WALDOBORO – The Waldoboro Comprehensive Plan Committee has completed an initial round of focus groups to help determine the direction the town will follow in years to come.

Approximately 50 people participated in the process, covering the following general topics.

(1) Rural Landowners, (2) Education, Families, Recreation, (3) Retirees, Seniors, Health (4) Fishermen, Aquaculture (5) Arts, Heritage, Religion, and (6) Business -A, (7) Business- B.

Commenting, committee Chairman Scott Byrd said in a news release: "We are grateful for the many citizens who gave up their time to contribute. While the ideas were not unexpected in many cases, there were many fresh viewpoints, and we were impressed by the enthusiasm of the participants."

The results have been tabulated by facilitator Mark Eyerman and are available on the town website (under WCPC "FY2016 Agendas & Minutes"). This data will be used by the committee to implement further studies that will embrace a larger segment of the Waldoboro population through gatherings to be held in the next year. According to Byrd, "Our goal is that, at the conclusion of this process, most of the residents will be able to say that their voice was heard and that they had an impact on the final document and the future of Waldoboro."

Shortly, a new online site "Waldoboro.me" will be set up to solicit citizen input to the various topics under consideration.