Citizen's Academy to show residents what Dartmouth is all about

Beginning on Wednesday, April, 1, the town of Dartmouth will be offerring residents the opporunity to see how the town operates and what goes on behind the scenes as part of its new Citizen's Academy initiative.

"It's an opportunity for our residents to get an in-depth understanding of the town and our innerworkings," Town Administrator Cody Haddad said at a Select Board meeting on Monday, Feb. 9.

There will be room for 20 people in the program, which will be eight weeks long and held on Wednesday nights from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The program will be held across town in a variety of facilities and depends on what topic is being covered that night. Locations may include the Council on Aging, Town Hall and the libraries, with topics focused on public safety, finances and more.

Select Board member Chris O'Neil noted that the program could be worthwhile for many residents, whether they're a senior in high school or a senior citizen.

"If you're considering work in town administration, public safety, any of the topics that are going to be talked about in these sessions, I think it's a great base and a great foundation to have when you start to try to develop exactly what you're looking to do for your career," O'Neil said.

He added that the program could also be a chance for senior citizens who may be interested in volunteer work to find an opportunity that they would most enjoy.