Well, it's been a while! Over the past few months, I've wrapped up the projects I was working on at the Rockefeller Center and am in the midst of launching a new endeavor... working to send former astronaut and Dartmouth Medical School professor Jay Buckey to the US Senate. He's a great guy, and I am really looking forward to managing his campaign. To learn more about him and the campaign, visit our website.
I will try to keep this site updated with info about City Council happenings. The big update from this week is that the City of Lebanon now has an energy committee! Our charge reads:
The Lebanon Energy Advisory Committee identifies opportunities and makes recommendations to the City Council with regard to reducing energy use, increasing energy efficiency, exploring alternative energy usage, and reducing pollution, to the environmental and fiscal benefit of the City of Lebanon.
It will be composed of 9 members: 2 City Councilors, 1 Planning Board representative, 1 Lebanon High School student, 1 Thayer Engineering School faculty member or student, and 4 at-large residents.
The City Council formed this committee on Wednesday evening, and the vote was unanimous. It made me feel very proud, even though Pat Hayes says the language "reducing pollution" is very '60s. (Thank you to Steve Wood for adding that language in. I think it does make our charge that much clearer.) No matter what, it's a great thing that we're doing, and I think you can expect great things to come from it for Lebanon.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
City Council Organizational Meeting
Tonight the City Council will formally say good-bye to Dan Nash, Bob Moses, and Dean Sorenson and seat the members of the "new" Council. We will also be electing one of ourselves to be Mayor and Assistant Mayor. And we will likely rubber stamp the Council rules. I believe we could be a more productive and effective City Council if we used this meeting as an opportunity to reflect on the coming year, identify how we would like to conduct our meetings, and determine priorities for the City Council.
A concern that I have heard raised by numerous citizens is that Lebanon is not proactive enough. We are too reactive. This is usually spoken about in relation to our physical development, e.g. Route 12A. However, it is as applicable to the City Council itself as it is to the City. The Council has the power to make sure that we address the issues that citizens have told us are important to them by managing our agenda more effectively. Individual City Councilors do have the ability to request specific agenda items, and we do take advantage of that. But we could accomplish even greater things if we agreed as a body on the goals we want to achieve over the coming year. We could use the organizational meeting to do precisely that: organize ourselves for the coming year. This could be a good time to review the strategic plan, to determine priorities for agenda items, and to proactively map out the issues we wish to address.
My experience with the two organizational meetings that I have participated in as a City Councilor lead me to believe that tonight will not break new ground in this area. But I believe we can move in this direction over time. Tonight each Councilor will receive the strategic plan and the goals adopted by the City Council at the March 7th meeting. I believe City Councilors have a shared responsibility in advancing the interests of our citizens, and I look forward to doing just that as we enter this new year for the Lebanon City Council.
A concern that I have heard raised by numerous citizens is that Lebanon is not proactive enough. We are too reactive. This is usually spoken about in relation to our physical development, e.g. Route 12A. However, it is as applicable to the City Council itself as it is to the City. The Council has the power to make sure that we address the issues that citizens have told us are important to them by managing our agenda more effectively. Individual City Councilors do have the ability to request specific agenda items, and we do take advantage of that. But we could accomplish even greater things if we agreed as a body on the goals we want to achieve over the coming year. We could use the organizational meeting to do precisely that: organize ourselves for the coming year. This could be a good time to review the strategic plan, to determine priorities for agenda items, and to proactively map out the issues we wish to address.
My experience with the two organizational meetings that I have participated in as a City Councilor lead me to believe that tonight will not break new ground in this area. But I believe we can move in this direction over time. Tonight each Councilor will receive the strategic plan and the goals adopted by the City Council at the March 7th meeting. I believe City Councilors have a shared responsibility in advancing the interests of our citizens, and I look forward to doing just that as we enter this new year for the Lebanon City Council.
Front Page News
Today's "D," Dartmouth's daily newspaper, ran a nice story about me on its front page today. Here is an excerpt. You can read more by following the link...
"Karen Liot Hill '00, programming coordinator of the Rockefeller Center, was re-elected to the Lebanon City Council by a landslide victory on March 12."
Read the full story.
"Karen Liot Hill '00, programming coordinator of the Rockefeller Center, was re-elected to the Lebanon City Council by a landslide victory on March 12."
