Westerly - State of Rhode Island: Division of Planning

The Westerly Comprehensive PlanTable 9-8 Survey: Community and Government Services PreparednessVery SomewhatSomewhatSatisfiedDissatisfiedSatisfied SatisfiedDissatisfiedMy level of satisfaction that the following services are prepared for the future is:Police 29.6% 23.8% 37.2% 8.8% 0.6%Fire 39.8% 21.4% 36.4% 2.4% 0.0%Ambulance 36.1% 21.2% 40.2% 2.5% 0.0%Streets 5.0% 18.2% 26.3% 37.9% 12.5%Water and Sewer 16.8% 21.1% 32.1% 19.0% 11.0%Parks and Recreation 29.0% 37.0% 26.9% 7.1% 0.0%Schools 16.9% 22.2% 41.3% 14.1% 5.6%Overall respondents to the survey felt they are knowledgeable about town services, with 70 percentsaying they strongly agree or agree that they are knowledgeable. Overwhelmingly, Westerly surveyrespondents felt safe in the town with 86 percent saying they agreed or strongly agreed they felt safe.Although concerns were raised about the quality of the community’s educational system in thepublic workshops held in July and August 2007, as well as in the focus groups, this concern failed tobe strongly expressed in the survey, although a high rate, 41 percent, reported having no opinion.Respondents were split over the question as to whether the town is doing a sufficient job ofmanaging growth, with 39 percent voicing no opinion, 1 percent strongly agreeing, 29.9 percentagreeing and 30 percent disagreeing or strongly disagreeing.The results of this section of the survey are summarized below.Table 9-9 Survey: Community and Government Services OpinionsNeitherStronglyAgreeAgreeDisagreeAgreenorDisagreeStronglyDisagreeI feel I am knowledgeable aboutTown services and offices 12.2% 51.7% 28.1% 7.3% 0.6%I feel safe in Westerly 23.4% 63.2% 11.6% 1.8% 0.0%In general, I am satisfied withthe value of town services I 10.0% 40.7% 23.1% 14.0% 12.2%receive in return for taxes paid.The town is doing a sufficientjob of managing growth.0.9% 29.9% 39.0% 24.2% 6.0%Westerly’s schools are excellentand add to our quality of life 11.1% 23.2% 40.9% 17.6% 7.1%More adult educational offeringsshould be available8.4% 22.3% 59.1% 9.0% 1.2%peter j. smith & company, inc. 146