Town Survey Results Discussed on Special Edition of 'Portsmouth This Week'

A special edition of Portsmouth this Week was taped earlier this week to discuss the results of the recent telephone survey conducted in Portsmouth. Michael Vigent, President of the Center for Research (CFR) from Meridan, Connecticut, the company which conducted the survey, was my guest on the show, along with Town Administrator John Klimm.

The survey itself was conducted in Portsmouth from March 18th to April 5th and included 600 completed 12-15 minute telephone interviews with Portsmouth residents, selected randomly. Both landlines and cell phones were included in the survey telephone database. Mr. Vigent described the methodology used to ensure that the telephone numbers selected were truly representative of all of Portsmouth’s residents, and how a sample of 600 residents could provide a statistically valid 95 percent accuracy representing  all of Portsmouth. The survey questions were tailored to Portsmouth’s specific situation after consultation between CFR and Town officials. John Klimm indicated that the survey was needed to obtain resident input in preparation for preparing a long-range plan for the Town.

Mr. Vigent also discussed some of the highlights of the results, which were briefed to the Town Council on Monday night. They show that the attitudes of Portsmouth residents towards their town are generally very positive. Over 89 percent of the respondents considered the quality of life in Portsmouth to be good or very good and 73 percent considered that the services provided by the Town are good value for the taxes paid. Three-quarters of respondents agreed that the Town government was “…open and interested in hearing the concerns or issues of resident…” and two-thirds believed that currently elected Town Officials are working on issues important to them and their families. On the negative side, 52 percent considered the overall condition of the Town maintained roads in Portsmouth to be poor.

CFR conducts similar surveys in over 150 municipalities across the country and their president was highly complimentary about the level of responses and reactions his team got from Portsmouth residents, compared to other towns. He indicated that people in Portsmouth seemed interested and well informed when called to take the survey.

John Klimm indicated that this survey will provide a baseline to measure what Portsmouth residents think about the Town and the way their tax dollars are being spent and that this can be a valuable way to measure progress in the future.

The survey briefing presented to the Town Council and a summary of the survey itself are available on the Portsmouth Town website at www.portsmouthri.com.

Portsmouth this Week is a weekly public service television program started by Town Administrator, John Klimm. It airs on Public television (Cox channel 18) on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 PM. It can also be seen by clicking on the video box above or from links on the Portsmouth Town website www.portsmouthri.com and the Portsmouth Economic development Committee website www.portsmouthriedc.com