To: Comprehensive Plan Review Committee Members                     

 March 7,  2005

We are grateful to all of you for the time and effort you have
committed yourselves to in behalf of the citizens of White Plains.

There has, however, been little indication these past weeks to give the
public confidence that the Comprehensive Plan Review Committee's
organization and activities would begin to reflect the seriousness of
its charge and its commensurate responsibilities: to undertake a
review... to determine whether and what elements need to be amended... 
and to make recommendations...

Rather, what we have seen is a sluggishness in getting organized and in
establishing  a work process. There are apparent problems with internal
communication procedures, meeting schedules, distribution of background
materials, and a practical orientation to available data.  It took
weeks to even call the first meeting.

It seems like the members, including  perhaps the co-chairs,     have had
little or no say regarding the agenda, nor did many of the members
appear to be comfortable with their charge and the scope of background
information. A number of requests for a follow-up orientation prior to
the initial public meeting met with no response.

Thus far, there has been a notable failure to establish rapport
mechanisms with the very public the entire effort is ostensibly meant
to serve. What we see is a hasty and poorly-prepared response to a
citizen initiative. While it is being labeled a “public review,”  in
reality the process seems to be driven by the Commissioner of Planning,
under the direction of the Mayor’s Office, with the Council looking
away and the Review Committee at a  loss for what to do. This is not
what the White Plains public expected, and it simply won’t fly.

We suggest that you can turn things around, saving time and grief, by:

1. Publicizing your objectives and what you intend to accomplish
2. Publicizing  the time and place of meetings more extensively
3. Establishing a clear meeting format   
    • speakers should state name, address and affiliations, if any
    • provide microphones and use them                       

     • slide and print
presentations should:
           -be concise (20-25 min.)

           -explain the presentation format – if material  is not easily
read, omit it

           -contain a brief orientation  (point out directions, picture
"taken from”, etc.)

          -be consistent: focus on major ideas... avoid detail                   

          -keep repetition to a minimum, omit self-congratulatory references

4. Inviting and facilitating committee/public interchanges

5. Responding to the community’s desire to participate in work groups
on specific subjects

The success of this effort is critical to the future of White Plains. 
The analyses and conclusions you sign off on must be objective,
independent and not shaped by the dictates of City officials.  Everyone
is depending on you. We remain eager to assist in all possible ways.

Sincerely,


Robert H. Levine
(for the) Citizens’ Plan Committee