GOFFSTOWN - An online survey is providing the Department of Public Works with valuable feedback on construction projects in Goffstown, officials said.

According to Public Works Director Carl Quiram, the department has received nearly two dozen of the surveys, which can be found on the town's website, and either mailed, faxed or emailed back to the town.

“We developed the survey as sort of a post-construction report card last year,” Quiram said.

After reclamation projects in areas such as Addison Road, Lesnyk Road and Spring Street last fall, residents in those areas were mailed a survey, but Quiram said it was decided to put it online so all residents can weigh in on their experiences with the various projects in town.

“Any comments people make lead us to improve what we're doing,” Quiram said.

In the survey, participants are asked about a specific project, and can rate a number of items, including DPW performance in the areas of safety, traffic movement, detours and noise.

They are also asked what their overall impression of the project was, if they log onto the town website to get updates and whether or not they had contact with DPW personnel.

So far, results have been fairly split down the middle between positive and negative, according to Quiram.

“The ones mailed to the homes were overwhelmingly positive,” he said, “but you have to look at them from their source and how you got it.”

For example, someone stuck in traffic may go home and complete a survey based on that experience, Quiram said.

Overall, the town has been rated average to good in overall experience, good on safety and average on traffic movement. Projects were rated above average for detours, but below average in length of time.

Quiram said a variety of comments are provided, and can be polar opposite on the same issue.
Taking the sidewalk project on Mast Road as an example, Quiram said one comment read, “Who is paying for all of these sidewalks, anyway?” But another read, “I am thrilled that sidewalks are being added.”

Some suggested road work be done at night, and one commenter complained about potholes.
Information from the surveys will be put on a master spreadsheet and analyzed, Quiram said.

“We certainly look at all of them,” Quiram said. “Some of them have generated some discussions internally.”

Town Administrator Sue Desruisseaux said that feedback from the community is important to the Board of Selectmen.

“One of the goals of the selectmen is to have more surveys done,” she said.

In addition to the surveys, details of the DPW projects are listed on the department's page of the town website.

Quiram said good communication with residents is one of the department's goals.

“We're constantly trying to find the magic way to reach people,” he said.