Supervisor's Note: January 2022

Hello all,

First let me begin by saying thank you. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you as Town Supervisor and thank you for warmly welcoming me over my first two weeks in office.

At the swearing in ceremony earlier this month, I shared my belief that there are five essential questions we should always ask ourselves. The questions, developed by Dean James Ryan of Harvard University, help guide the decision-making process and help provide clarity when working toward a goal. In this case, the goal is making Penfield the best it can be for all residents, visitors, and businesses. 

The first of the five essential questions: “Wait, What?” 

So often, we move quickly to accomplish given tasks or goals. But, in moving quickly, we may not grasp the issue at hand and its impact on our community. Or worse, we simply accept a premise because “that’s the way we have always done it!”

The second question: “I wonder…?” 

This reminds us to stay curious, be open to change, and new ideas. The next great idea could come from the place you least expect it. Always keep an open mind, you never know where it may lead you.

The third question: “Couldn’t we at least…?”  

Incremental change adds up. Maybe we can’t take on everything at once, but we can always do something. Every action, large or small, should be done in support of our goal, making Penfield the best it can be.

The fourth question: “How can I/we help?”

This is the job of public servants everywhere. How can I/we help? How can I help Town staff accomplish their goals? How can I help residents of this community?

And last, but not least: “What truly matters…?”

What matters is each of the 39,438 individuals in Penfield, each with different ideas, opinions, and life experiences. 

The realist in me knows we cannot make every person happy all the time, but we should always keep “What’s best for Penfield?” at top of mind.

As we begin our work, a key element to the success of Penfield is ensuring you are provided timely and relevant information. Along with columns such as this, we will also be growing our presence on social media (Facebook and Twitter) and continuing to maintain and enhance the wealth of resources available on our website, www.penfield.org.

If you are not doing so already, I encourage you to follow us on social media and visit our website for the latest Town of Penfield information. I have also created a Facebook page, Penfield Town Supervisor Marie Cinti, allowing me to further share information and updates.

Have a great rest of the week.

Marie Cinti, Town Supervisor
Supervisor@penfield.org
585-340-8630