This past month I attended two almost day long programs designed to educate municipal officials. The state and the MMA both seek to assist local officials to learn how to do a better job.
- Massachusetts Selectman Association (part of the Massachusetts Municipal Association). There I got an update on legislation issues from the MMA’s executive director, heard from the Lt. Governor about their Community Compact initiative (Medfield will join), and attended workshops on budgeting and communicating.
- Massachusetts DOR’s Division of Local Services annual legal update, which DLS describes below – I opted for the OPEB workshop.
Local Officials Gather to Hear “What’s New in Municipal Law”
Municipal Finance Law Bureau
Over 400 local officials attended the 30th annual “What’s New in Municipal Law” seminars held on October 1, 2015 at The Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House in Holyoke and October 8th, 2015 at The Lantana in Randolph.
In the morning general sessions, they heard Municipal Finance Law Bureau attorneys Kathleen Colleary, Bureau Chief, Gary Blau, James Crowley, John Gannon, Donald Gorton and Patricia Hunt review new legislation and recent court and Appellate Tax Board cases. In the afternoon session, the attorneys led three workshops on (1) assessing condominiums and time-shares, and collecting personal property taxes, (2) adopting and amending municipal operating and capital budgets; and (3) negotiating and funding retiree post-employment benefits.
If you were not able to attend one of this year’s seminars, the morning presentation materials and afternoon workshop booklets are available on our website.
We look forward to seeing you at the 31st annual “What’s New in Municipal Law” seminar next fall. The dates to save are Thursday, September 29th, 2016 at The Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House in Holyoke and Thursday, October 6th, 2016 at The Lantana in Randolph.