Read the full story.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Out of Town
I am in Washington, DC for the week conducting a training for college students embarking on public service internships. We're busy all day and late into the evening, but I am making good use of the meetings we've scheduled with Members of Congress and other leaders to advocate for Lebanon. Unfortunately, I won't be able to make it to this evening's Council meeting. I am looking forward to next week's first organizational meeting of the new City Council.
I do enjoy spending time with college students, though - they always offer food for thought! I will resume regular posts when I return this weekend...
I do enjoy spending time with college students, though - they always offer food for thought! I will resume regular posts when I return this weekend...
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Thank You!
I sincerely appreciate the vote of confidence from Ward 3 residents in the recent election. I will do my best to continue serving the best interests of our community as your City Councilor.
Last week, the City Council adopted goals for the City Manager and itself in 2007 that include: engaging residents in the zoning update, developing a plan for the airport, beginning a transportation master plan, adopting an open space plan, refining the landfill business plan, and pursuing public access television so that citizens can have more access to their government. In addition to supporting these efforts, I will work on the ideas I offered during my campaign, as well as those offered by many of you.
I will remain an advocate for engaging citizens in the decision-making process of our government and hope that many of you will work alongside me on these important issues. Thank you again to those who voted for me in Tuesday's election. (And if you didn't, that's ok too! I'm still working for you.) Please be sure to send me a note if you have something to share. Feedback is welcome...
Last week, the City Council adopted goals for the City Manager and itself in 2007 that include: engaging residents in the zoning update, developing a plan for the airport, beginning a transportation master plan, adopting an open space plan, refining the landfill business plan, and pursuing public access television so that citizens can have more access to their government. In addition to supporting these efforts, I will work on the ideas I offered during my campaign, as well as those offered by many of you.
I will remain an advocate for engaging citizens in the decision-making process of our government and hope that many of you will work alongside me on these important issues. Thank you again to those who voted for me in Tuesday's election. (And if you didn't, that's ok too! I'm still working for you.) Please be sure to send me a note if you have something to share. Feedback is welcome...
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Unofficial Results
It appears that I have won re-election to the City Council as the Ward 3 representative by a margin of 346 to 136.
I am grateful to the citizens who came out to vote today and sent me a message that they appreciate the work I've been doing, the way that I approach City Council business, and the ideas I offered for our community. We have a lot of work to do over the coming year, and I look forward to getting started!
I'll keep you posted on upcoming issues through this blog. I would welcome the opportunity to hear from you as well.
Sincerely,
karen
I am grateful to the citizens who came out to vote today and sent me a message that they appreciate the work I've been doing, the way that I approach City Council business, and the ideas I offered for our community. We have a lot of work to do over the coming year, and I look forward to getting started!
I'll keep you posted on upcoming issues through this blog. I would welcome the opportunity to hear from you as well.
Sincerely,
karen
Monday, March 12, 2007
Please Vote - Tuesday, March 13!
It looks like we'll have nice weather for election day. I hope that will mean lots of people turn out to vote! The polls are open from 8am to 7pm. Ward 3 votes at Lebanon College. Hope to see you there...
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Debrief - The Candidate Forum
Tuesday's candidate forum was great. I really enjoy spending time discussing City issues and wish we could have had more time for questions. We didn't cover nearly enough, nor in depth. But still it was good to hear others speak about their opinions on the important items we are addressing.
I think the City would benefit if the Council engaged in these kinds of discussions more often. Being accountable to the public is good for our government. Sharing our ideas with each other also gives us the opportunity to learn from each other and to identify common interests and objectives. The beauty - and the benefit - of deliberative democracy is the collective wisdom that emerges from informed discussion and debate. One of the Proverbs says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." This is certainly relevant to our work on the City Council; we must effectively engage with each other - and with residents - in order to make the best decisions possible for Lebanon. Perhaps we could incorporate these kinds of events into the City Council's schedule more often than only during campaign season...
I did not touch on everything I wanted to say in my introductory remarks on Tuesday evening. If I could have a "do-over," I would have said something like this:
"Good evening. My name is Karen Liot Hill, and I have been honored to serve Lebanon's Ward 3 Residents on the City Council for the past two years. Tonight I'd like to share a bit about what I've done as your City Councilor, what I'd like to do over the next two years, and why I do what I do.
