Oct. 26—It's finger-crossed for a better working relationship on Gilbert Town Council now that an outside mediator has finished his work.
The mayor and six council members met Oct. 14 in their second and last mediation session with moderator Matt Lehrman.
The council in August agreed to forego a no-confidence vote against the mayor in favor of working with Lehrman to get to the bottom of their discord.
Each session cost $475 for the first hour and then billed in one-fourth hour increments over 60 minutes. Lehrman also charged a one-time fee of $2,100 to conduct assessments of each council member.
"Due to insights shared at mediation, I have already instituted a few changes in how I communicate and engage with council and remain hopeful we can build on this base," Mayor Brigette Peterson said in an email.
"I can only control my actions and am doing my part in ensuring my words and actions align," she said.
She said the mediation process provided the elected officials the only manner in which all seven could interact and speak openly without violating any state laws so she felt it was time well spent.
"Mediation allowed us to hear concerns, learn viewpoints and discuss expectations," Peterson said. "We are a dynamic group of leaders who bring unique and extensive professional, leadership and civic skills to the dais and I am committed to doing what I can to foster a respectful and productive atmosphere for the benefit of the community we've been elected to serve."
Vice Mayor Kathy Tilque said she's thankful that the council members could air concerns and listen to each other.
"The result of these meaningful discussions will provide us with a solid foundation to move forward and focus on serving our community and conducting the business of the Town," Tilque said.
Councilman Scott Anderson said, "We are making progress and we'll see how we do with the commitments made in the session."
Councilwoman Yung Koprowski said that the sessions facilitated productive discussions, improved communication and encouraged "a shared commitment to serving the best interests of our community."
"In my personal experience, the two mediation sessions were eye-opening for me," Koprowski said. "They offered me a better understanding of my fellow council members' viewpoints and priorities, helping me see where they were coming from.
"These sessions allowed me to address and clear up some misunderstandings that had hindered our interactions in the past. As a result, I now approach future interactions and discussions with my fellow council members with increased confidence, anticipating positive and productive outcomes."