Friday, Jan. 24, 2020, 2-3:30 p.m.

Control Your Destiny: Top Tips for Economic Development
Friday, 2-3:30 p.m., Room 204, 2nd floor, Hynes Convention Center
Presented by the Massachusetts Municipal Association
Often, the factors that contribute to healthy economic and employment growth on a local level fall within the direct control of local officials. Learn about the approaches and tools available to help municipalities actively promote their local economies. Hear from experts in the business sector, and learn how they navigate governmental relationships as they seek business development.

PANELISTS
Barry Bluestone is the Russell B. and Andree B. Stearns Trustee professor emeritus at Northeastern University.
April Anderson Lamoureux is the president of Anderson Strategic Advisors, LLC.
MODERATOR
Tamara Small is the CEO of NAIOP Massachusetts, the Commercial Real Estate Association.

• What Makes Working Cities Work? – Bluestone presentation
• Top Tips for Economic Development – Anderson Strategic Advisors, LLC presentation

Cybersecurity: What Municipalities Need to Know Now
Friday, 2-3:30 p.m., Room 208, 2nd floor, Hynes Convention Center
Presented by the Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association
As municipalities increasingly become targets of cyberattacks, this session will cover best practices and practical tips that offer immediate protection against financial and reputational cyber losses. Topics include the do’s and don’ts of protecting your data, and the first steps to take after a cyber incident. Attendees will also learn how the Commonwealth is helping to make municipalities more “cyber resilient,” and what resources are available specifically for cities and towns.

Workshop eligible for MIIA Rewards points

PANELISTS
Gregory Bautista is a partner at the law firm Wilson Elser.
Joseph Callahan is MIIA’s member services marketing director.
Stephanie Helm is director of the MassCyberCenter at the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative.
MODERATOR
Lin Chabra is the MIIA member training manager.

• Cybersecurity: What Municipalities Need to Know Now – presentation
• Best Practices for Cybersecurity – Tip Sheet

Developments and Initiatives in Municipal Finance
Friday, 2-3:30 p.m., Room 210, 2nd floor, Hynes Convention Center
Presented by the Division of Local Services
This workshop will cover important current issues in municipal finance. The governor’s finance team will discuss the state budget and economic outlook as they affect cities and towns. Division of Local Services staff will make presentations on a range of topics, including policy developments, data analysis and a legislative update.

PANELISTS
Joanne Graziano is the chief of the Division of Local Services’ Bureau of Local Assessment.
Mary Jane Handy is the chief of the Division of Local Services’ Bureau of Accounts.
Christopher Harding is the commissioner of the Department of Revenue.
Michael Heffernan is the secretary of Administration and Finance.
Patricia Hunt is chief of the Division of Local Services’ Bureau of Municipal Finance Law.
MODERATOR
Sean Cronin is the senior deputy commissioner for the Division of Local Services.

Labor Law Update: New Laws, Recent Cases and Agency Decisions
Friday, 2-3:30 p.m., Room 200, 2nd floor, Hynes Convention Center
Presented by Mirick O’Connell Attorneys at Law and Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP
Important events and developing trends in labor and employment law significantly impact municipal policies. Two employment and labor law attorneys with decades of experience in the public sector will discuss developments in 2020, including major court cases, agency decisions and legislation covering union agency fees, workplace safety, overtime laws, paid family and medical leave, civil service, collective bargaining and other important labor and employment issues.

Workshop eligible for MIIA Rewards points

PANELISTS
Katherine Hesse is a founding partner at the law firm Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP.
D.M. Moschos is of counsel at the law firm Mirick O’Connell Attorneys at Law.
MODERATOR
Lisa C. Adams is a senior legislative analyst at the MMA.

• Annual Labor Law Update: Selected Mass. Agency Decisions in 2019 – presentation

Marijuana: New Regulations and Updated Best Practices
Friday, 2-3:30 p.m., Room 203, 2nd floor, Hynes Convention Center
Presented by the Massachusetts Municipal Association
This past fall, the Cannabis Control Commission approved revised regulations that added home delivery and a “social consumption” pilot program. Attendees will learn about these new regulations and take away a list of updated best practices for existing laws and regulations. Hear about how one municipality has dealt with this rapidly changing industry, and about the unique licensing process it has put in place.

Workshop eligible for MIIA Rewards points

PANELISTS
Thomas Bernard is the mayor of North Adams.
Kay Doyle is a commissioner at the Cannabis Control Commission.
MODERATOR
Katherine Laughman is an attorney and shareholder at KP Law, P.C.

• Marijuana: New Regulations and Updated Best Practices – North Adams presentation
• Best Practices for Local Control of Marijuana Establishments – KP Law presentation
• Legalization of Marijuana in Massachusetts: Update 2020 – CCC presentation

Preparing Your Community for a Changing Climate
Friday, 2-3:30 p.m., Room 202, 2nd floor, Hynes Convention Center
Presented by the MMA Policy Committee on Energy and the Environment
Cities and towns are on the front lines experiencing the effects of global climate change and at the forefront of adaptation and resilience efforts. The state’s environmental agency will share lessons learned from the first years of the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness program, and municipal planning staff will describe how their communities are using MVP planning and action grants. Attendees will also hear case studies from municipal and nonprofit leaders on implementing climate resilient zoning and managing water resources for a more sustainable built and natural environment.