I basically spent the first year learning - a lot. I have built relationships with key people. I have served as the City Council liaison to the Pedestrian & Bicyclist Advisory Committee, which is working on important projects such as a "Safe Routes to Schools" program and a Sidewalk Master Plan to help the Public Works Department identify where sidewalks do and don't exist, which ones are in good shape, and which ones need work.
I am a member of the City Council's Westboro Committee, which is working on a significant downtown revitalization project in West Lebanon. You may have noticed the renewed momentum on this project in recent months, and I am proud to be part of that effort. I helped to bring about a joint meeting of the City Council and our legislative delegation to Concord, including our four state representatives and our state senator, to discuss issues. I believe this relationship will bear good fruit for Lebanon. I am also a member of the Subcommittee on the Zoning Ordinance which will help to manage the process of informing and engaging the public in the review of the proposed update over the coming year.
Perhaps the issue that I am most proud of is spearheading the City's first-ever strategic planning process last year. Sitting together with Department Heads who have expertise and deep knowledge of Lebanon and discussing how to make Lebanon into the city we want it to be is an important exercise for the leadership of our city to engage in.
Over the next two years, I would like to move toward implementing the objectives identified in the Strategic Plan and those found in the Master Plan, which are very similar and complementary. I believe the City Council must focus on improving communication between our government and our citizens, trying to engage these residents in the process as effectively as possible. We must listen to what they have to say and allow it to inform our opinions. We must work on a Transportation Master Plan to address our challenges with traffic, congestion, and safety and an Open Space Plan to identify how best to preserve our natural resources. The Conservation Commission and our Planning Department have been working on a draft that will be ready soon for public comment.
Through my campaign for re-election to the City Council, I am offering 10 Big Ideas for Lebanon, around the themes of enterprise, engagement, and energy. I have a broad agenda. I am not a single-issue candidate. I see my job as a City Councilor to keep in mind both the big picture and the details. Please visit my website at www.KarenLiotHill.com to learn more or look for my brochure to arrive in the mail.
I have a vision of Lebanon, one that encourages a thriving economy and protects our natural resources. I strongly believe that these two goals are not mutually exclusive. Our challenge - and opportunity - in Lebanon is to create a way to accomplish both at the same time. My vision for Lebanon is one where decisions are made with the best information available, supporting both individual freedom and the common good, and keeping an eye on the short-term and long-term consequences of our actions. I believe Lebanon can be a leader in the Upper Valley and the State in terms of how we deal with the complex issues facing us such as managing growth, facilitating economic development and natural resource preservation, and anticipating our future needs.
It is this vision that compels me to invest my time and energy into our community through service on the City Council. I believe that I am working toward our future, and I believe that we can make progress together through good planning and hard work. I feel blessed to live in the family home that my husband, Andy Hill, grew up in, where we are raising our two children, Marina and Baby Zoe. Although I was not born here, I have chosen to make my home here, and I feel a strong connection, pride, and sense of duty to this city. I look forward to continuing to serve Lebanon residents on our City Council and ask for your vote on Tuesday, March 13th."
I think the City would benefit if the Council engaged in these kinds of discussions more often. Being accountable to the public is good for our government. Sharing our ideas with each other also gives us the opportunity to learn from each other and to identify common interests and objectives. The beauty - and the benefit - of deliberative democracy is the collective wisdom that emerges from informed discussion and debate. One of the Proverbs says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." This is certainly relevant to our work on the City Council; we must effectively engage with each other - and with residents - in order to make the best decisions possible for Lebanon. Perhaps we could incorporate these kinds of events into the City Council's schedule more often than only during campaign season...
I did not touch on everything I wanted to say in my introductory remarks on Tuesday evening. If I could have a "do-over," I would have said something like this:
"Good evening. My name is Karen Liot Hill, and I have been honored to serve Lebanon's Ward 3 Residents on the City Council for the past two years. Tonight I'd like to share a bit about what I've done as your City Councilor, what I'd like to do over the next two years, and why I do what I do.
