FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Jeff Batstone at: 508.997.0488

MORRISSEY RELEASES PLAN TO IMPROVE CITY SERVICES

“Paving the way to a new New Bedford” highlights include ethics code, strategic planning, Community Progress Report Card, and strict accountability measures.

Mayoral candidate Matt Morrissey today unveiled a comprehensive plan to improve basic city services. Entitled Paving the way to a new New Bedford: Reforming the way City Hall works… for you!, the plan is designed to restore public trust in City Hall, de-politicize priority-setting, rally city workers around collective goals, and bring professional accountability to city services.

“Our property taxes have increased 54 percent in the last eight years yet city services have diminished,’’ Morrissey said. “It is critical that we refuse to compromise on fundamental principles that we as citizens value: trust, service and accountability. We all must see and feel value for our tax dollars. We must dramatically improve our streets, our sidewalks and the general condition of our neighborhoods – the services City Hall is paid to deliver to all of us.”

“There must be a new philosophy at City Hall – that government is a facilitator, a motivator, and an entity that empowers creative and innovative people and their ideas,” Morrissey said. “We all must trust again that City Hall is working for us rather than for a handful of connected power brokers.”

The plan, which is available at www.MattForNewBedford.com, includes the following action steps:

• Reestablish trust between City Hall and New Bedford’s citizens by establishing a code of ethics and establishing clear performance measures for departments.
   
• Communicate a strong overall vision and purpose. All divisions of city government will be fully engaged in the development of the strategic plan and will be expected to implement this plan in the daily delivery of city services.
   
• Create a Community Progress Report Card that is based on shared credit and shared responsibility for moving the city forward.
   
• Establish a clear schedule for street and sidewalk repair that transcends election year politics.
   
• Strictly manage the trash disposal contract to assure trash is picked up on time with care and speed, aggressively investigate street cleaning programs and adopt the best snow removal procedures of cities across the nation.
   
• Streamline City Hall to make it more efficient and customer friendly by simplifying permitting processes, fostering an understanding that city hall employees work for city residents, and making sure that all services are delivered in a cost effective manner.
   
• Institute an advisory panel of private industry managers to make recommendations for improvements in city administration and services.
   
• Establish New Bedford Municipal Seminars to introduce citizens to the way their government works.
   
• Expand and improve the senior volunteer program in City Hall and by creating a formal internship program between City Hall and higher education institutions.
   
• Identify strong and creative managers and place them in leadership roles emphasizing innovation, collaboration and performance.

"Paving the Way” is the second of several comprehensive plans that Morrissey will release prior to the Oct. 4 preliminary election. the first was “Planning For Success,’’ which focused on the neighborhoods.

“As with our neighborhoods plan, “Paving the Way to a new New Bedford” is built on the recommendations of dozens of people we have met over the last several months,” Morrissey said. “We do not claim to have all the answers, and we look forward to listening some more. What is clear, however, is that together, we CAN do better. We MUST do better. We WILL do better.”