More than a dozen community members gathered in the auditorium at Wareham’s Town Hall on Saturday morning to discuss the proposed “Wareham Congress.”

The Congress would be a regular meeting of representatives from all of Wareham’s boards, commissions, authorities, and committees, with the intent to make sure the groups are working towards the common goals outlined in the town’s master plan.

The Master Plan is a document that addresses the town’s goals for  land use, housing, climate change, economic development, services and facilities, transportation, open space and recreation and natural and cultural resources. Having a master plan in place means town officials can work from a shared vision for the community and makes the town eligible for certain state grants.

Goals highlighted include improving transportation, supporting water-dependent activities and development in Onset Village and Wareham Center. 

Currently, Wareham has an up-to-date master plan that was developed in 2018 by the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD), and tweaked by various boards in town. It is slated to be approved by the Planning Board, which “owns” the document, at a meeting in January.

In order to work toward the wide-ranging goals outlined in the plan, the various boards and commissions in town need to work together. 

Richard Swenson, a member of the Planning Board and the Redevelopment Authority, developed the Wareham Congress proposal to facilitate that cooperation.

Swenson said that the congress’ first tasks would be to set priorities and decide which groups are in charge of those goals. The group would continue to meet to share updates, set new goals, or make changes to the master plan.

“This is going to be hard to execute,” Swenson said. “Let’s be very clear about that.”

Swenson said that he plans to have the Congress be a completely transparent group, which would adhere to open meeting laws.

The biggest concern brought up by the citizens who attended the meeting was the time constraints of those who serve on boards and commissions, all of whom are volunteers.

The Congress would likely meet once a month, every other month, or quarterly, and Swenson emphasized that it would not be mandatory. Rather, each board could send one volunteer who would be empowered to speak for the board as a whole.

“I see it as a meeting of the minds,” said Town Moderator Claire Smith.

Another public meeting to discuss the Wareham Congress will be scheduled for sometime after the holiday season. When a date is set, it will be published in Wareham Week.

For more information, contact Richard Swenson at 508-208-1242 or swensr@gmail.com.