I basically spent the first year learning - a lot. I have built relationships with key people. I have served as the City Council liaison to the Pedestrian & Bicyclist Advisory Committee, which is working on important projects such as a "Safe Routes to Schools" program and a Sidewalk Master Plan to help the Public Works Department identify where sidewalks do and don't exist, which ones are in good shape, and which ones need work.
I am a member of the City Council's Westboro Committee, which is working on a significant downtown revitalization project in West Lebanon. You may have noticed the renewed momentum on this project in recent months, and I am proud to be part of that effort. I helped to bring about a joint meeting of the City Council and our legislative delegation to Concord, including our four state representatives and our state senator, to discuss issues. I believe this relationship will bear good fruit for Lebanon. I am also a member of the Subcommittee on the Zoning Ordinance which will help to manage the process of informing and engaging the public in the review of the proposed update over the coming year.
Perhaps the issue that I am most proud of is spearheading the City's first-ever strategic planning process last year. Sitting together with Department Heads who have expertise and deep knowledge of Lebanon and discussing how to make Lebanon into the city we want it to be is an important exercise for the leadership of our city to engage in.
Over the next two years, I would like to move toward implementing the objectives identified in the Strategic Plan and those found in the Master Plan, which are very similar and complementary. I believe the City Council must focus on improving communication between our government and our citizens, trying to engage these residents in the process as effectively as possible. We must listen to what they have to say and allow it to inform our opinions. We must work on a Transportation Master Plan to address our challenges with traffic, congestion, and safety and an Open Space Plan to identify how best to preserve our natural resources. The Conservation Commission and our Planning Department have been working on a draft that will be ready soon for public comment.
Through my campaign for re-election to the City Council, I am offering 10 Big Ideas for Lebanon, around the themes of enterprise, engagement, and energy. I have a broad agenda. I am not a single-issue candidate. I see my job as a City Councilor to keep in mind both the big picture and the details. Please visit my website at www.KarenLiotHill.com to learn more or look for my brochure to arrive in the mail.
I have a vision of Lebanon, one that encourages a thriving economy and protects our natural resources. I strongly believe that these two goals are not mutually exclusive. Our challenge - and opportunity - in Lebanon is to create a way to accomplish both at the same time. My vision for Lebanon is one where decisions are made with the best information available, supporting both individual freedom and the common good, and keeping an eye on the short-term and long-term consequences of our actions. I believe Lebanon can be a leader in the Upper Valley and the State in terms of how we deal with the complex issues facing us such as managing growth, facilitating economic development and natural resource preservation, and anticipating our future needs.
It is this vision that compels me to invest my time and energy into our community through service on the City Council. I believe that I am working toward our future, and I believe that we can make progress together through good planning and hard work. I feel blessed to live in the family home that my husband, Andy Hill, grew up in, where we are raising our two children, Marina and Baby Zoe. Although I was not born here, I have chosen to make my home here, and I feel a strong connection, pride, and sense of duty to this city. I look forward to continuing to serve Lebanon residents on our City Council and ask for your vote on Tuesday, March 13th."
TONIGHT - Candidate Forum
Don't forget to come to the Candidate Forum tonight!
7pm @ Lebanon City Hall
Sponsored by the Lebanon Chamber of Commerce
7pm @ Lebanon City Hall
Sponsored by the Lebanon Chamber of Commerce
Zoning Subcommittee Update
Our subcommittee met last night and had a productive session. Lebanon residents can expect the opportunity to provide the City with feedback on the proposed Zoning Update at four Public Forums: one in each ward as well as a city-wide event that could take place at the Opera House. We held Listening Sessions in each ward as part of the Strategic Planning process last year, and I thought they were quite successful. Community members will receive a newsletter from the City announcing the forums and providing background information about the proposed Zoning Update.
Each forum will include a presentation about why the City is engaging in an update to the zoning rules and what the proposed changes are intended to achieve. After Q&A on the presentation, the citizens present will be asked to provide feedback that the Planning Board and other city officials can incorporate into the proposal that will eventually appear before Lebanon voters on the March 2008 ballot.
As I said last night, this year will be heavy on citizen engagement in Lebanon. It has to be - and our City will be better for it!
