Friday, Jan. 24, 2020, 3:45-5 p.m.

Alcohol and Entertainment: Keys to Local Control via Licensing
Friday, 3:45-5 p.m., Room 201, 2nd floor, Hynes Convention Center
Presented by Massachusetts Municipal Councillors’ Association
Select boards and license commissions have extensive licensing responsibilities, but few areas attract more attention, or create more challenges, than the licensing of alcoholic beverage establishments (on- and off-premises) and entertainment. Licensing laws give local authorities broad discretion, but it’s important to consider the limits on that authority, so that application denials and license conditions can withstand appeal. This workshop will cover the general rules for alcohol and entertainment licensing, relevant regulations and court decisions, advice on handling disciplinary hearings, and some tips to avoid trouble.

PANELISTS
Lauren F. Goldberg is a shareholder and managing partner at KP Law, P.C.
Brian Riley is an attorney and shareholder at KP Law.
Ralph Sacramone is executive director of the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission.
MODERATOR
D.J. Wilson is the MMA tobacco control director.

• Municipal Tobacco Control Technical Assistance Program handout
• Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission Outreach presentation

Collaboration: How Three Communities Managed a Gas Crisis
Friday, 3:45-5 p.m., Room 202, 2nd floor, Hynes Convention Center
Presented by Massachusetts Municipal Management Association
On Sept. 13, 2018, Andover, North Andover and Lawrence experienced more than 50 structure fires resulting from an overpressurization of the gas distribution system. The disaster forced the evacuation of more than 40,000 residents, the turnoff of gas meters, and the inspection of more than 8,000 dwellings overnight. In the following months, more than 46 miles of gas line needed replacing, and temporary housing had to be identified. Throughout this process, collaborative leadership and decision making was paramount. This session will highlight how the three communities’ leaders adopted a model of collective decision making that endures today.

PANELISTS
Andrew Flanagan is the town manager in Andover.
Andy Maylor is comptroller for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the former town manager in North Andover.
Daniel Rivera is the mayor of Lawrence
MODERATOR
Denise Casey is the deputy town manager in North Andover.

• Decision Making During a Crisis – presentation

Countdown to the Census: Steps to a Successful Count
Friday, 3:45-5 p.m., Room 208, 2nd floor, Hynes Convention Center
Presented by the Massachusetts Mayors’ Association
The decennial count of all people living in the United States will begin in March 2020. The census results will have significant impacts on representation and aid at the federal, state and local levels of government. Panelists will update municipal officials on national and state resources to help ensure that all households are counted. Attendees will learn what steps communities are taking to engage their citizens – including hard-to-count populations – and to keep them informed about the 2020 census.

PANELISTS
Jeff Behler is director of the New York Regional Office of the U.S. Census Bureau.
Vatsaday Sivongxay is statewide complete count coordinator of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition.
MODERATOR
Spencer Wagner is a local democracy associate with the Local Democracy Initiative at the National League of Cities.

• Cities Count: Preparing our Communities for the 2020 Census – NLC presentation
• Shaping Your Future: US Census 2020 – NY Regional Census Center presentation

Municipal Law Update
Friday, 3:45-5 p.m., Room 210, 2nd floor, Hynes Convention Center
Presented by the Massachusetts Municipal Lawyers Association
Recent developments from the Legislature, government agencies, and federal and state courts are significantly affecting policies in the public sector. Municipal attorneys will bring attendees up to speed on important developments in municipal law as they relate to Massachusetts cities and towns, in areas such as marijuana, stormwater and wastewater, land use and zoning, municipal finance, and other areas with significant developments.

Workshop eligible for MIIA Rewards points

PANELISTS
Donna Brewer has served as a lead town counsel and heads the litigation and employment practice groups at Miyares and Harrington LLP.
Ellen Callahan Doucette is the city solicitor in Woburn.
MODERATOR
Peter Mello is an attorney at the law firm Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane.

