STARKS — Town planners are asking residents how they want to improve their town over the next 10 years.

On Sunday, the Starks Comprehensive Plan Committee will hold a forum to develop a vision for the small community. It will run from 1:30 to 4:15 p.m. at the Starks Community Center, and there will be refreshments, raffle prizes and child care available.

Discussions may focus on how to improve public education, recreational facilities and whether to increase town office hours and police protection, according to Gwen Hilton, chairman of the comprehensive plan committee.

Other topics may include how to improve town government, provide more transportation options for those who don’t drive or have a car, and how to make it easier for people to access health, dental and social services.

Residents may also discuss their thoughts about activities at the Starks Community Center and address issues such as senior housing, drawing businesses to the village, having a community park, and whether to enact stronger junkyard regulations.

The town received a $10,000 Community Development Block Grant in 2010 to update its comprehensive plan, which was last compiled in 1989, Selectman Paul Frederic said.

The committee has been meeting for a year and gathering comments from residents.

“This is, I guess, a culminating point where we can get together and discuss some of the results from the surveys, for example, come up with some thoughts about how to move forward,” he said.

The plan will eventually require voter approval.

The vision will be developed in small groups on Sunday. The snow date is at the same time on Sunday, Jan. 15.

The schedule is:

* 1:30-1:45: Sign-in; get group number and raffle ticket; take kids to daycare room.

* 1:45-2: Presentation on the purpose of the forum.

* 2-2:30: Session 1. Work in small groups to list greatest fears and hopes for the town.

* 2:30-3: Session 2. Work to identify the things most important to residents.

* 3-3:45: Session 3. Create a town-wide vision for 2022. Where do people want to see houses, businesses, town facilities, roads, public parks, trails, farms, forests and conservation land? What types of services and activities will the town need?

* 3:45-4: Group leaders report on each group’s vision.

* 4-4:15: Wrap up and raffle.

Erin Rhoda — 612-2368

erhoda@centralmaine.com

Don’t forget school vote

Starks residents will vote from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, at the Starks Community Center on whether to withdraw from Madison-based School Administrative District 59 and join Farmington-based Mt. Blue Regional School District. The town needs a two-thirds majority approval to secede.