Each member of the Concord City Council stood next to signs identifying them with a color — red, green, blue, yellow — each representing a distinct personality type.

The colors reflected the lighthearted scores they received on a personality test they took at the city-wide community center Wednesday night when the new city council met for the first time.

Judith Kurtz said the council gave her an opportunity to become more involved with the community. Michele Horne saw her role as a voice for the working class, while Jim Schlosser approached his new position as a way to continue his work to reduce homelessness in the city.

Despite their different motivations for being on Concord’s city council, a common thread united the group — a shared commitment to embracing differences and collaborating for the city’s common good.

Gathering over sandwiches, salads and cookies, the new group convened to discuss procedures and protocols but also to get to know each other and lay the foundation for the work that lies ahead over the next two years.

“Working on the council is not anything that any one of us does. But all of us as a unit, as collaborators, can do lots of good work,” said Brent Todd, Ward 1 councilor.

Mayor Byron Champlin had invited facilitator Ellen Koenig to kick off the meeting with an ice-breaking activity, having all of the councilors take a personality test before they begin their roles as a city council next week.

After completing the test, each council member moved to their assigned area that corresponded to characteristic traits.

Councilors Nathan Fennessey, Jennifer Kretovic, Stacey Brown, Judith Kurtz, Amanda Grady Sexton and Champlin all exhibited a similar inclination toward addressing issues based on feelings and community sentiment.

Councilors Paula McLaughlin and Todd were characterized as individuals who tended to be more reserved and focused on conceptualizing the potential implications of decisions for future generations.

On the other hand, councilors Fred Keach, Karen McNamara and Jeff Foote emerged as action-oriented, people-focused decision-makers, eager to take on initiatives.

The newly elected councilors – Horne, Kris Schultz, Sekou and Schlosser – displayed a blend of qualities from various colors, showcasing a varied range of characteristics.

None of the traits were negative. However, no council member fell within the yellow category, representing those who make decisions grounded in data and facts.

“We might be different from each other but what we also need to appreciate is the complexity within ourselves and have a little compassion for ourselves if we screw up or lose it and make compassion for each other,” said Schlosser. “I think there’s diversity  between people, but also in each of us.”