FREEHOLD – Residents who missed the county’s community forums and still want to share their ideas about how MonmouthCounty can improve government services can do so by logging onto the county’s Web site at www.visitmonmouth.com or by sending a letter by the Dec. 1 deadline.

 

“There’s still time for residents to add comments to our Strategic Plan process,” said Freeholder Barbara J. McMorrow, a member of the Strategic Planning Committee. “We welcome ideas about how the county can provide services and facilities in the future and I encourage residents to put their thoughts in writing and send them to us right away.”

 

Comments by mail should be postmarked no later than Dec. 1, 2008 and sent to: Strategic Plan Committee, c/o County Administrator, Hall of Records, One East Main Street, Freehold, NJ 07728. 

 

Online comments must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 1, 2008 from the county Web site at http://www.visitmonmouth.com/page.asp?agency=145&ID=3245 A link to the Strategic Plan section of the Web site is provided on the county’s home page.

 

“Ever since we announced that the county is moving forward with a strategic plan, it has generated a great deal of interest from the public,” said Freeholder Deputy Director Robert D. Clifton, also a member of the Strategic Planning Committee. “Now is the time for residents, business owners and other interested individuals to share their thoughts and views and to be included in this process.”

 

The county held two community forums in November that provided an opportunity for residents and business owners to offer comments in person. Janus Solutions, a consulting firm hired by the county to guide the strategic plan process, moderated both forums.  

 

Additional information also will be obtained by a scientific survey of county residents conducted by The Polling Center at Monmouth University. The survey has been designed to assess resident interest and concern on topics and issues related to government services and Monmouth County’s future.

 

Once the information-gathering process is completed, the Strategic Plan Committee will analyze the data and review all government operations and then begin making recommendations with an eye toward improving government services and identifying efficiencies that can be implemented by the Board of Chosen Freeholders. A final document, or plan, could be adopted in the summer of 2009.

 

The need for a countywide strategic plan was identified in a report last year that was prepared by the bipartisan Budget Review Committee. Monmouth County will be the first county in New Jersey to have a strategic plan. 

 

Additional information about the strategic plan process may be found on the county’s Web site at http://www.visitmonmouth.com/page.asp?agency=145&ID=3245 or by calling 732-431-7310. 

 

 

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