The “Performance Measurement System Report” document was designed to be the first deliverable for the Sustainable Communities Planning Grant (p.4). The work on this deliverable was mainly completed from January 2011 to April 2011. Yet today the draft provided to the public for consideration as a part of Charlottesville’s Comprehensive Plan includes typographical errors and is missing critical information. Throughout the document are the terms “placeholder” (p.25,26, 26, 28) or “need updated Information from City and County” (p.37) All of the executive summaries in the March 15, 2013 draft (almost two years since the work was completed) contain Latin placeholders.
A review of thework planincluded on the “Many Plans One Community” website indicates that all text was to be completed by January 31, 2013 to coincide with the respective Planning Commission Comprehensive Plan reviews.
The TJPDC process was designed from the outset to improve, not delay, the comprehensive plan process. In their 2011 media release kicking off the process the TJPDC described the process:
Many Plans, One Community is the portal for information exchange and public input that will inform the updates of the Charlottesville and Albemarle County comprehensive plans, the Charlottesville Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization Long Range Transportation Plan update and the development of a regional Livable Communities Plan. Many Plans, One Community will be a One-Stop Shop for all information about each of these four different plans, as well as a forum for the public to provide feedback throughout the process. It is envisioned that this process will extend limited staff resources and encourage collaboration, facilitate public information sharing and increase transparency across municipal boundaries.
…“We are anticipating that we will be able to close out the project, complete all of the products
that have been promised both to HUD, the city and the
TJPDC Exec Stephen Williams
county and the MPO within the budget and within the time frames that are proposed,” Williams said.
Then on January 31, 2013 Project Manager Summer Frederick left the TJPDC to return to work for Albemarle County. The TJPDC media release indicates:
As of February 1, 2013, Mr. Williams, will be the primary point of contact for all project management issues related to the Many Plans, One Community Livability Project. Mr. Williams may be reached via phone at 434-979-7310 x110, or via email at swilliams@tjpdc.org
After three years and nearly a million dollars, what do the citizens have to show for it? A litany of meetings, a website, partially completed reports and now TJPDC Exec Williams is taking management responsibility?
One has to wonder has the TJPDC met the terms, objectives and deadlines of the HUD Federal Grant?
And if not, who should be held responsible?
Respectfully submitted,
Neil Williamson
Neil Williamson is the President of the Free Enterprise Forum, a local government public policy organization located in Charlottesville. www.freeenterpriseforum.org
[…] be renewed. While the Free Enterprise Forum has often questioned much of the TJPDC’s work under Mr. Williams, we wish him only the best in his future […]
[…] be renewed. While the Free Enterprise Forum has often questioned much of the TJPDC’s work under Mr. Williams, we wish him only the best in his future […]