Residents interested in taking the online communications survey may do so at townofchapelhill.org/news.
By Gregory Childress
gchildress@heraldsun.com; 419-6645
Chapel Hill -- If you live in Chapel Hill, 'tis the season for surveys.
The town has posted an online survey in an effort to find out what issues are important to town residents and how residents get their news about local government.
"We're keenly interested in knowing how our citizens like to receive information, how they connect with the town for services and engage elected officials," said town spokeswoman Catherine Lazorko.
She said information taken from the survey and several meetings with community stakeholders that took place in November and earlier this month will be used to create a communications strategy for the town.
Lazorko said the findings have been interesting so far.
"I was really surprised to learn how few people are reading newspapers," Lazorko said.
Because of the decline in newspaper readership, Lazorko said, it has become increasingly important to find more ways for the town to connect with citizens.
"It's become more challenging to reach our residents without newspapers," Lazorko said.
She noted that more and more residents receive information through e-mail. And she said was surprised to learn that many residents were unaware of the many online services available through the town's Web site.
"Many of the things they have been suggesting, we're already doing," Lazorko said.
Among the items residents are asked to rate is their satisfaction with the availability of information about town programs and services, the town efforts to keep citizens informed about issues and events and the town's openness to public involvement and input from residents.
Residents are asked to rate their satisfaction to those questions and others from 1 to 5, with 1 being very satisfied and 5 being very dissatisfied.
In addition to the survey, town officials have held several focus groups to receive thoughts and comments about the town's communication efforts.
Also this month, about 2,000 residents will receive surveys in the mail asking them to share their perception of town services.
Town officials set as a goal this year to conduct a survey to gain better understanding of residents' perception of the services the town provides.
Residents' suggestions will be used in daily management decisions, setting budget priorities and the development of long-range strategic plans.
