January 14, 2010 - Mayor Domenic J. Sarno announced today that the City of Springfield has begun a web-based city-wide need assessment survey to capture public opinion on Housing and Community Development needs. Mayor Sarno sought innovative methods to generate public participation in a required HUD Planning Document. Mayor Domenic J. Sarno stated “the web-based survey will allow people the opportunity to provide input at their convenience if they are unable to attend a public hearing.” “By releasing the web based survey, we intend to reach many more people who live or work in the City,” said Sarno.
The approach is yielding results. Over 1500 individuals have completed the survey providing valuable insight into neighborhood needs, citywide issues, and targeted priorities. On Monday, the first day of the survey, Mayor Sarno encouraged all city employees to complete the assessment. “The number of responses was overwhelming, but we are not stopping there,” stated Sarno. “We have obtained commitments from two large employers, MassMutual and Health New England, who will also encourage their employees to complete the Needs Assessment,” said Sarno. The results of the survey will help establish the priority needs and guide resource allocation of federal Housing and Community Development resources for the next five years.
All Springfield residents are encouraged to complete the survey, which is linked from the City web site (www.springfieldcityhall.com). The deadline to complete the survey is February 19, 2010.