Throughout city offices, double-sided yellow signs are going up this week that say, “Welcome to the City of Bristol – How may we help you today?”
The idea, said Mayor Art Ward, is to let the public know “we’re all here to be consumer-friendly.”
The mayor said Tuesday he gave out about 100 placards so that every city office would have at least one in the hope that it would create a mindset among employees and residents that city government exists to serve the public.
“Wherever there’s a city office, there will be a sign,” Ward said.
“It creates a sense of mutual cooperation,” Ward said.
The initiative isn’t costing taxpayers much – just some copies and plastic stands to hold them up – but if the mayor’s right, there may be a payoff in terms of improved attitudes among both municipal workers and the people they serve.
Ward said that almost every city employee “has the intent of doing the job” to benefit the community that pays the bills. He said most enjoy working for Bristol’s government.
But, he said, it doesn’t hurt to remind everyone that the goal is to aid residents who need the city’s assistance.
Ward said the department heads who received the signs during a meeting Tuesday had a “very favorable” reaction to the initiative.
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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
They are already nice enough if you can get there when they are open.
ReplyDeleteHow about some flexible hours so those of us who aren't free during the normal work day can do our business, say on a Saturday morning or Thursday evening? There is no reason that a dump permit, dog license, etc. can't be given out at other times.
good to see Arty taking on the tough issues!
ReplyDeleteOf course the mayor is smiling .
ReplyDeleteHe's proven lies , slander , and corruption works .
The city workers Unions will be happy to accommodate citizens with regular job hours who need to do stuff at City Hall, for a price.
ReplyDeleteThey should ALL be SMILING, they have easy, good paying jobs with super benefits, good hours, lots of holidays, and very little oversight, and political leaders who kiss their butts.
ReplyDeletenext election, get off your dead butts and vote if you aren't happy otherwise suffer
ReplyDeleteI have only visited City Hall a few times, but call on a regular basis. Any person I spoke to was always very helpful and friendly! I agree with post 1:51pm, though. It would be of great help to be able to visit there on a weeknight or Saturday, as opposed to having to take a day off of work to go there (as is my case).
ReplyDeleteWay to take on the tough issues!
ReplyDeleteNext maybe Art can promote healthy snacks during breaktime.
..."lies, slander and corruption"!!!
ReplyDeleteWow, sounds like SOMEBODY has a pretty big chip on their shoulder. The mayor is doing a great job and it's just frying your butt, isn't it? ... You sound pretty grumpy...maybe you should give that smiling thing a shot!
2:19 poster: Those are some pretty nasty accusations.First,I assume you feel that this blogsite gives you the "right" to reverse the very tenet on which our entire judicial system is based.Namely," an individual is innocent until proven guilty."Second,your remarks could be construed as LIBEL.Third is simply that ALL of your accusations are FALSE.If anyone were to make those kind of false acusations about me,I would certainly take them to court.If for no other reason than to impress upon them the seriousness(AND illegality) of making such irresponsible and unwarranted remarks.Think of it this way.How would you feel if anyone were to question your integrity and character in such a way? My guess is you wouldn't care much for it either!But I guess it's alright because you can HIDE behind a curtain of anonymity.
ReplyDeleteHave you been to see the town planner the man does not treat people right and getS a way with it. why?
ReplyDeleteIt may not be a tough issue, but it's an important one. Contracts are negotiated by two parties. I'd like to see some flexibility in office hours; however, I've always been treated well-enough by city workers.
ReplyDeleteArt probably plans to have the Planner wear a sign around his neck.
ReplyDeletegood to see those tax dollars a work!
ReplyDeleteDoes this help the mall situation? Has Artie forgot about his lets go FORWARD. Yeah right!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteBut, are YOU going to be smiling when your taxes go up??
ReplyDeletemy taxes already went up, so did yours, you just know it yet
ReplyDeleteYes, I know my taxes will go up, but we won't know how much until Ward sets the Mill rate.
ReplyDeleteAsk ESPN how they feel about Rosenthal's smiles, and attitude?
ReplyDeleteGosh, Tim, thanks for the legal lesson. What would we do without your insight?
ReplyDeleteI especially like the way you put the force into your words by HITTING THE CAPS BUTTON.
Way to go, Tim!
Did you see the picture of that Ellie Klapatch woman on the front page of the Press with the "Welcome" sign?
ReplyDeleteLMAO on that one.
She's the polar opposite of friendly.
Rosethal, Weiner, Klapatch: Bristol's poster children.
ReplyDeleteThe firemen aren't smiling. Their negotiations are going to arbitration!
ReplyDeleteThats because they want to run the show!
ReplyDeleteService with a smile: Wards attempt at misdirection.
ReplyDelete8:36 - easy mr. cockayne, there are no cameras or reporters around.
ReplyDeleteIt has been said that babies smile when they have gas.
ReplyDeleteIt that where Ward got the idea?
Is Art Ward smiling today?
ReplyDeleteAll the way to the bank!!!
ReplyDelete