Date: May 14, 2024
Background: The meeting was held with the consultant team of Hill Studio and Arnett Muldrow as part of the official kickoff of the growth and renewal strategic plan study. The meeting preceded the first public session. Prior to the meeting, the consultants were given a two-hour tour of the town as part of their orientation. Earlier in the day, Delilah White facilitated coverage on WDBJ7 TV about the kickoff.
The steering committee convened its meeting at the Pittsylvania County Community Center at 4:00 pm.
Attendees:
- Steering Committee: Joe Rogers – Chairman, Dick Camp- Vice Chairman, Delilah White, John Harris, Janet Bishop, Donna Yeatts, Frank Fox, Langhorne Jones, Deborah Haymes and Mayor Alisa Davis.
- Consultant Team: David Hill, Maria Saxton, and Matthew Lindsay of Hill Studio. Arnette Muldrow of Arnett Muldrow and Associates.
- David Hill of Hill Studio reported on his impression of the town from the tour. He described the town as having extraordinary potential and many unique assets for a community of this size. He stated that the challenge is to build upon these assets while maintaining the character of the town that people like. He complimented the committee on being well organized. Arnette Muldrow stated that he often passed the town when working in the state, but never appreciated what Chatham had to offer such as beautiful architecture and many special assets.
- A discussion ensued with each steering committee member sharing their hopes and expectations for the study and what they would like to see the town become over the next 5-10 years.
- Mayor Davis stated that she would hope the plan pulls together the various diverse initiatives in town and provides a format for a unified focus going forward.
- Steering Committee members then took an interactive survey on a program called Metrimeter. Real-time answers to an initial survey developed by the consultants were displayed on a screen as input by members. The file was saved to compare it to the same survey being conducted during the public session.
- The public session convened at 6:00 pm. A record of that meeting, along with public survey results, is posted on the website at ReimagineChatham.org
- Chairman Rogers advised at informational cards about the study will be included in the upcoming mailout of the town water bills at the end of May. This information will reach most all the homes in the study area. The hope is to grow the RC email database to reach throughout the community most efficiently.
Joe Rogers
Chairman, RC Steering Committee