Improving Communications with the Community

                A seemingly very long time ago, the days before the world health pandemic called Covid-19, the members of our governing body and I had discussions about making a more substantial effort to improve communications with the community and better support our local businesses. Operating our municipal government in a fiscally conservative manner (i.e., with departments appropriately staffed - but not overstaffed,  and maintaining the services we provide at a level acceptable to a reasonable person standard - but not more), the concept of improving and delivering something new and more to the residential and business community translated into a commitment beyond using what we had and making it better; a thought process that has and will be the first consideration.

                Over the past several years, advancing this plan was “tabled” for budgetary reasons to minimize tax increases and maintain the good services we provide to our residents and business. Also, and just as important, we had not found the “right person” for a position that would be unique to our municipal operations and advance our effectiveness as a municipal government serving its community.

                About a year ago, a young man responded to our advertisement for a position within our recreation department. Nancy Bergen (Superintendent of Recreation) reviewed his resume, was intrigued by his qualifications and interviewed him. Nancy came to my office after the interview and recommended that I meet with him because her sense was he may be perfect for the long-unfilled position we called “Community Aide.”  She told me she was impressed with him and his ideas and skillset and believed the Township might be better served with him in this role as opposed to working in her department. So I met with Craig Dinwoodie, and I agreed. It was one of those times as a manager when having an “open door policy,” creating an environment of trust and a sense of “team” to empower your staff, paid off and continues to daily.   Well done, Nancy!

                Craig was hired about eleven months ago and has worked to define his role within our municipal operations and community in a manner consistent with the vision of our elected officials. Whether it is improving the delivery of information to the community in the digital landscape of social media, creating the monthly “Senior Connect” for the elderly, being the first point of contact for businesses (new and existing) to assist in their interactions with various municipal departments and the community, or working with Township committees to advance their missions, he finds himself in the mix in a lot good and positive ways. 

                The “Community Aide” is an evolving position within our municipal operations, making it unique to it as well.   Here is a link to the Community Aide page on our website for a closer look:  https://www.lawrencetwp.com/directory/CommunityAide. If you are curious about how the Community Aide may be of assistance to you, don’t hesitate to give him a call and find out. His email is cdinwoodie@lawrencetwp.com, and his telephone number is 609.844.7074.