Each forum will include a presentation about why the City is engaging in an update to the zoning rules and what the proposed changes are intended to achieve. After Q&A on the presentation, the citizens present will be asked to provide feedback that the Planning Board and other city officials can incorporate into the proposal that will eventually appear before Lebanon voters on the March 2008 ballot.
As I said last night, this year will be heavy on citizen engagement in Lebanon. It has to be - and our City will be better for it!
Sustainable Development
"Economic Development and natural resource protection are incompatible." This was a comment I heard at a recent meeting. Although our public policies have often pitted these two critical issues against each other, I strongly believe that this statement does not have to be true.
Lebanon has an opportunity to identify a new approach that achieves both - thriving economic enterprise and strong natural resource protections. To me, this is the definition of Sustainable Development, and I hope we will be able to have thoughtful discussions about this over the coming year, particularly in relation to how our zoning rules do or don't support this concept...
Lebanon has an opportunity to identify a new approach that achieves both - thriving economic enterprise and strong natural resource protections. To me, this is the definition of Sustainable Development, and I hope we will be able to have thoughtful discussions about this over the coming year, particularly in relation to how our zoning rules do or don't support this concept...
Saturday, March 3, 2007
Breakfast on Blueberry Hill
This morning, Karen Page threw a lovely house party for me at her home on Blueberry Hill. (Thanks, Karen!!) I really enjoyed talking with people from the neighborhood about issues affecting our city. For example, one of the ideas we discussed was making recycling mandatory in Lebanon, which I think is a very good idea. Space at our landfill is running out, and one of the best ways to increase its lifespan is to start putting less trash into it. Taking out the things that don't need to be there in the first place is a very practical, common sense way to use the landfill more effectively.
We also talked about some very concrete, low-cost ways to improve communication and encourage citizens to be more engaged in their city government, such as sandwich boards in high-traffic areas to let people know when important decisions of the City Council and School Board are coming up. The City's website was identified as a resource that could be much more valuable to residents if it were more user-friendly, and I believe this will happen over the coming year since the City Manager has indicated that it is a priority for him. I really appreciated the conversation this morning and look forward to more!
We also talked about some very concrete, low-cost ways to improve communication and encourage citizens to be more engaged in their city government, such as sandwich boards in high-traffic areas to let people know when important decisions of the City Council and School Board are coming up. The City's website was identified as a resource that could be much more valuable to residents if it were more user-friendly, and I believe this will happen over the coming year since the City Manager has indicated that it is a priority for him. I really appreciated the conversation this morning and look forward to more!
Friday, March 2, 2007
School Street - A Tree-lined Boulevard
In the coming year, the CSO project will move to School Street, and residents of our community will be asked to make significant sacrifices while construction occurs. This will surely be a challenge to us, but it also presents us with an opportunity. We will be investing in the City's infrastructure - and a particularly important one at that, since School Street is a major gateway to Lebanon and part of the Route 120 corridor. While we are completing this major undertaking, we can return it to its previous stature and elegance. This picture of School Street from a 1910 postcard is just beautiful...
Additionally, we can make this area more attractive for people on foot. The volume of vehicular traffic on this street is significant, and we can alleviate some of the inevitable delays that will result from the project by encouraging more of us to leave our cars at home. We can change some of our transportation habits, e.g. taking the bus, riding bicycles, and carpooling. (I wonder if it would be possible to create a park-and-ride somewhere a little South on Meriden Road...) Not only will this make a tough situation better in the short-term, it will also serve us well in the long-term.
We can make Lebanon a more walkable, livable community, and the CSO project can be a catalyst for this.
Additionally, we can make this area more attractive for people on foot. The volume of vehicular traffic on this street is significant, and we can alleviate some of the inevitable delays that will result from the project by encouraging more of us to leave our cars at home. We can change some of our transportation habits, e.g. taking the bus, riding bicycles, and carpooling. (I wonder if it would be possible to create a park-and-ride somewhere a little South on Meriden Road...) Not only will this make a tough situation better in the short-term, it will also serve us well in the long-term.
We can make Lebanon a more walkable, livable community, and the CSO project can be a catalyst for this.
Thursday, March 1, 2007
3/6 @ 7pm - Candidates' Night
The Lebanon Chamber of Commerce is hosting a City Council and School Board candidates' night on Tuesday, March 6th at 7pm in Council Chambers at City Hall. Candidates will be making some prepared remarks as well as fielding questions from the audience. Come and show your support, ask a question, and share your opinions on leadership in Lebanon...
