The Antrim Community Board met Tuesday evening in the Antrim Town Hall to discuss and outline their master plan. The ACB was established on March 11 as the first community board in the state. Their goal is to be “social and human-centered,” Recording Secretary Diane Kendall explained, a role that does not fit into the scope of the land use boards like zoning and planning.
The ACB voted to revise their mission statement to include the word “build”; it now reads “To coordinate and build a hometown system of community-based supports for individuals and families of the Town of Antrim, NH in order to enhance the public health, prosperity, quality of life, safety and general welfare of its citizens.”
One of the main focuses of the ACB will be to conduct surveys and collect data about the community to better understand what would help to build a stronger, more engaged town. Board Chair Gordon Allen said there are “people resources that were never surfaced before, never discovered.” The board hopes to find these interests and skills within the community and use them to connect people, which would ultimately lead to greater civic engagement and a community that uplifts its citizens.
The ACB plans to split into smaller groups to make headway on the master plan, website, and overall planning in addition to their regular board meetings.