GARDINER — City Manager Scott Morelli says he will be holding coffee meetings each month for residents to enjoy a cup of java and share their ideas and concerns.

The first “coffee with the city manger” public event is scheduled Thursday from 8 to 10 a.m. at Sweet Love/Baxter Tea at 289 Water St.

“I plan on this being a monthly event and it will be hosted at different locations across Gardiner each time,” Morelli said Tuesday. “It’s one of several ways that the city can try to reach out to our residents and business owners to get input from them outside the confines of City Hall.”

Morelli said it may be easier for people to ask questions or raise a concern if they can do it at a neutral location, rather than the council chambers or the city manager’s office.

He said city department heads and officials will be on hand to discuss specific topics.

The topic for Thursday’s meeting is economic development. Morelli said Nate Rudy, the city’s economic development director, will be joining the coffee conversation.

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“The city has invested quite a bit of time and money into economic development and we want to be able to share our successes and challenges with residents, and listen to some of their ideas and questions,” Morelli said.

Morelli said the Orton Family Foundation Heart & Soul planning project is starting to take shape, and soon volunteers and staff will be working on that. The city won a $100,000 grant in January from Orton for a planning initiative that changes the way small cities and towns engage their citizens and plan for the future.

“So I suspect people will have questions about that as well,” he said.

Mechele Cooper — 621-5663

mcooper@centralmaine.com


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