Dec. 16 County Council meeting
The County Council session on December 16 featured a presentation by Frank Grossman, founder of Integrated Impact Group, to explain the upcoming strategic-planning process to the councilmen and the citizens. He described a complex and multifaceted project that could have a significant effect on the county and its future.
According to its website, IIG gathers “essential data to gain an in-depth understanding and then help stakeholders present the information in multiple ways, allowing participants to build empathy for others.” They “facilitate a process of brainstorming and crafting multiple solutions. Participants develop, test, and iterate during the creation of prototypes, ultimately leading to innovative solutions.”
In 2024, Dorchester County Public Schools faced low performance, declining enrollment, and long-term underinvestment, ranking near the bottom of Maryland districts and struggling with morale and trust. IIG led an inclusive, data-driven assessment engaging educators, leaders, students, and community members to inform a path forward. The resulting 2025-2028 Strategic Plan unified the district around a shared purpose, established a system of continuous improvement, and aligned goals, budgets, and engagement with community voice. This success led to IIG being selected for the county’s strategic plan.
The goal of the two-person team will be a unified vision of what is desired for the county. IIG’s initial work, which Grossman called “the discovery phase,” includes going around Dorchester asking people what they love about the county, what could be better, and where they want to be in five years.
There will be focus groups with key stakeholders in December and January, with IIG as the facilitator. Also in January, surveys will be sent out around the county and town halls will be held to not only provide information but also to “get people talking.” Another part of the process will involve looking at how other counties operate, in Maryland as well as nationwide. Design sessions with citizens and county staff will produce the mission and vision for the strategic plan.
Grossman said that IIG wants to “push everyone in the same direction.”
Once Grossman was done with his talk, Council vice president Mike Detmer spoke in favor of the project, saying that they have an “obligation to do this” because the county must be prepared and can’t afford mistakes.
“We can’t just get by,” he said, explaining that they owe it to the county staff and the citizens to be “proactive.” However, he added that the project should look at not just the next five years but also the next 30 to 50 years. “We need to be better today and tomorrow.”
Council president Lenny Pfeffer expressed his desire to put all of the strategic plan information, including event dates, on the county website for the community to see.
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