• Municipal Law Update

Municipal Transportation Finance 101
Friday, 3:45-5 p.m., Room 203, 2nd floor, Hynes Convention Center
Presented by the MMA Policy Committee on Public Works, Transportation, and Public Utilities
This workshop is a primer for municipal officials who want to gain a better understanding of municipal transportation finance. Speakers will cover state and federal funding and financing opportunities; how to get your road or bridge project ready and increase its likelihood of being selected; and how transportation finance actually works on the ground in municipalities. Attendees will hear about the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s municipal grant programs, including Complete Streets and Small Bridges; the development of MassDOT’s Capital Investment Plan; the MPO and TIP process; and Chapter 90.

PANELISTS

Rich Benevento is chair of the Parking and Traffic Commission in Beverly and president of WorldTech Engineering.
Dave Desrosiers is the Granby highway superintendent and president of the Massachusetts Highway Association.
Patricia Leavenworth is deputy administrator and chief engineer at the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.
MODERATOR
Ariela Lovett is an MMA legislative analyst.

• Got Funding? Municipal Transportation Finance 101 – presentation

New Perspectives on School Finance and Budgeting
Friday, 3:45-5 p.m., Room 204, 2nd floor, Hynes Convention Center
Presented by the Association of Town Finance Committees
At budget time, education spending can cause stress for municipal and school officials alike, given the large sums at stake. Communities that avoid public budget battles have something in common: They plan ahead. In this interactive session, attendees will hear how officials lessen municipal-school conflict by meeting months before the first budget hearing, engaging in revenue planning and financial forecasting, agreeing ahead of time about how excess funds will be spent, and setting long-range capital plans. Please come ready with questions and feedback.

PANELISTS
Heather Hamilton is a member of the Brookline Select Board.
Sandy Pooler is the deputy town manager in Arlington.
John Petrin is a former town manager and a former assistant superintendent of Marlborough Public Schools.
MODERATOR
Brian Boyle is a Finance Committee member in Bolton and president of the Association of Town Finance Committees.

• New Perspectives on School Finance and Budgeting – Brookline presentation
• New Perspectives on School Finance and Budgeting – Arlington presentation
• New Perspectives on School Finance and Budgeting, Town/School Split handout

Transform Your Wellness Program: Create a Great Place to Work
Friday, 3:45-5 p.m., Room 205, 2nd floor, Hynes Convention Center
Presented by the Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association
We know wellness efforts combat burnout and promote health, but we often need help getting there, including the support of our workplaces. Research clearly shows that when employees feel supported, they’ll stay on the job and perform at their best, even in hard times. This workshop will explore simple ideas and approaches to help employees along the path to wellness and will review research on wellness initiatives, examine ways to implement state-of-the-art programming, and discuss how to integrate your current benefits into a coordinated, comprehensive culture of wellness.

Workshop eligible for MIIA Rewards points

PANELISTS
Gillian Pieper is a health promotion specialist at Vermont Education Health Initiative.
MODERATOR
Jayne Schmitz is the wellness project manager at MIIA.

Use Your Voice: Public Speaking and Civility in Local Government
Friday, 3:45-5 p.m., Room 209, 2nd floor, Hynes Convention Center
Presented by Massachusetts Municipal Human Resources
Can’t we all just get along? Current and former elected officials, as well as public sector specialists, will discuss how to be articulate, effective and courteous in public meetings. Attendees will learn how meetings – whether in an auditorium or the corner office – can stay respectful when sensitive topics arise, especially when we all agree to be agreeable. War stories are welcome. Codes of conduct and other policy matters will be addressed and serve as a take-aways.

Workshop eligible for MIIA Rewards points

PANELISTS
Dottie Fulginiti is a member of the Easton Select Board.
Patrick Guerriero is a former mayor of Melrose and a founding partner of Civitas Public Affairs Group.
MODERATOR
Vanessa Hale is the assistant town administrator in Southborough.

• Visitors Code of Conduct, Town of Acton
• Code of Conduct Policy, Town of Southborough
• Calming the Crowd, article from School Leader
• Use Your Voice: Public Speaking and Civility in Local Government – presentation