DerbyCares

2015

DerbyCares
DERBY CONNECTICUT

Contents
Mission Statement............................................................................................4
Introduction ...................................................................................................5
Goals & Objectives...........................................................................................6
Goal 1 Identification of Properties ......................................................................7
Plan of Action Goal 1 Identification of Properties ...................................................8
Goal 2 Establish a network of Volunteers ..............................................................9
Plan of Action Goal 2 - Volunteers .....................................................................10
Goal 3 Organizational Structure ........................................................................11
Plan of Action Goal 3 Organizational Structure ....................................................12
Goal 4 - Reputation.........................................................................................13
Plan of Action Goal 4 - Reputation .....................................................................14
Goal 5 Financial ...........................................................................................15
Plan of Action Goal 5 Financial .......................................................................16

MISSION STATEMENT
DerbyCares exists to assemble volunteer groups to perform light maintenance on properties with
the expressed outcome to either halt the property from being placed on the blight list or to
remove the property from the blight list.

INTRODUCTION
Blight has become an issue in the City of Derby and recently steps has been taken to address
blighted properties. In recent months the following steps have been taken to tighten up existing
blight ordinances.
1. Blight ordinance was strengthened.
2. Ability to have the city perform light maintenance that generates a charge to the property
owner.
3. Demolition of blighted properties.
The enforcement of blighted properties is an important quality of life issue and the city has
begun to see properties cleaned up.
DerbyCares will address those properties which are blighted that would benefit from
volunteerism and light maintenance. The goal will be to get the property off of the blight list or
to stop a property from being placed on the blight list.
DerbyCares will not fix up properties for the sake of helping absentee landlords or banks who
have ignored the condition of their assets.
DerbyCares will work with landowners who may not be able to perform light maintenance which
would keep the property from becoming blighted.

GOALS & OBJECTIVES

GOAL 1:

Identify properties that could be assisted.

GOAL 2:

Establish a network of volunteers and volunteer groups who will be

able to assist with light maintenance projects across the city of
Derby.

GOAL 3:

Identify key community leaders and develop an organizational

flow chart to assist the volunteers and public of the reporting
structure.

GOAL 4:

Expand the reputation of the City of Derby as a town whose people

care about their fellow townspeople.

GOAL 5:

Seek grant opportunities and other means of funding.

GOAL 1 IDENTIFICATION OF PROPERTIES

Identify properties that could be assisted.

OBJECTIVE 1:

Identify properties on the blight list that require light

maintenance.

OBJECTIVE 2:

Identify properties not on the blight list that have received

complaints from neighbors and others who may be at risk to
being placed on the blight list.

OBJECTIVE 3:

Implement a system of determining whether the property

owner is elderly, widowed, sick, or has some other hardship
which keeps them from performing light maintenance.

OBJECTIVE 4:

Communicate to the property owner that DerbyCares would

like to help.

OBJECTIVE 5:

Obtain permission from property owner to allow DerbyCares

to perform light maintenance on their property.

PLAN OF ACTION GOAL 1 IDENTIFICATION OF PROPERTIES

DerbyCares Goal #1: Identify properties that could be assisted.
In support of:

Objective #1: Identify properties on the blight list that require light maintenance.
1. Review the current City of Derby Blight List and identify properties that would be
removed from the list provided light maintenance was performed.
Objective #2: Identify properties not on the blight list that have received complaints from

neighbors and others. These properties may be at risk to being placed on the blight list.
1. Discuss with facilities inspectors and others with the knowledge of properties
receiving complaints but which have not been placed on the blight list.

Objective #3: Implement a system of determining whether the property owner is elderly,
widowed, sick, or has some other hardship which keeps him/her from performing light
maintenance.
1. Discuss with facilities inspectors and others familiar with the property.
2. Contact neighbors and others who may be aware of circumstances which caused the
property to fall into disrepair.

Objective #4: Communicate to the property owner that DerbyCares would like to help.
1. Establish the name of the person or persons who will reach out to the property owner.
Objective #5: Obtain permission from property owner to allow DerbyCares to perform light
maintenance on their property.
1. Generate a permission slip or some other type of sign-off form for the property owner
to authorize DerbyCares volunteers onto their property.

GOAL 2 ESTABLISH A NETWORK OF VOLUNTEERS

Establish a network of volunteers and volunteer groups who will be able to assist with light
maintenance projects across the city of Derby.
OBJECTIVE 1:

Review potential volunteer groups.

OBJECTIVE 2:

Contact leaders of volunteer groups who may want to

participate.

OBJECTIVE 3:

Solicit individual volunteers from the general public who

may want to lend their skills or trade expertise to projects.

OBJECTIVE 4:

Solicit names of potential volunteers from facility inspectors,

building inspector, and others in city government who may
know of willing and able volunteers.

OBJECTIVE 5:

Create and maintain a list of individuals and groups willing to

volunteer.

PLAN OF ACTION GOAL 2 - VOLUNTEERS

DerbyCares Goal #2: Establish a network of volunteers and volunteer groups who will
be able to assist with light maintenance projects across the city of Derby.
In support of:

Objective #1: Review potential volunteer groups.

