COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S MEETING

SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING A Special Council Meeting was held on May 9, 2022, at 5:18 p.m. with Council President Sudler presiding. Council members present were Mr. Anderson, Mr. Boggerty, Mr. Neil, Dr. Pillsbury, Mrs. Arndt, Mr. Rocha, Mr. Taylor, and Mr. Hare. Mayor Christiansen was present (arrived at 5:56 p.m.) Council staff member present was Mrs. Bennett. ADOPTION OF AGENDA The Agenda was adopted by unanimous consent. COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANDIDATES - OPENING STATEMENTS Mr. Neil stated he would like to be considered as Council President and offered the following statement: I gave everybody an opportunity to look at my history, to get a better understanding of who I am. Anybody who wishes to see the full document, it can be obtained from the City Clerk’s Office and the City of Dover website www.cityofdover.com. I seek to serve as President of this City Council to maximize our efforts in creating the philosophy of the government of Dover, for the professional staff to carry out. There is no grandiose statement to try to unfairly transform this city via pronouncements, but to get back to basics, to do what we have been elected to do. Make sure this city is functioning smoothly, while improving the quality of life of our residents, cost effectively. Holding a workshop at a country club is not the image I want to convey as being cost effective. We received a memo we face a $2 million shortfall in the 2023 city budget. On June the 2nd, although the room cost at the Maple Dale Country Club was waived, the estimated cost for food is $1,738.55 cents. This is taxpayers' money. Holding a workshop at a country club, even with free room is not the mind set I bring to the table. It is a judgment call, with a $170 million or more city budget, a thousand dollars is not much, but it is the mind set, because it is still the taxpayer's money. These are times when not going with the lowest bid, can actually save money in the long run, but this is not the time. I value the time of the members of this body who were elected by their constituents to represent them regarding the city business. The business occurs on the second and fourth Monday and Tuesday of the month. Any other business, should be set up as an extra activity, be open to staff, and the public on a different day. Marathon meetings are not the most effective means of conducting the city's business, and often unfair to the staff and to the people who come here to testify. Even though we are elected for a short period of time, and can be fired or reelected, I look at what each of you brings to the table. And I plan to utilize those talents as your time permits. Mr. Sudler and I have different styles of leadership. He has been a force in the city civil rights movement in Delaware, he has been searching for means to lead city staff, the Mayor and the City Council to triumphantly govern our workforce, and facilitate superior service to our constituents. This is an abbreviation, a paraphrase of a quote on Mr. Sudler’s plans for his first year. I am not grandiose, I

SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 9, 2022 PAGE 2 am just plain Fred, that is what I put on the front of the document I have given you to study and look at. I want to blend the skills you bring, recognizing your time is valuable as we guide and oversee the work of our professionals. You do not need me to inspire you. You are here because you are inspired enough to run for office. As President, my first task will be meeting with our extraordinarily experienced City Manager, and our department heads to bring us the subjects that need to be discussed at our workshop in June. We should be talking about what Mr. Hugg has been asking us to do. What do you want moving forward? We need to see the Dover story told better. I am a huge fan of the Dover Dispatch. We need to expand on how we communicate with the public and ourselves. The information flow must go up, sideways and down, and so when a resident requests a burnt out street light to be replaced and it is not, we will know that it is a supply side issue, not neglect. It was I who brought up that fact at a meeting, that being said, the bulbs are now back in inventory. President Sudler has every reason to be proud of his election because it made history. That page of history cannot be removed, but I am very disappointed he has no confidence he will be reelected in a democratic, secret ballot. He wants transparency, just like a political boss. All of us support diversity and inclusion, but an open ballot promotes another D word, divisive. After this election, we should be able to come together in a common cause without worrying if our vote for the President will affect our relationship with the winner if we did not vote for him. Ironically, in Mike Finney's article in the Delaware State News this past week, Mr. Sudler was quoted as preferring registered voters to elect the City Council President, which would mean a citywide secret ballot. Mr. Sudler indicated his interest in being Council President and offered the following statement: First and foremost, I would like to thank my Lord and savior Jesus Christ for using me as a vessel to fulfill psychological contracts within the workplace, while simultaneously boosting trust and morale between the City Council members, the community and our organizational citizens. With the support of the majority of City Council members, under my presidency, I have successfully implemented vision A, B, and C located on slides four through seven. Slide number four, The Visions, Under vision A, to further advance the consensus building among the City of Dover and Kent County, consequently executing a more team strategy to procuring fiscal aid for alleviating inequities that affect the private, public, faith-based and higher learning institutions in Dover. Through my 2021 network vision section one, titled Council Liaison to the Kent County Commissioners and State Representatives, District Three Councilwoman Tricia Arndt and District Four Councilman David Anderson, co-liaison, secured a $10 million budget from the State of Delaware's Budget for the Bond Bill, which will benefit the city's fiscal budget for addressing infrastructure essentials. For example, the Meeting House

SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 9, 2022 PAGE 3 Project, which helps manage existing infrastructures and economic demands centered on the city's storm water drainage system. Vision B, to help lead city staff, the Mayor, and City Council members to triumphantly achieve and grasp the intentions of the city's newly declared transformational leadership style, in governing our workforce and facilitating superior service to our constituents. Through the Sudler's proposed Training for Council Members, section two, titled Declared Organizational Culture, slash tenets, human resource management department. City council members have secured training in partnership with United Way and Fusion Alliance. Diversity, equity, and inclusion training integrates transformational leadership principles for advancing our organizational climate and culture of well-being. Vision C, to encourage and equip prevailing and brand new council members with opportunities to convert to Council Presidents, via training and awareness of the committee's powers and restrictions. Through the Sudler's Proposed Training for Council Members section six, titled President's Committee's Purview and Restrictions, Clerk's Office. For example, in early 2021, Madam Clerk, Traci McDowell, facilitated Council President's Chair Committee Training, which reviewed all chair members' fiduciary duties and responsibilities. In 2021, the platform of my campaign for city council presidency/vice mayor was based on three leadership ideologies: transformational leadership behavioral dimensions, accountability, transparency, and a team approach to resolving city matters, and advocating for progression for all council members, to pursue via training and workshops. Thus rendering a transformational leadership approach to broadening council members' experience and opportunities in the areas demonstrated on slide number 19, titled Sudler's Proposed Training for Council Members, 2021. I believe an effective leader in any organization motivates, inspires, and provides a solid and reliable foundation for the followers to reach their full potential. After having read Councilman Neil's comments in the Delaware State News, I question whether his leadership style would be aligned with our agreed upon transformational leadership approach. It sounds like Councilman Neil's approach may return us to status quo, rather than continuing to move us forward. On slides 10 through 14, you observe ways I have attempted to strengthen the consensus building and cohesiveness among city council members, and various entities throughout and surrounding Dover, Delaware. As a council member who is from Dover, Delaware, and has been with the City of Dover, participating on city committees for 18 years consecutively, in conjunction with being a product of the Capital School District, I know how imperative it is to receive continuous data, and be unapologetic for advocating for additional knowledge and resources to help my council colleagues to be more skilled, and sharper in fulfilling their fiduciary duties to their constituents.

SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 9, 2022 PAGE 4 Furthermore, let the record reflect certain council members have asked for exposure in the areas mentioned above. Thus demonstrating a proactive approach to evolving into an effective leader who wants to secure more knowledge in representing their constituents to the best of their ability. Suppose you refer to slide number 19, you would discover within 12 months of my presidency, we have completed 75% of the proposed training, despite all the senior administrative challenges we were confronted with in early 2021. Therefore, I want to continue to complete the remaining 25% of the topics as your 2022 council president, as we aim to stabilize our organizational culture, and work family balance initiatives moving forward. In sum, with the help of most of the city council members, my leadership has made a significant contribution to boosting the fulfillment of psychological contracts, employee morale, diversity, equity, and inclusion goals. Consequently, decreasing toxic leadership and deviant behavior within our organization is something we all can be proud of, and reflects our leadership illustrated on slides 14 through 18. As you can see, those are letters from employees showing their gratitude for leadership, and what we have done in 2021. I say our leadership, because we are a team. Thank you for your time, and I ask for your vote for the 2022 Dover city council president/vice mayor team position. COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANDIDATES - QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Responding to Mrs. Arndt, Mr. Sudler stated he would like to be more engaged in social activities and events outside of the normal council meetings, such as the recent event for the Lions Club. Mr. Sudler explained these events provide an opportunity for individuals who do not know Council or what they are doing, to have a one on one conversation with them outside of the normal professional chambers. Mr. Sudler added it is also helping to foster healthy relationships with the public, and private sector entities. Responding to Mrs. Arndt, Mr. Neil stated he had previously mentioned the Dover Dispatch but also thinks the city website and social media need work. Mr. Neil explained he has a lot of expertise in media, in writing, and in life. However, Mr. Neil would like to bring the expertise of others to suggest where we are going to go and how we are going to do it. Mr. Neil expressed he has time to attend meetings and he is good with talking and meeting with people. Mr. Neil explained he is very responsive no matter a constituents problems. Mr. Neil further explained the city could get the word out through news releases, social media, Dover Dispatch, and informing staff. Responding to Mr. Taylor, Mr. Sudler stated he would consolidate initiatives. Mr. Sudler expressed he would like to meet with all entities, look at their comprehensive plan, and try to merge their initiatives into one plan. Mr. Sudler explained it would be the most appropriate, and effective way to address duplicating resources that do not have to be duplicated. Responding to Mr. Taylor, Mr. Neil stated each one of those organizations has developed their plan with a particular view in mind. In terms of Mosaic coming in, it is basically the total redevelopment of the downtown area. National Council Agricultural Life and Labor Research

SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 9, 2022 PAGE 5 Fund, In. has a different focus, and the schools have a different focus. Mr. Neil stated the question is making sure the two organizations will be talking to each other. Mr. Neil explained communication in the overlapping of services can be useful for example, the river walk could be included in Mosaic’s project because it ties into the same economic development Downtown Dover Partnership is doing. Mr. Neil further explained the organizations are the professionals and they are doing things from different viewpoints. Responding to Mr. Hare, Mr. Sudler stated when appointing positions he believes it should be who supported them and who are interested in fulfilling the job. Mr. Sudler explained he did not feel anyone would put someone in a leadership position to undermine the leader’s initiative or the leader’s goals. Mr. Sudler further explained the optics right now, there are more African Americans currently on City Council and they expressed an interest, and he provided the opportunity for them. Mr. Sudler stated the history of Council was predominantly Caucasian and from personal experience African Americans did not always get put into leadership positions. Mr. Sudler explained he provided an opportunity for those individuals who wanted to take advantage of the opportunity and it had nothing to do with race, but everything to do with if they want to serve. Mr. Boggerty commented creative abrasion is a term when two people, two organizations, or two groups are put together who are diametrically oppose each other, who are nowhere alike and you throw them in a room and say, create something. Mr. Boggerty explained he believes sometimes in these moments of creative abrasion to produce a dynamic product, it is necessary. He thanked Mr. Sudler and Mr. Neil and wished them the best in their terms. Mr. Anderson thanked Mr. Neil and Mr. Sudler for caring so much for the city. Mr. Anderson clarified the retreat was designed to be more inclusive, by including department heads and staff. Mr. Anderson stated the money spent will be on work and socialization. Mr. Anderson explained the private entities just like the public entities suffered during COVID - 19 and deserve support. Mr. Anderson further clarified the retreat budget was voted and approved by all voting council members at the last budget hearing. Mr. Sudler moved for adjournment hearing no objecting the meeting adjourned at 6:10 p.m. ANDRIA L. BENNETT CITY CLERK All ordinances, resolutions, motions, and orders adopted by City Council during their Special Meeting of May 9, 2022, are hereby approved. ROBIN R. CHRISTIANSEN MAYOR /AB S:\AGENDAS-MINUTES-PACKETS\Council-Minutes\2022\05-09-2022 COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S MEETING.wpd