Communications Study Committee

News

Recommendations for Improving Winchester Town Government Communications 

The Communication Study Committee will present its Final Report and Recommendations for improving Winchester communications among Town Government, Town Meeting, and the public to the 2022 Fall Town Meeting on Thursday, November 10.  

Article 1.  Reports

Report and Recommendations

  • Read the Communications Study Committee’s Final Report and Recommendations by clicking here.

Appendix to the Report

  • Read the Appendix to the Communications Study Committee’s Report (containing research summaries, videos, and other information about the committee’s work) by clicking here.

Article 11.  Town Communications Plan

“To see if the Town will vote to recommend that the Select Board and Town Manager prepare a town communications plan.”  

  • Read the Communications Study Committee’s Motion for a Town Communications Plan by clicking here.

About the CSC

The Communications Study Committee was established by the 2021 Fall Town Meeting to respond to the dramatic changes that have taken place in the communications environment in the past 25 years.   Today’s fractured media landscape has significantly changed how residents learn about the work of Town Meeting and the Town’s elected and appointed boards.  

The Committee evaluated opportunities to improve effective communication among residents, the Town’s elected and appointed boards, commissions and committees, and Town Meeting Members, especially communication about articles and motions to be considered and voted at Town Meetings.   

The Committee solicited input from Town Meeting members, Town boards, commissions and committees, town civic groups and businesses, and town residents; and considered best practices in Winchester and elsewhere; and to form its recommend actions for improving communications.  

Read more about the Committee’s charge at Article 31

 

(existing FAQs follow…)


FAQs

Read answers to Frequently Asked Questions at FAQs

Work Plan and Schedule

PhaseWork TaskOutreach Tasks

Feb 2022 to Apr 2022 
Spring Town Meeting


  • Organize committee and refine work plan
  • Identify issues and potential actions
  • Research and assess potential actions
  • Outline recommendations (first approximation)
  • Report progress to Spring Town Meeting
  • Survey Town gov’t, businesses, civic groups and public
  • Conduct outreach meetings and public hearing/s

May 2022 to Nov 2022 
Fall Town Meeting


  • Develop and detail recommendations
  • Estimate costs and benefits
  • Prepare warrant articles for TM
  • Report recommendations to Fall Town Meeting
  • Present warrant articles
  • Review recommendations and articles with TM committees and town boards
  • Conduct outreach meetings and public hearing/s

Read more about the Committee's work plan and schedule at Work Plan

Documents

  1. Communication Issues & Criteria_Preliminary List_v7
  2. Communication Solutions & Criteria_Preliminary List_v3
  3. CSC Interim Report_Script and Slides_v9
  4. CSC PublicListeningSessions_Script_13April2022
  5. CSC PublicListeningSessions_Slides_13April2022

Video Links

Resources