MMA announces lineup of 34 Annual Meeting workshops

A central feature of the MMA Annual Meeting is the wide selection of workshops covering the latest developments affecting local government – and this year’s conference will feature more options than ever before.

The 2019 MMA Annual meeting, to be held Jan. 18 and 19 in Boston, will feature 34 workshops covering a range of legal, financial, administrative, economic development, land use and environmental issues important to local governments.

Based on feedback from 2018 Annual Meeting attendees, the MMA is doubling the number of workshops on Saturday by introducing compelling, 40-minute takes on timely topics. The number of Learning Lab sessions held in the Trade Show on Saturday will also double. (Learning Lab topics will be announced soon.)

The workshops, held during four afternoon time slots, will allow ample time for questions from attendees. To gain the most benefit from the workshops, Annual Meeting attendees from the same community are encouraged to attend different sessions and then share information with their colleagues.

The following are the workshop titles and time slots:

Friday, 2-3:30 p.m. – see workshop descriptions and panelists
• Building Strong Relationships Between Managers and Police Chiefs
• Developments and Initiatives in Municipal Finance
• Growing Pains: Municipal Best Practices for the Marijuana Industry
• Here Comes the Sun: Bringing Renewable Energy to Your Community
• Labor Law Update: New Laws, Recent Cases and Agency Decisions
• #MeToo in Town Hall: Creating a Safe, Respectful Workplace
• Proactive and Practical Steps to Reduce Municipal Cyber Risk
• Recognizing and Responding to Opioid Issues in the Municipal Workforce and Your Community
• Starter Homes: How to Welcome New Homeowners
• The State of Municipal Recycling: Challenges and Opportunities

Friday, 3:45-5 p.m. – see workshop descriptions and panelists
• Attracting and Keeping Visitors Downtown
• Health Literacy is Key to Lowering Health Care Costs
• Hot Topics in Municipal Law
• Making Social Media Work For You
• Public Right-of-Way Access: A Changing Regulatory Field
• Stop Stealing From Neighbors: Building Your Finance Team
• Succession Planning Tips to Achieve Unity Through Diversity
• Using Zoning to Encourage Aging in Place

Saturday, 2-2:40 p.m. – see workshop descriptions and panelists
• Artificial Intelligence and Risk Screening: Developments in Workers’ Compensation Risk Management
• Assessor Actions That Make a Difference
• Cleaner Community, Healthier Planet: Banning Plastic Bags
• How to Arrive Prepared to the Joint Labor-Management Committee for Police and Firefighters
• Shining a Light on the Public Records Law
• The Price Is Right: Learning Procurement Basics
• The Road to Funding: State Public Works Grants
• Voting Law Update: Automatic Registration, Early Voting and Other Changes

Saturday, 2:50-3:30 p.m. – see workshop descriptions and panelists
• Boosting Engagement in Municipal Boards and Committees
• Facilities Management Best Practices Can Help Your Bottom Line
• Funding Your OPEB Liability
• In-Law Apartment Zoning: If You Build It, Will They Come?
• Initiatives in Municipal IT
• Operating With Transparency: Open Meeting Law 101
• Parliamentary Procedures: Keeping the Peace and Keeping It Moving
• Respect Your Elders: Tips For Building Age-Friendly Communities