MGFOA

Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Warren Conference Center, Ashland MA

8:30-9:00 AM Meeting Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:00-10:15  Lt Governor Karyn Polito and DLS Senior Deputy Commissioner Sean Cronin release the Local Government Workforce Skills Gap Report

Cities and towns across Massachusetts are facing the on-going challenge of staff retirements.  The loss of skilled and dedicated professionals impacts all facets of local government from financial management to the basic delivery of services.  To proactively and collaboratively address this issue, the Lieutenant Governor has convened a state-local working group tasked with providing recommendations in order to attract and foster the next generation of municipal leaders and financial management officials.  The group explored both changes needed to recruit future municipal officials and alternative service delivery models that could offer municipalities options for how to best perform financial management operations and general municipal management functions.  MGFOA, MCTA, MMAAA and MMA all were involved in the process.  The Lt. Governor, Sean Cronin from DLS and Katie McCue from MMA will be on hand for release of the report

10:15-10:30 Break & Maine Municipal Recruiting Videos

10:30-11:20 Amherst form of Government change from a Town Meeting to council/manager form of government - Learn what issues led Amherst to make this decision and what was involved in the process – Speakers TBA.

11:25-12:45 MMA Legislative Update (an update of budget and finance issues as well as a wide variety of human resource issues that will have an impact on local finances, including the new pay equity law).  – John Robertson, Legislative Director and Lisa Adams, MMA Labor Relations Staff

12:45 Lunch

1:15 Election of new officers.

The Warren Center (www.warrencenter.com) is a Conference Center and Inn located in Ashland Massachusetts it is run by Framingham State University.

Directions

From Boston & Logan Airport
Follow signs to downtown Boston via Sumner Tunnel. Bear right upon exiting the tunnel and follow signs to Route 93 South. (Bear right out of tunnel, then a U-turn left). Follow Route 93 South for 1 mile, exit right on Route 90 West – Mass Pike. Proceed on the Mass Pike West to exit #12 (Framingham Route 9). Now follow directions from exit #12 below.

From Points West
Proceed on the Mass Pike East (Route 90) to exit #12 (Framingham Route 9). Now follow directions from exit #12 below.

From Points North or South Via Route 495
Proceed on Route 495 to exit 21A (West Main Street / Hopkinton). Proceed 1.6 miles to the center of Hopkinton. Continue through Hopkinton on Route 135 for 4.5 miles to the second set of traffic lights in Ashland and turn right onto Main Street. Proceed up a hill and turn right at the top onto Chestnut Street. Go 1.1 miles and The Warren Conference Center & Inn will be on your right.

From Points North or South Via Route 95/128
Proceed on Route 95/128 to Route 90 West (Mass Pike). Continue on the Mass Pike West to exit #12 (Framingham Route 9). Now follow directions from exit #12 below.

From Mass Pike exit #12
After toll take Route 9 East toward Framingham. Turn right at the first traffic light onto Country Club Lane (Jefferson Hills Apartments on right), you will start to see red WCC signs. Turn left onto Gates Street and proceed to your second stop sign. Turn right onto Badger Road (Church Conference Center on right). Stay on Badger Road 2.3 miles to the center of Ashland (General Store). Proceed through town, passing all traffic signals and continue up the hill. At the top of the hill turn right onto Chestnut Street. Go 1.1 miles and the Warren Conference Center & Inn will be on your right.