As New Jersey municipalities look for ways to share services, create more cost-effective services and develop better communication across departments, Forums Institute facilitates county and municipality meetings to:
- Help participants determine clear solutions
- Engage participants for maximum involvement
- Move participants toward action and better outcomes
Our clients include:
- Union County: The first meeting resulted in a lengthy list of potential shared services and the second meeting included representation from more than 90% of the school districts. In both meetings, participants expressed the strong desire to continue to work together.
- Bergen County: The county executive sponsored the first Bergen County Pandemic Flu Summit. More than 100 local mayors, municipal Office of Emergency Management (OEM) coordinators, and local health officers participated. Meeting participants gave it high marks for opening up interagency communication, among other positive outcomes.
- Hudson County: The first meeting focused on potential shared services, with plans for a multi-year process.
The Department of Community Affairs, through its
SHARE Program (SHaring Available Resources Efficiently) offers grants that support efforts to identify and develop shared services. The SHARE Program seeks to "explore the potential of shared services." It provides assistance "for the coordination of programs and services" as well as for "meetings to discuss shared services..."
These activities rest on the coming together of people and the open exchange of information.
The success of such conversations is enhanced by the use of a professional facilitator, such as those provided by Forums Institute.
Across the country, examples exist for effective meetings at the local level. All are based on principles of civil discourse and rely on preparation and procedures, usually handled by a facilitator.
A professional facilitator provides:
- A neutral convener — For example, no matter how amicable, if Town A has called the meeting, Town A can be suspect in motivation. The facilitator acts as the bridge between and among the towns.
- An appropriate design — Because of skill and experience, a meeting facilitator can suggest, design and execute activities and approaches that afford maximum participation.
- A safe harbor — Using and enforcing Ground Rules, the meeting facilitator provides a place for all to participate on an equal footing where differing viewpoints are honored.
- Opportunities for all to participate — The host does not have to play the dual role of chair and participant. A meeting facilitator allows the host the opportunity to participate fully in the discussion.
- Logistic support — The facilitator manages the time and space to support the work of the group. In a series of meetings, the facilitator continues to work between meetings to secure attendance, handle records, and gather additional information.
- Point of trust — The meeting facilitator establishes rapport with the participants, which allows all the issues and perspectives to surface in the meeting, as well as all of the controversy that is often held until afterwards in the parking lot.
- Success — The meeting facilitator helps the group define success for themselves and works with them to achieve that success.
To learn more about meeting facilitators and how to choose one, read
How to Choose a Facilitator and read about
Conversations.
