Brighton surveys residents
By EMILY HUNKLER, Enterprise Staff WriterThe town of Brighton is requesting survey responses from its residents as part of their Adirondack Park Community Smart Growth sustainable economic development project.
"The project's purpose is to try and make Brighton a place where people can live and work and stay, and when their kids grow up and go to college, they can still have jobs around here," said Rebecca Buerkett, a project scientist with F.X. Browne Inc., the Saranac Lake-based consulting firm hired to conduct the study. "We're trying to keep our town economically viable."
The survey is being mailed to all business and property owners in the town.
Town residents are asked to complete the survey online at townofbrighton.net by Feb. 9.
Questions on the survey range from ranking the most important community issues - such as property taxes, Internet access and the closure of Camp Gabriels prison - to what Brighton's primary identity should be: for example, a recreational haven or a college town.
Any resident that did not receive a paper survey can contact Rebecca Buerkett at F.X. Browne Inc. at 891-1410 or rbuerkett@fxbrowne.com, or Elaine Sater, Brighton town clerk, at 327-3202.
A state Smart Growth grant for $46,400 is funding the project.
Buerkett said a tourist brochure highlighting recreational opportunities, businesses and attractions in the town is to be one result of the project. The brochure, a relatively inexpensive opportunity to publicize Brighton businesses to potential visitors, would be distributed at area chambers of commerce, hotels, bed-and-breakfasts and other tourist venues.
"What happens is, people come to Brighton to bring their kids to Paul Smith's College, the VIC, the corn maze, and don't know the other things that are going on here," Buerkett said. "We wanted to put that together in this survey."
All Brighton businesses that would like to be included in the brochure are asked to contact Buerkett at F.X. Browne Inc.
A land-use analysis, an environmental-risk assessment and energy-efficiency workshops will also be done as part of the Smart Growth grant project.
The workshops will be held at the Adirondack Visitor Interpretive Center in Paul Smiths at 9:30 a.m. on March 21.
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Contact Emily Hunkler at 891-2600 ext. 24 or ehunkler@adirondackdailyenterprise.com.
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contrary1
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02-05-09 10:05 AM
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Thank you for informing me of that. I'm so accustomed to these things being designed to produce a specific result, I'm naturally a little suspicious. After years of watching cheerleaders dictate the direction of our communities, Brighton should be commended for seeking input from the rank and file citizen. Thank you for your honesty.
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Buerkett
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02-04-09 12:05 PM
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Just to clear up any misconceptions, the Town of Brighton did send a paper survey to all of the residents. We felt strongly that we wanted to make sure that all demographics in the town are represented. Especially since Internet access is one of the issues of concern.
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contrary1
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02-04-09 8:47 AM
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For that much money they could mail the survey to everyone in Brighton, with self addressed stamped envelopes. Targeting people who utilize the Brighton internet site, favors networking groups, while it excludes the rest. The survey looks good, but it isn't indicative of the feelings of the residents of Brighton, unless everyone is invited to participate. Lake Placid did surveys during the Wal-Mart debate, and never once entered Cascade Acres Mobile Home Park because they knew the economically disadvantaged people living there, would support it. Like Little Georgie says..."Fool me once..."
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bigfoot
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02-03-09 3:00 PM
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That's a lot of taxpayer money for the projects mentioned - I dare say we will not generate revenues or taxes that equal or exceed the taxpayer funded "studies"
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contrary1
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02-03-09 12:05 PM
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If the economy continues to tank as expected, and Gabriels is forced to close, the town could petition to the federal government for transitional funds, as part of the stimulus package. This could be a great opportunity for Kirsten Gillibrand, John McHugh, and the town of Brighton. Eminent domain could be used to claim it for the town, stimulus funds could be used to transform it into whatever the town decides is in it's best interest. It worked for the Plattsburgh Air Force Base.
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iamamom
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02-03-09 11:33 AM
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Well keeping Camp Gabriels open would be the first step!
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