By Sarah Opdahl

On Thursday, September 26, New Fairfield’s new Finance Director Mr. Vladimir Kan explained a plan to have each department complete a mission statement, including goals, objectives, accomplishments, and performance measures, which can be used in a variety of ways. The idea received both praise and concerns.

Kan is excited to implement the new mission statement plan, which he sees as a modernizing step for the Town and a clear and oftentimes measurable way to kick off the budget season each year going forward. Developing mission statements is best practice industry-wide in the nation, Kan said. Each department’s mission statement will accompany their yearly departmental requests for funding in the overarching Town budget.

The new format will allow the Town to apply for a “distinguished public award,” Kan said, in addition to promoting accountability and transparency. Kan also believes the format  will help in the search for alternative funding sources in the form of grants for each department. The mission statements will also provide an opportunity to “brag about departments, achievements, and accomplishments,” he said, going on to say “This is also a great communication tool with the general public. Residents will see a real story behind the numbers.” He later described the statements as, more simply put, “a description of the department.”

First Selectman Ms. Melissa Lindsey is supportive of the new plan, especially when Kan described the support that departments will receive from the Finance Department staff, who will help with all descriptions. “We are starting earlier, so it gives everyone plenty of time,” Lindsey said, plus “we’re offering as much help and support on this as possible. I’m excited to see what it turns out to be and what it looks like and how we can build off of it.” Selectman Ms. Pat Del Monaco explained that she is concerned about an additional workload on the department heads in needing to create the mission statement. She acknowledged that there are “some things that I think here makes some sense for New Fairfield, but New Fairfield is a very small town with very small departments with very small budgets, asking them to provide mission statements and goals and objectives seems a little much to me…I think that it does add to their workload and I am not sure what the benefit is.” Beyond extra work, she fears that goals could be misinterpreted because tasks widely vary. She also said, “I don’t know that I’m comfortable saying ‘accomplishments’ in a budgetary document versus an HR document, so I would want the unions to weigh in on that.”

The personnel report included news that a long-standing opening for a police officer was filled by Mr. Brian Brooks. The BOS welcomed him to the position, with Lindsey saying, “We’re really excited to have him finally filling that open vacancy.”

In budget transf ers, Lindsey explained that there was a Communications Center request to purchase two new cell phones and a year of service. Staff are currently using their personal phones to communicate with police officers and first responders, and they have asked to cease doing so.

The next regular Board of Selectmen meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 10, 7:30 p.m.