommittee went on a number of field trips to see first-hand the condition of the facilities for the County and invited in guest speakers when it was relevant. Other subcommittees, like Public Health/Human Services, requested data and other information to review best practices in the nation.
The result was a report with 43 recommendations and immediate motion on a number of initiatives, including a public health pilot program, a regional property assessing study, and motion on some internal issues.
For more information, contact Elizabeth Trice, Grants & Special Projects Coordinator at 207-871-8380.
