February 24, 2008 07:20 am To the editor: I read with great interest the recent interviews of the mayors in the region, including those from the Lawrence, Haverhill, Methuen, Amesbury and Newburyport. The overwhelming theme was that every city and town in our region is hurting financially. Each is lobbying for additional funding from the state, additional employee concessions and other cost reduction measures. Each city needs an actionable and flexible long range plan to pitch to state and federal officials, industry, foundations and other potential sources of revenue and services, in addition to the usual practice of plugging municipal budgetary gaps on a year-to-year basis. Likewise, a regional long range plan should be collaboratively formulated by the cities and towns, based on their collective needs. The cities and towns in the region need each other to survive in a global economy. For example, the high cost of living is creating a major barrier for economic development across the region. The individual and regional long range plans should address the necessary foundational changes that are needed; some of which may not show a return on investment for several years. The plans must also address what each city and the region can bring to the table in return for the help that they are seeking. It will undoubtedly increase the probability of success of lobbying efforts. Each long range plan should address topics such as: 1. budgeting and financial planning; 2. community development; 3. environmental management; 4. education; 5. public safety; 6. capital improvements; 7. zoning and 8. economic development. The nation's gold standard for long range planning and sound fiscal management is Sunnyvale, Calif. Sunnyvale's general plan can be found at http://sunnyvale.ca.gov/Departments/Community+Development/General+Plan/. Locally, Newburyport is well known for its master plan which can be found at http://www.cityofnewburyport.com. The Merrimack Valley Planning Commission and the Merrimack Valley Economic Development Council develop regional strategies for economic development that should be leveraged by the cities and towns. Let's address one example of the benefits of individual and regional long range plans. The Merrimack Valley is well suited to capture its fair share of the emerging technologies manufacturing base. Just this past October, a consortium of Merrimack Valley stakeholders, led by Haverhill, hosted a global conference on eco-friendly green chemistry at NECC's technology center that brought together the scientific, business and workforce development communities for the first time to collaborate on how to develop and attract a green chemistry industry. Scientists and business leaders from as far away as Russia and Sweden participated in the event. In a global economy, an endeavor of this magnitude requires a regional approach. The stakeholders in the green chemistry conference are currently planning the next steps to help brand the region and Haverhill as eco-friendly and innovative with a focus on emerging technologies, such as nanotechnology, bio-tech and green technologies. We are well suited to leverage the manufacturing segment of this industry, but we should also try to lure research and development. Please visit http://www.ivalley.org/blog/?p=83 to learn about the way ahead for this endeavor, which from the start has focused on a regional approach to be applied locally. From the start, Haverhill's Hilldale and Ward Hill Industrial Parks and North Andover's Lucent complex have been target locations for eco-friendly, innovative companies. It is very likely that professional local and regional blueprints and associated marketing will increase our chances of providing the additional recursive revenues that our cities and towns need. JOHN MICHITSON Haverhill
Name: John Michitson Community: Haverhill Age: 48 Occupation: manager and electrical engineer, MITRE Corp. Public service: former Haverhill city councilor, 10 years
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