COUNCIL RETREAT SESSIONS

Members of Council held several Retreat Sessions with Mr. Alan Kovitz of Mid-Atlantic Development serving as facilitator, as follows:

September 10, 2002, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Dover Parks and Recreation Center, 1210 White Oak Road. Members present were Council President Carey, Mr. Ritter, Mr. Pitts, Mrs. Williams, Mr. Truitt, Mr. McGlumphy (arrived at 3:20 p.m.), Mr. Speed, Mr. Salters, and Mr. Ruane. Mayor Hutchison, Mr. DePrima (City Manager), Mrs. Mitchell (Finance Director/Treasurer), Mr. Szyjka (Human Resources Director), and Mrs. Green (City Clerk) were also present

September 19, 2002, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Dover Police Department, Public Assembly Room, Queen Street. Members present were Council President Carey, Mr. Ritter, Mr. Pitts, Mrs. Williams, Mr. Truitt, Mr. Speed, Mr. Salters, and Mr. Ruane. Mr. McGlumphy and Mr. DePrima were absent. Mayor Hutchison, Mrs. Mitchell, Mr. Szyjka, and Mrs. Green were also present.

October 3, 2002, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at the Dover Police Department, Public Assembly Room, Queen Street. Members present were Council President Carey (departed at 11:15 a.m.), Mr. Pitts, Mrs. Williams, Mr. Truitt, Mr. Salters, and Mr. Ruane. Mr. Ritter, Mr. McGlumphy, and Mr. Speed were absent. Mayor Hutchison (departed at 11:00 a.m.), Mr. DePrima, Mrs. Mitchell, Mr. Szyjka, and Mrs. Green were also present.

October 8, 2002, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Dover Police Department, Public Assembly Room, Queen Street. Members present were Council President Carey, Mr. Ritter, Mr. Pitts, Mrs. Williams, Mr. Truitt, and Mr. Ruane. Mr. McGlumphy, Mr. Salters, and Mr. Speed were absent. Mayor Hutchison, Mr. DePrima, Mrs. Mitchell (arrived at 1:22 p.m.), Mr. Szyjka, and Mrs. Green were also present.

This year’s Retreat allowed members to participate in Strategic Thinking and Business Planning for the City of Dover. During each session, Mr. Kovitz worked with members of Council in sharing their ideas of the City of Dover’s future. Members were provided a booklet and workbook, along with tapes or compact discs, to assist in this endeavor. Mr. Kovitz explained that although the material was originally written for profit generating businesses, the program works equally well for any organization - public or private, for profit or non-profit, business or civic. Members should not get caught up in the semantics of the text and should focus on the goal - striving to create the future rather than reacting to current issues.

Mr. Kovitz advised members that to be successful in this process, all employees of an organization must have a role. Once Council has completed their part of this task, managerial employees (department heads) will participate in this process. The goal is for members of Council to develop a Vision Statement for the City, as well as a Mission Statement. Department heads will take the Vision of Council, along with the Mission, and develop specific implementation goals in order to meet the mission and develop the vision Council has established.

Mr. Kovitz worked with Council in reviewing the workbook provided and made notes of the consensus of major issues discussed (Attachment #1). After much discussion and sharing of ideas, the Vision for the City of Dover developed by Council reads as follows:

The City of Dover is a place where people want to live! It has a reputation for being a clean and safe community, with a future of balanced growth and opportunity where all citizens are heard, enjoy a high quality of life, and diversity if valued.”

Members began sharing their ideas for a Mission Statement. Mr. Kovitz felt confident that staff would be provided enough information to develop a draft Mission Statement for the City of Dover with the ideas presented (Attachment #2).

There being no further business, the Retreat Sessions of Council were adjourned on October 8, 2002 at 3:40 p.m.

                                                                                    Respectfully submitted,

                                                                                    Carleton E. Carey, Sr.

                                                                                    Council President

CEC/jg

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