What's Happening in Stow, OH…

City officials in Stow have contracted with the University of Akron to design a program that will help increase city employees' efficiency.

The Lean For Government program will

take place in Stow itself, so employees will not have to go off-site. Experts will observe operations and the way in which the city handles various tasks, and suggest alternative, more efficient ways to do things where possible.

Some of the target areas include studying the way purchase orders are handled, and spotting and eliminating redundant operations, such as when two different departments furnish reports on the same topic. Sara Drew, the mayor of Stow, said that eventually the training will be provided to all the city's employees, who number over 100. The training will be given to workers at the Public Safety building, City Hall, and the service department building.

Drew says the program is more about looking at current procedures with fresh eyes, and streamlining operations by encouraging employees to make changes when they see the need. The goal is to create city departments that are more responsive to residents' needs, and offer greater flexibility.

City officials might consider working with brochure printers to create a mailer for the city's residents, explaining the program, outlining what it intends to achieve, and asking for feedback on some of the ideas presented.