EP# 43: Managing the Heartbeat of Hometown America: Stuart Beckley's Insights from Ware Town Hall

What makes Stuart Beckley with the Ware Town Hall a good neighbor?

Ever wondered about the inner workings of your local town hall? Stuart Beckley, from Ware Town Hall, Town Of Ware, brings the municipal world to your doorstep in our latest Good Neighbor Podcast episode. With a deep dive into the services that keep Ware ticking—from ensuring public safety to maintaining parks and infrastructure—Stuart offers an enlightening tour behind the scenes of local government. His journey from town planner to town manager reveals the passion and dedication required to manage a community's needs effectively, dispelling myths and highlighting the crucial relationship between town officials and the residents they serve.

Beyond the office, Stuart shares snippets of his life, including his love for the great outdoors and his canine companions, offering a personal touch to the professional narrative. The conversation also addresses the hurdles faced by those in public service, illustrating the resilience needed to tackle socio-economic challenges like healthcare and infrastructure. For those inspired to get involved or seek assistance, Stuart extends an invitation to connect, providing practical avenues for community members to engage with their municipal representatives. Tune in for a blend of personal anecdotes, professional insights, and heartfelt advice from the heart of Ware's civic operations.

To learn more about The Ware Town Hall go to:
https://www.townofware.com/

Ware Town Hall
(413) 967-9648

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Liz Lemon.

Speaker 3: 0:12

Welcome to Good Neighbor Podcast. Are you in need of some information about the town of Ware? Surprisingly, it might be closer than you think. Today I have the pleasure of introducing your neighbor, stuart Beckley, with Ware Town Hall. How are you doing today, stuart? Fantastic Liz, how are you? Great?

Speaker 2: 0:31

we're excited to learn all about the municipal government in the town of Ware, so tell us about it. So the government, the town with a capital T, does a lot of things both working for residents and businesses, both in the town of Ware and the region, from public safety to schools to administration, providing parks just a lot of services that we hope improve the quality of life for residents.

Speaker 3: 0:59

How did you get into the business?

Speaker 2: 1:02

A great question. For over 20 years I was the town planner in East Hampton, over by the Connecticut River, and then saw this opportunity to be town manager and went to school at UMass for planning and policy. So this is an opportunity to put that education and past experience to work.

Speaker 3: 1:30

What are the myths and misconceptions within the municipal government?

Speaker 2: 1:37

That's a great question. I think people understand how government works. Sometimes there's higher expectations about what kinds of problems the town can solve, but on almost any problem it's proper for residents and businesses to come to the town to seek help. Whether it's if they're struggling with heat or there's a pothole, to needing to take down a tree, or on a day like today that the roads need plowing, there's usually an answer that the town can provide that'll help.

Speaker 3: 2:25

Right, absolutely Like a day like today in New England. You know Outside of work what do you do for fun.

Speaker 2: 2:34

I like the outdoors, so climbing mountains or just general hiking Lots of time with my dogs, so that's what I do for fun.

Speaker 3: 2:45

Lots of time with my dogs, so that's what I do for fun.

Speaker 2: 2:57

Let's change gears just for a moment. Can you describe one hardship or life challenges that you rose above personal or professional that you can now? A couple of jobs with very high learning curves and have been lucky enough to have both mentors and colleagues that I can turn to to find answers and that has worked out very well? There's a huge support system for government employees based on just years and years of knowledge. My predecessors in this position are available for me to reach out to and in any other town, and that help has just been immense in getting through some difficult challenges professionally. Getting through some difficult challenges professionally. Personally, I've been lucky enough to have a solid life, so good education, experience and supportive parents and brothers and sisters, so just been lucky, so those challenges have been easier.

Speaker 3: 4:09

That's very good. That's very good. What is the one thing that you wish our listeners knew about? The Ware Town Hall and the municipal government?

Speaker 2: 4:19

I think that we are approachable, that we are approachable. One thing I think people should know and I'm sure they realize by now those who have worked with us is sometimes government can be slow. There may not be immediate answers. There are some answers we have at the tips of our tongues, but some answers. We're working on a big healthcare crisis now, and not just where, but the region. There's a shortage of healthcare services and that's a big problem and decaying infrastructure and buildings. Those will take time, but this community has been extremely supportive with funding and volunteer time and we will get through those problems. So I think the answer to your question, the bottom line, is keep asking and keep pushing, because the town will, with help, move forward.

Speaker 3: 5:26

We appreciate all of that great, fantastic advice and knowledge. Definitely Is there a phone number that you'd like to share? How can our listeners reach out to you?

Speaker 2: 5:39

that you'd like to share. How can our listeners reach out to you? I'd love to share a phone number, but so our town hall number is 413-967-9648. My extension is 100. And all of that and much, much more information is on our website that we'd love residents to use, which is townofwherecom.

Speaker 3: 6:03

Awesome. Well, thank you so much, stuart. I really appreciate you being on the show and we wish you and the Town of Ware and the municipal government the best moving forward.

Speaker 2: 6:12

I appreciate the opportunity. Thank you.

Speaker 1: 6:15

Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show. The opportunity, Thank you. Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor podcast To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show. Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor podcast To nominate you.