REYNOLDS PLANTATION – Mayor Chuck Shaheen asked City Council members to “bear with me” as he tries to run the city.

The mayor, council and city department heads are wrapping up a two-day retreat that focuses on team-building and fostering better communications.

Walt McBride of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia was leading Saturday’s sessions geared toward communications among personnel and departments.

Shaheen said city employees are still hurting over the September suicide of Mayor Donald Walker, and his priority is to build morale.

“Just bear with me; we can make this a great team,” Shaheen said. “I don’t want to lose focus now and want to bring this city into the 21st century.”

Communication was a major issue Saturday, with the mayor and council members butting heads in a non-confrontational way.

“We need to understand our roles better,” said council member Bob Wilbanks, adding that once an issue has been voted on the mayor and council need to present a unfired front to the public.

Council member Mike Daley said that while Shaheen knows what his goals are, the council is pretty much left in the dark.

“Leadership is an action and leaders are coaches,” Daley said. “Coach people, don’t ask them to come to you.”

Shaheen said he doesn’t want to lose focus on his goals for the city, and acknowledged there needs to be better communication between him and the council.

They did agree that their differences should not be played out in the media.

Shaheen said repeatedly time management is an ongoing issue, noting he’s at work 12 hours a day six days a week. “My calendar is slammed,” he said.