“We want to have that transparency, we want that input and we want to get (out) information (coming) directly from us,” Mayor Anthony DellaPia said of the township’s “Beyond the Welcome Sign” podcast.
Washington Township has started a podcast.
Episode 1 of “Beyond the Welcome Sign” featured Mayor Anthony DellaPia, Council President Peter Del Borrello III and Councilman Joseph Harris.
“This podcast has been something we talked for about a while,” DellaPia said. “The reason for the podcast is we want to inform all residents of the things that are going on in town. We want them to know why they are going on, how they are going on.
“We want to have that transparency, we want that input and we want to get (out) information (coming) directly from us.”
The three men used a resident survey to find a name for the podcast, garnering 50 responses from all ages, high school to senior citizens.
“Our favorite one we picked was ‘Beyond the Welcome Sign,'” DellaPia recalled, noting the resident whose name was chosen will be on a future podcast. “At each point of town, there’s a welcome sign, but once you pass that sign, what is beyond it?”
That is the goal of the podcast, officials said.
“We want to make sure everyone knows what is happening beyond those signs,” Del Borrello explained. “We want to get to know people … We really want them to get to know us as well, have that interaction.”
The mayor and two councilmen introduced themselves during the podcast and shared why and how they entered civil service.
“We will try to do a couple episodes a week,” DellaPia said.
Future podcasts will be designed with specific topics in mind such as fair share housing and spotlights on businesses, students, teachers and first responders.
“We want people to understand the issues,” DellaPia noted.
Residents can send feedback, topic ideas and questions through beyondthewelcomesign@gmail.com. Each podcast episode will be archived in township’s YouTube channel to view.
