Chatham Moves Ahead With ‘Community Scorecard’ Survey

CHATHAM – Officials plan to conduct a community-wide survey to gauge residents’ sentiments on a range of questions.

 The select board last week directed Town Manager Jill Goldsmith and her staff to develop a draft survey based on a similar poll in Provincetown, only with fewer questions.

 The Provincetown survey included 100 questions, many of them focusing on demographics. Such personal details may not be necessary, board members said.

 “I don’t like some of the more personal questions like gender identity,” board member Randi Potash said at the July 28 session. Vice chair Cory Metters said some of the demographic questions could be helpful, but people would not have to answer them if they did not want to.

 “We can kind of fine tune this to suit Chatham’s needs,” he said.

 Provincetown’s “Resident Satisfaction and Community Priorities” survey elicited about 400 responses, said Shanna Nealy, Chatham’s communications manager/community engagement coordinator. Along with the demographic questions, the survey included inquiries gauging residents' overall satisfaction with the quality of life in Provincetown; town services; communications, transparency and trust; coastal resilience and climate change; tourism and year-round community balance; housing and cost of living; equity, inclusion and community belonging; fiscal trust and value; and civic engagement. A section is also included for open-ended feedback.

 Chatham has conducted several town-wide surveys, including on topics such as climate change and energy and updates to the hazard mitigation plan and open space and recreation plan. Board member Dean Nicastro noted that a council on aging survey several years ago garnered a 32 percent response rate. He favored the survey, saying it will help the town identify areas for improvement and enhancement.

 Board members said a comprehensive survey of the type done in Provincetown would be useful for many different town departments.

 “If we don’t do this, we’re not going to gain anything,” said Metters. “This is an opportunity to give us some better tools to do a better job.”

 Nealy said staff could have a draft ready for the board’s next meeting on Aug. 11.