COG Mission, Vision, Values, and Goals
As part of COG's Strategic Planning process and with the assistance of Penn State University, Centre Region elected officials and COG staff discussed, formulated, and refined Mission and Vision statements as well as developed a series of core Values and Goals.
These were presented and approved at the August 23, 2021 General Forum meeting and are intended to help guide the work of the COG over the next five to ten years.
Mission Statement
The Centre Region Council of Governments supports the residents who live, work, and play in the diverse communities that make up the Centre Region by providing cost-effective, consistent, and high-quality public services.
Vision Statement
The Centre Region Council of Governments will continue striving to have a positive impact on the quality of life of those living, working, and playing in the Centre Region by maximizing the benefits of shared services through municipal partnerships.
Values
P We focus on serving the Public in all that we do.
A We are Adaptable and able to respond to the changing needs of all those we serve.
R We Respect each other, and all of those within our communities, and the leadership provided by the Centre Region elected officials
and work to earn their Respect.
T Transparency is essential to forging and sustaining trust with our residents, customers, and elected officials.
N We strive to protect the Natural environment of the Centre Region and beyond by adopting sustainable practices and being an
example for others.
E The resources entrusted to the COG are used with Efficiency to deliver cost-effective, quality services and solutions.
R The COG and its staff are dedicated to being Reliable and dependable in our service to others.
S The Safety of every resident, visitor, and coworker is a priority as we do our jobs, as we respond to emergencies, and as we review
and inspect every building project.
H Trust is a critical element in all of our relationships, we pledge that Honesty and Integrity will guide every transaction and decision we
make to earn and retain that trust.
I Each voice and every member of our community is important to us, so our organization promotes Inclusion in COG programs, events,
operations, and employment.
P Our decision-making is Participatory because the opinions and perspectives of all parties have value and collaboration results in better
decisions and a stronger COG.
Goals
Goal 1: Maximize cost-effective and consistent public services.
Objective 1.1: Develop a shared understanding of how cost-effectiveness is achieved through the COG.
Objective 1.2: Communicate meaningfully about how cost-effectiveness is achieved through the COG by applying a shared understanding of cost-effectiveness.
Objective 1.3: Define and determine a mechanism for consistent outcomes of public services through the COG and communicate this mechanism effectively.
Objective 1.4: Using the work of the previous objectives, maximize the COG network to develop and improve cost-effectiveness and consistency of public services offered through the COG over time.
Goal 2: Maximize high-quality public services.
Objective 2.1: Develop a clear and shared understanding of what high-quality services are as delivered through the COG.
Objective 2.2: Clearly define how shared services are an integral part of high-quality services.
Objective 2.3: Develop a continuous improvement model, guided by the COG, to consistently evaluate whether services are being delivered in the highest quality possible given any realistic limitations.
Objective 2.4: Examine, identify, and maximize opportunities for shared services and delivering these services in a way that supports high-quality outcomes.
Goal 3: Maximize benefits of shared services through municipal partnerships.
Objective 3.1: Clearly define the benefits of shared services and create effective communication protocols and a structure that educates municipalities about these benefits.
Objective 3.2: Develop mechanisms to communicate effectively about shared services to the Centre Region, with the input of the municipalities.
Objective 3.3: Develop and cultivate a shared understanding of the contributions of municipal partnerships to further support and benefit from shared services.
Objective 3.4: Create effective processes and structures to educate, evaluate, and cultivate partnerships with the municipalities in which a mutual understanding of the benefits of shared services is used as a framework for understanding any addition, retooling, or removal of shared services.
Goal 4: The COG will impact the quality of life positively on those living in the Centre Region.
This goal “ties the first three goals together,” leverages the progress of those goals, and will show how the COG connects with residents and visitors and fuels quality of life positively.