DALTON, Mass. — Several aspects surrounding the proposed police facility are unclear, but one thing is for certain: the need for community engagement and education. 

 

The Select Board and the Public Safety Advisory Committee attended the presentation. Although they did not fully agree on public engagement methodologies, they acknowledged the importance of public engagement and education in gaining community support and ensuring the project's smooth progression.

 

There will be another joint meeting in the next two weeks to a month, so the board can discuss next steps and ways to engage voters. 

 

Select Board member Dan Esko emphasized that when other towns have undertaken similar projects, they did a lot of community surveying and polling engagement. 

 

"I feel like that's what's missing here in Dalton right now, if we're going to focus on one thing as a priority, put that to the top is my advice, my thinking," he said. 

 

"There's other things too, certainly it's not exclusive to working on other items."

 

Don Davis, co-chair of the Public Safety Advisory Committee, demonstrated that the committee has recognized community engagement as a necessary strategy since the beginning of this process.