Present: Mayor Donald Trinks, Deputy Mayor Timothy Curtis, Councilor Paul Broxterman, Councilor Sonya Dean, Councilor Steve Ellingwood, Councilor Donald Jepsen, Councilor Wayne Mulligan, Councilor Alan Simon, Councilor Lenworth Walker

Staff: Town Manager Leon Churchill, Assistant Town Manager Peter Souza, Joe Colletti, Meeting Facilitator Michael Meotti, Meeting Facilitator

1. Call to order

The meeting was called to order at 6:20 p.m.
 

2. Discussion

Town Manager Churchill introduced Mr. Joe Colletti, the facilitator for the evening. Mr. Colletti discussed with the Council key characteristics and attributes of effective Town Councils. The Town Council completed a self-assessment survey. The Council then focused on discussing the following three priority items resulting from the self-assessment exercise: 1) developing an overall strategic focus to guide the Council activities; 2) reviewing and monitoring the achievement of the Council’s vision and goals; and 3) providing administration with performance feedback.

The Council discussed the three areas and Mr. Colletti suggested a possible "action model" for Council consideration. The model essentially involves three components with the first being the Council establishing a vision statement which provides a framework for Council decision making. A second step would be to set goals to help meet the vision statement, along with a monitoring system to track progress. These goals would provide the Town Manager and staff with direction. The third component of the action plan involves providing regular performance feedback to the Town Manager regarding efforts to complete stated goals.

Mr. Colletti proposed the use of a monitoring or accountability system to help measure Town Council success in addressing the three priority areas. It was suggested that after each Council meeting the following question be asked and rated on a scale of 1 to 10 for each of the focus areas identified: What was your perception of how effective the meeting was in regards to meeting the stated focus area? Each Councilor would then be asked to write down ideas for how to improve the rating if needed. This process would be repeated on a regular basis to help ensure the Town Council focus on the three priority areas.

 

Town Council members thanked Mr. Colletti and staff for their efforts on planning and facilitating the workshop.
 

3. Adjournment

Meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Peter Souza

Recording Secretary