Town Council Retreats

I blogged about this topic about a year ago, however, this may get some people talking especially after the article in the Southwest Wake News.

As I have mentioned before these meetings are often the target of taxpayers groups as being a waste of money, but as a participant of these meetings, they are very worthwhile. They permit long uninterrupted discussions on various town topics over a few days in a more relaxed setting. And, of course, these meetings open to the public. Normally these meetings take place at a conference center outside of town over the course of a weekend (Friday afternoon through midday on Sunday). Holly Springs is using a facility in Wallace, NC this year. This is the same facility that the Holly Springs Chamber of Commerce used for their retreat.

The cost of lodging, meals and mileage is factored into the town budget. About two years ago, Holly Springs did not conduct an out-of-town weekend retreat. The town used the Yates Mill facility for a day long retreat. It certainly cost less than a weekend retreat at a hotel, but the facilities were not comfortable and the agenda was very rushed. I don't think that we accomplished as much that year as prior years. At a weekend retreat we probably spent close to 20 hours talking about town issues, at Yates Mill the discussion time was closer to 6 or 7 hours.

Local naysayers and members of the media will try to put a negative spin on this annual expense. However, rarely do they ever research to understand how these meetings have inevitably benefited the town, long and short term. One decision at this year's retreat could easily cover the expense of the whole weekend.

So if you learn that the town council is going on a weekend planning retreat, find out the topics and the results, then determine how much the town benefited from this weekend work. Take a look at the survey on the right and cast your vote.