LIVERMORE FALLS – The Livermore Falls Downtown Betterment Group is hosting a forum to ask people how they would like the downtown to look in the future and identify ways to get residents more involved.

The forum is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27, at the town office.

“We’re going to solicit input from community members and collect that information that will guide us in future action,” organization President Phil Poirier said Wednesday. The group formed a few years ago with the goal to revitalize the downtown economically and aesthetically.

The session will be facilitated by Mark Hewes and will include a brainstorming session to identify key words and phrases and then break down into smaller groups to develop a plan of action.

“We’re going to help community members identify ways they can become more involved in the effort,” Poirier said.

The group has things it wants to do and has events in the works, including an annual history night.

“We want to have people feel they’re invested in the work we’re doing and they have a say in how Livermore Falls will be,” Poirier said. “We hope in the end to have a prosperous downtown.”

The group is not sure what shape that would take and wants input.

For instance, Poirier said, people may want more stores or something for kids such as an area youth sports program downtown.

“We want to find out what they want to see and how they are willing to help get involved,” he said.

Organizers plan to have a bunch of sign-up sheets available so people can choose what they would like to be involved in.

Poirier said results of surveys sent out with tax bills in 2007 will be reviewed. They’ll also be posted on the Web site www.lfme.org/betterment after the meeting.

The survey asked such things as:

• How often do you come to the downtown?

• How often do you come to the downtown for shopping?

• How often do you come to the downtown for business?

• How often do you come to the downtown for entertainment or fitness?

• How often do you come to the downtown for entertainment or fitness?

• What are your favorite places in downtown and why?

• What other shops and/or services would you like to see in downtown Livermore Falls?

• Would you be in favor of providing incentives for targeted businesses to locate downtown?

Results will be presented at the forum, according to a statement.

The Betterment Group is responsible for the new gateway park to town among other improvements.