1. Seek existing volunteer groups such as Boy and Girl Scouts, church groups, and others
to gauge interest.

Objective #2: Contact leaders of volunteer groups who may want to participate.
1. Establish an outreach person or persons who will reach out to group leaders.

Objective #3: Solicit individual volunteers from the general public who may want to lend their
skills or trades to projects.
1. Use media to help get the word out that were looking for volunteers and people with
skills to help our fellow townspeople.

Objective #4: Review potential volunteer groups.

1. Solicit names of potential volunteers from facility inspectors, building inspector, and
others in city government who may know of willing and able volunteers.

Objective #5: Create and maintain a list of individuals and groups willing to volunteer.
1. List of volunteers will be maintained and waiver slips signed and collected in order for
volunteers to do anything under the DerbyCares umbrella.

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GOAL 3 ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

Identify key community leaders and develop an organizational flow chart to assist the
volunteers and public of the reporting structure.

OBJECTIVE 1:

Evolve a strategically responsive organizational structure,

culture, managerial process, policies, programs and systems,
inclusive of leadership development, organization and
management continuity, review planning, and increasing
operational efficiencies.

OBJECTIVE 2:

Scan internal and external environment to continually

identify emerging trends.

OBJECTIVE 3:

Support the exploration and implementation of new and

creative ideas and solutions.

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PLAN OF ACTION GOAL 3 ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

School Goal #4: Evolve an organizational structure, culture, managerial processes,
policies, programs and systems to attain excellence in leadership and management.
In support of:
Objective #1: Evolve a strategically responsive organizational structure, culture, managerial
process, policies, programs and systems, inclusive of leadership development, organization
and management continuity, review planning, and increasing operational efficiencies.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Community Relations subcommittee.

Blight subcommittee chair.
Building Inspector.
Facilities Inspectors.
Public Works Director.

Objective #2: Scan internal and external environment to continually identify emerging
trends.
1. Explore setting up a web link through the city web site.
2. Social Networking needs to be used to our advantage.
3. Link web sites to our home page that positively support and reinforce the mission of
DerbyCares.

Objective #3: Support the exploration and implementation of new and creative ideas and
solutions.
1. Perhaps more than blight issues, how about river clean-up and other community
projects?

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GOAL 4 - REPUTATION
Expand the reputation of the City of Derby as a town whose people care about
their fellow townspeople.

OBJECTIVE 1:

Promote DerbyCares mission and accomplishments to the

community through the web site, social media, and other
forms of mediums available.

OBJECTIVE 2:

Strengthen recognition of that DerbyCares is making a

difference in the community.

OBJECTIVE 3:

Develop a significant presence on the city web site which

demonstrates that DerbyCares is a significant contributor to
the community.

OBJECTIVE 4:

Increase public recognition of DerbyCares by showcasing

successes work related to the mission.

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PLAN OF ACTION GOAL 4 - REPUTATION

School Goal #4: Expand the reputation of the City of Derby as a town whose people care
about their fellow townspeople.
In support of:
Objective #1: Promote DerbyCares mission and accomplishments to the community through
the web site, social media, and other forms of mediums available.
1. Press releases for every achievement (no matter how small or insignificant).
2. Profiles of volunteers.

Objective #2: Strengthen recognition of that DerbyCares is making a difference in the

community.
1. As DerbyCares gets moving, compare and contrast blight reports to measure success.
2. Interview neighbors and community leaders to see if reducing blight through
DerbyCares assists in renewed community pride.

Objective #3: Develop a significant presence on the city web site which demonstrates that
DerbyCares is a significant contributor to the community.
1. Link to the new Derby web site.
2. Expand current capabilities
3. Once connected to the web site, create and link to social media sites such as
Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
4. Allow registration of volunteers through the web site.

Objective #4: Increase public recognition of DerbyCares by showcasing successes related to

the mission.
1. Obtained through radio, television print, and electronic media stories that would
promote the spirit of volunteerism and helping ones neighbor.

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GOAL 5 FINANCIAL
Seek grant opportunities and other means of funding.

OBJECTIVE 1:

Pursue grant opportunities to assist start-up of DerbyCares.

OBJECTIVE 2:

Solicit donations and/or materials that could be used for

projects.

OBJECTIVE 3:

Review sponsorship opportunities that would enable

corporate and individual sponsorships of projects.

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PLAN OF ACTION GOAL 5 FINANCIAL

School Goal #2: Seek grant opportunities and other sources of funding.

In support of:

Objective #1: Pursue grant opportunities to assist start-up of DerbyCares.

1. Assign the task of researching grant opportunities for non-profit, community-based
volunteer groups to one or several of our volunteers or perhaps this service could be
donated by the city.

Objective #2: Solicit donations and/or materials that could be used for projects.
1. Anticipating that DerbyCares may need start-up funds for items such as gas, garbage
bags, and other small items, there may be a need for small-scale soliciting.

Objective #3: Review sponsorship opportunities that would enable corporate and individual
sponsorships of projects.
1. Private and corporate sponsorship of projects will be considered.

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