3/5 @ 7pm - Zoning Subcommitee Meeting
The first public meeting of the newly formed City Council subcommittee on Zoning will take place on Monday, March 5th at 7pm in the West Meeting Room (off of Council Chambers). Part of this group's charge is to "organize and coordinate a City-wide discussion of a proposed comprehensive Zoning Ordinance update." The members of this committee include City Councilors Dean Sorenson, James Dean, and myself, City Manager Gregg Mandsager, City Planner Ken Niemczyk, Zoning Administrator Carmela Hennessy, Planning Board Chairman Ken Morley, and residents Susan Cole, David Jorgensen, and Georgia Tuttle.
At this inaugural meeting, we'll be discussing the charge/mission of the subcommittee, the scope of work and schedule for 2007-08, and the proposed newsletter that will be sent to all residents about this issue. I look forward to good discussion and action. My hope is that our schedule will include education and input from residents early this year and then additional outreach throughout the year as the document that will eventually be presented to the voters next year is refined. One thing I'd really like to see is a House Party initiative to really engage with citizens at the neighborhood level...
At this inaugural meeting, we'll be discussing the charge/mission of the subcommittee, the scope of work and schedule for 2007-08, and the proposed newsletter that will be sent to all residents about this issue. I look forward to good discussion and action. My hope is that our schedule will include education and input from residents early this year and then additional outreach throughout the year as the document that will eventually be presented to the voters next year is refined. One thing I'd really like to see is a House Party initiative to really engage with citizens at the neighborhood level...
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Upcoming Events
Here is info about two upcoming house parties that Lebanon residents are invited to:
---------------------------------
Breakfast with Karen Liot Hill
Ward 3 Representative to the City Council
Up for re-election on March 13
Come talk to Karen about the future of our city
Learn about her 10 Big Ideas for Lebanon
Enjoy coffee and goodies with your neighbors
Saturday March 3, 2007
9 to 11am
At the home of Karen Page and Peter Weitzman
20 Blueberry Meadow Lane, Lebanon
----------------------------------
OPEN HOUSE!
Please come and meet Ward 3 City Councilor and candidate for re-election
KAREN LIOT HILL
At the home of Bob & Shelly Moses
28 Union Street
Sunday March 4, 2007
4-5:30pm
Refreshments
---------------------------------
Breakfast with Karen Liot Hill
Ward 3 Representative to the City Council
Up for re-election on March 13
Come talk to Karen about the future of our city
Learn about her 10 Big Ideas for Lebanon
Enjoy coffee and goodies with your neighbors
Saturday March 3, 2007
9 to 11am
At the home of Karen Page and Peter Weitzman
20 Blueberry Meadow Lane, Lebanon
----------------------------------
OPEN HOUSE!
Please come and meet Ward 3 City Councilor and candidate for re-election
KAREN LIOT HILL
At the home of Bob & Shelly Moses
28 Union Street
Sunday March 4, 2007
4-5:30pm
Refreshments
Westboro Meeting
Tonight was a meeting of the Westboro Committee. As you may know, we are trying to do a major community development project at the site of this railyard in downtown West Lebanon. A wonderful public/private partnership is at the heart of this endeavor, between the Rotary Club and the City of Lebanon.
There is some good progress being made, and our Committee hopes to bring a good report to the City Council on April 18th. Two major challenges remain: the transfer of the land from the state to the city and the environmental contamination of the site. We are working on these, though, and will have a great result in this critical area of our city. Slowly, but surely...
There is some good progress being made, and our Committee hopes to bring a good report to the City Council on April 18th. Two major challenges remain: the transfer of the land from the state to the city and the environmental contamination of the site. We are working on these, though, and will have a great result in this critical area of our city. Slowly, but surely...
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Welcome!
I have heard many calls for improving the lines of communication between our City government and our residents. Through this blog, I hope to share my thoughts with you about issues that are coming up before the City Council, actions that we have taken, and ideas that I would like to bring before the City Council. I would be delighted to hear from you either through comments on this blog, email, phone, or in person. Check back for weekly updates...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)