PANELISTS
Laurie Connors is the planning director in Millbury.
Iram Farooq is the assistant city manager for community development in Cambridge.
Mia Mansfield is director of Climate Adaptation and Resilience for the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.
Julie Dyer Wood is deputy director of the Charles River Watershed Association.
MODERATOR
Austin Faison is the town manager in Winthrop.

• Climate Change and the Commonwealth – presentation
• Armory Village Green Infrastructure Project: Millbury’s Response to a Changing Climate – presentation
• Watershed Associations: A Great Resource for Supporting Community Climate Adaptation – presentation

Sharing Services: Solutions for Small Towns
Friday, 2-3:30 p.m., Room 209, 2nd floor, Hynes Convention Center
Presented by Small Town Administrators of Massachusetts
This past summer, Gov. Charlie Baker attended the 35th annual meeting of the Small Town Administrators of Massachusetts and recognized the “circuit riders” of the 1970s and early 1980s. These predecessors to today’s small-town administrators often served multiple communities simultaneously. Now, many municipalities are revisiting this model for services, including in the areas of finance, public health, veterans’ services, IT, facilities and public safety. This workshop will feature speakers from communities that have had success with sharing services and review the resources available from the Division of Local Services.

Workshop eligible for MIIA Rewards points

PANELISTS
Colby Cousens is the IT director in Danvers.
Joshua Garcia is the town administrator in Blandford.
MODERATOR
Zack Blake is the chief of the Division of Local Services’ Technical Assistance Bureau.

• Sharing Services: Solutions for Small Towns – Blandford presentation
• Regionalizing IT Services – Danvers presentation

Social Media: Policies, Ethics and the Law
Friday, 2-3:30 p.m., Room 201, 2nd floor, Hynes Convention Center
Presented by the Massachusetts Municipal Management Association
Many municipalities have adopted policies and standards for employees and officials participating on social media platforms, but how do policy makers respond to posts from the public that crosses the line of legitimate criticism? What can local officials do in response to unfounded personal attacks and accusations and to protect employees who become targets? What tools are available for addressing inappropriate content? This session will address these questions and more in an area that continues to be a vital part of any municipality’s communications strategy.

Workshop eligible for MIIA Rewards points

PANELISTS
John Clifford is an attorney at Clifford and Kenny, LLP.
Nick Dominello is an attorney at Valerio, Dominello & Hillman, LLC.
Liz Valerio is an attorney at Valerio, Dominello & Hillman, LLC.
MODERATOR
Brianna Sunryd is the communications manager in Amherst.
Jim Boudreau is the town administrator in Scituate

• Social Media: Policies, Ethics and the Law – presentation

Strategies for Recruiting Awesome Employees
Friday, 2-3:30 p.m., Room 206, 2nd floor, Hynes Convention Center
Presented by Massachusetts Municipal Management Association
Attracting and hiring the best staff can be a challenge for any employer, and doing so in the municipal arena can prove even more challenging. How does a community ensure its recruiting methods are reaching the right audience? What strategies can you use to diversify your workplace? This session will look at how large and small communities are doing this, and will highlight simple ways for enhancing the recruitment process.

PANELISTS
Jennifer James is the undersecretary of the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development.
Tom Moses is the executive assistant in Hudson.
Evelyn Rivera-Riffenburg is human resources director in Amherst.
MODERATOR
John Mangiaratti is the town manager in Acton and co-chair of the Management Association’s Diversity and Inclusion Task Force.

• Is My Workforce Diverse Enough? – presentation by Tom Moses
• Town of Amherst Recruitment Strategy – presentation
• Overview of MassHire, Recruitment Resource for Business – presentation

Using Mindfulness to Increase Workplace Engagement and Effectiveness
Friday, 2-3:30 p.m., Room 205, 2nd floor, Hynes Convention Center
Presented by the Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association
Mindfulness, increasingly seen as a powerful tool to support brain health and to ward off toxic stress, can help municipal leaders and employees improve mental and physical health, cope with stress and reduce burnout, improve interpersonal communication, reduce unconscious bias, strengthen leadership qualities, and learn more effectively. This session will explore the science, benefits and practice of mindfulness and provide tools and strategies for strengthening the ability to meet the complexities of work and everyday life with intention, awareness, effectiveness and well-being.

PANELISTS
Brenda Fingold is the assistant director of workplace and leadership education at the Mindfulness Center at the Brown University School of Public Health.
MODERATOR
Sandy Sarni is an integrative nutrition specialist at MIIA.

• Using Mindfulness to Increase Workplace Engagement and Effectiveness – handout
• Using Mindfulness to Increase Workplace Engagement and Effectiveness – presentation