City officials and Mayor Nancy R. Rossi and her staff are hoping for a big turnout, Tuesday night, as her office and a university committee that advises the city plan a town hall.
Rossi invites residents to participate in a town hall meeting Jan. 29 at City Hall, which is aimed at bringing residents closer to elected officials and promoting transparency between City Hall and constituents, organizers said.
The meeting is 6-8 p.m. in the Harriet C. North Community Room on the second floor of City Hall, 355 Main St. It is sponsored by the mayor’s office and the University of New Haven Mayor’s Advisory Commission. The advisory panel is made up of students from the local university, adding a different perspective to issues that confront West Haven. Over the years the committee has been involved in surveys, position papers and events that have brought the school and city closer together.
The town hall is geared toward allowing participants a range of topics to choose, and getting answers from the mayor and other city officials who will be on hand.
Organizers said people can ask Rossi questions as she engages with them on a variety of topics affecting West Haven.
“All members of the community are encouraged to attend and bring questions. The moderator is Douglas Gordon, a sophomore political science major at UNH,” a press release from the city said.
Questions are limited to two, and attendees are asked to keep each one under two minutes so all voices can be heard. In addition, one follow-up question is allowed after each initial question.
“Those rules may be altered by the moderator at the event,” organizers said. The alteration may be allowed due to the subject or follow-up needed to fully explore the issue.
Opportunities for participants to submit questions or comments in writing as an alternative to speaking will also be available, organizers said.
The MAC is a collaborative, student-driven task force founded in 2015 to strengthen town-gown relations. The UNH commission is led by Chairman Marcin Stankevitch, a junior political science major, and adviser Chris Haynes, assistant professor of political science.
City officials are anxious the meeting be well attended. With the city’s financial situation, as well as the prospective construction of The Haven, and other matters coming before the City Council, such as Charter revision, it is hoped residents will come up with questions and be informed on these and other matters.
For more information, call the mayor’s office at (203) 937-3510.