LEWISTON — A survey of residents about city services and quality of life will remain open for an additional two weeks.
The city is taking online surveys on the its website, www.ci.lewiston.me.us/citizensatisfaction.htm. The survey was scheduled to close on Dec. 31, but Finance Director Heather Hunter said the city needs more people to participate.
“This year, the budget just wasn’t there to mail the questionnaires,” she said. The city spent $400 to mail surveys to 10 percent of the city’s residents in 2009, but that money was cut from the budget this spring.
“We knew that the response rate this time was going to be smaller,” Hunter said. “That’s one of the downfalls of doing it this way. So we decided to extend the time it was open.”
The city is now scheduled to take surveys until Jan. 15, Hunter said.
It’s the second year Lewiston has surveyed its residents to measure program performance and to get opinions on the city’s quality of life. Last year, the city sent surveys to 3,700 residents. Hunter said 377 responded, creating a performance baseline for the city.
“This will be our first opportunity to compare those results with the baseline, on areas like snow and ice removal and satisfaction with getting the word out about other programs,” Hunter said. The city will compare its results with those from other New England municipalities.
“We’ve also added some new questions this year to get some information on specific subjects,” Hunter said. Those cover comprehensive planning, riverfront development, public transit and police and fire services.
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