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Show Darton feels the Planning Council concept is great for Model Cities purposes and said it should have happened a long time ago. He said a unification of neighborhood councils is needed but "they should consult with local government in the formation of such an association to insure a working partnership with their elected officials." "If there is going to be any meaningful citizen participation in the future, we will have to look to neighborhood councils," he added. "I think it is up to us to let our elected officials know our problems but its up to them to devise solutions. Elected people need to listen - really hear what people are saying. That's citizen hand-in-han- trimming and elimination "We must Model Cities negotiations for projects. "I think what took place between the residents and the Commissioners was the best prepare for special Revenue dialogue we've had," he continued. Morale is holding up fairly well among Sharing." staff members, Darton Mel Darton, Assistant Director for the Model Cities agency, started as the Administrative Services Chief almost two and a half years ago. Present plans call for Darton to take over the directorship of Model Cities when Pete Grundfossen leaves July 1. Grundfossen, director, submitted his resignation to the Joint Board of Commissioners but no formal action has been taken on either the resignation or the appointment of a new director. What part does the director of an agency going out of business play? "I see my role here as being one of molding Model Cities toward Special Revenue Sharing' Darton said. "We must keep our priorities al ve and try to assist the City and the County in i preparing for Special Revenue Sharing." A small Model Cities staff of five people will be at the Commissioner's disposal for things in and out of Model Cities, after May 1, he added. Darton says he is pleased with the results of the recent said, but part of the reason could be that everyone hired by the agency was told from the start that Model Cities was a temporary program and could stop at anytime. Consequently, he advised, people were hired who were dedicated to helping the community rather than those seeking job security. "There are still things to do and we'll continue doing them up to the last minute," Darton said. The agency is attempting to. locate other jobs for its personnel wherever it can and some may eventually be hired by either the City or County. In looking back over the 2Vz years, Darton said, he felt his experience with Model Cities had been worthwhile but he didn't accomplish all he had planned. "I would have liked to have seen a more permanent and meaningful citizen participation mechanism. I'd like to have seen the local government officials use us more for things besides Model Cities projects. And wish we could have developed some I evaluation techniques, but, frankly, we just didn't have the time." d participation," Darton emphasized. How effective have the task forces and the Model Cities process been in identiying and solving problems? Darton feels the task forces have done a good job and through the efforts of task force members, many valuable projects were established the community that would not have been otherwise. But he added that he feels neighborhood councils could have, perhaps, been more effective by taking a broader, more objective view of the problems in the community. Each task force focused on its own individual subject area and didn't always look beyond that to other concerns, he said. One thing remains certain, many residents who've never in been involved in community activities before, were attracted to the task forces and through participation in them, have gained new outlooks on their neighborhoods and the entire community. And before the Model Cities Agency closes its doors for good, you might stop by and say "hi" to Mel and the rest of the staff. They've worked hard to help make a lot of dreams reality! |