Westerly - State of Rhode Island: Division of Planning

The Westerly Comprehensive PlanPolicy 6.Policy 7.Policy 8.There should be a person within town government charged with executing aneconomic development strategy, leading an aggressive business development effort,and acting as the single point of coordination for all economic development activitiesin Westerly.On an annual basis, the Town Council should convene a meeting of officials of theseven fire districts to discuss fire district issues and activities with implications forthe Comprehensive Plan.Recognize that implementation of the Comprehensive Plan requires that the townmaintain a sound financial condition and that decisions regarding conservation,development, facility construction and maintenance, and infrastructure shall alwaysbe evaluated for future financial impact.Policy 9.The town shall encourage on a continuing basis the recycling and conservation ofenergy, water and other environmental resources.5.4 Implementation MatrixThe Plan’s recommended actions are arranged in an Implementation Matrix organized according toeach of the 10 goal categories. The matrix is intended as a tool to help manage the Planimplementation. It assigns primary responsibilities, supporting responsibilities, and timeframes tothe Plan’s actions. Table 5-1 provides specific definitions of each of these terms. Table 5-2 is theImplementation Matrix itself.Responsibilities indicated in the Implementation Matrix assume the existing organizational structureof town government and management. It is also anticipated that a revitalized EconomicDevelopment Committee will be appointed by the Town Council. Where multiple supportcommittees are named, it is expected that they may be organized as a workgroup to provide adviceto the primary responsible party. Where a new ordinance or a change to existing ordinances orfunding is required, the Town Council is named as the primary responsible party. It is assumed thatthe Council will delegate much of the preparatory work to the support individuals or committees.Non-governmental organizations may be involved in implementing some actions; however, theprimary and secondary responsible parties named in the matrix are primarily town governmententities or appointed boards, commissions and committees.The matrix consists of 57 actions which comprise the essential core of this Comprehensive Plan: 29actions are short-term in nature; 25 actions are medium-term; and 3 actions are long-term.peter j. smith & company, inc. 76