Business Meeting
Saturday, January 26, 2013
10:15-11:50 a.m.
Ballroom A, Hynes Convention Center, 3rd floor
At the MMA’s 2013 Annual Business Meeting, members will consider resolutions on the transportation finance crisis, the federal-local partnership, other post-employment benefits (OPEBs), and a local-state-federal partnership to protect the environment.
The four policy committees that drafted these resolutions are welcoming member comments through Dec. 30 so that committee members will be able to review any input before the Annual Business Meeting.
Each resolution was drafted by an MMA policy committee in October and reviewed and approved by the MMA Board of Directors on Nov. 13.
The MMA’s Policy Committee on Public Works, Transportation and Public Utilities has proposed a Resolution Calling for Solutions to the Transportation Finance Crisis. Given the importance of the transportation infrastructure to economic competitiveness as well as public safety, the resolution calls for “a stable, broad-based revenue structure that is adequate to support and maintain our roads, bridges, highways, bicycle and pedestrian accommodations, and transit systems.” The resolution opposes federal budget cuts targeted at highway and transit programs and calls for a higher level of state support for the Chapter 90 local road and bridge program.
The MMA’s Fiscal Policy Committee has proposed a Resolution Calling for a Full Local-Federal Partnership to Protect the United States Economy, Preserve Essential Services for Citizens, and Ensure the Fiscal Health of the Cities and Towns of the Commonwealth. The resolution calls on Congress and the president to “only enact policy that carefully balances the priority of long-term deficit reduction with the priority of partnering with local government to create strong cities and towns that can promote economic growth and job creation.” It calls for protection of such programs as Community Development Block Grants, Choice Neighborhoods, state and local law enforcement assistance grants, Community Oriented Policing Services, the Clean and Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, Title 1 and IDEA education funds, emergency preparedness and homeland security, and the Federal Transit Capital Investment Grants program.
The MMA’s Policy Committee on Personnel and Labor Relations has proposed a Resolution on the Urgent Need to Ensure Sustainability for Other Post-Employment Benefit Costs. The resolution calls for the state to “recognize the unaffordable OPEB liability that cities, towns and taxpayers are facing,” and provide a path to reform and sustainability. It also calls for municipalities to have options for managing OPEB costs, including investing funds when appropriate, but opposes any policy that would impose a prefunding requirement.
The MMA’s Policy Committee on Energy and the Environment has proposed a Resolution Supporting a Local-State-Federal Partnership to Protect the Environment. The resolution calls for state and federal agencies to “commit to a cooperative partnership with municipalities,” oppose unfunded mandates or preemption of municipal taxing authority, and conduct a municipal cost-benefit analysis as part of any proposed legislation or regulation. It also calls for a multi-year environmental bond bill to fund water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure improvements, a dam removal and repair bill, and the allocation of the $25 million Drinking Water Quality Act Authorization passed in 2008.
The policy committees ask all interested municipal officials to share their comments in advance of the MMA’s Annual Business Meeting. Comments can be submitted to the MMA, Attn: Legislative Division, 1 Winthrop Square, Boston, MA 02110, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
10:15-11:50 a.m.
Ballroom A, Hynes Convention Center, 3rd floor
At the MMA’s 2013 Annual Business Meeting, members will consider resolutions on the transportation finance crisis, the federal-local partnership, other post-employment benefits (OPEBs), and a local-state-federal partnership to protect the environment.The four policy committees that drafted these resolutions are welcoming member comments through Dec. 30 so that committee members will be able to review any input before the Annual Business Meeting.
Each resolution was drafted by an MMA policy committee in October and reviewed and approved by the MMA Board of Directors on Nov. 13.
The MMA’s Policy Committee on Public Works, Transportation and Public Utilities has proposed a Resolution Calling for Solutions to the Transportation Finance Crisis. Given the importance of the transportation infrastructure to economic competitiveness as well as public safety, the resolution calls for “a stable, broad-based revenue structure that is adequate to support and maintain our roads, bridges, highways, bicycle and pedestrian accommodations, and transit systems.” The resolution opposes federal budget cuts targeted at highway and transit programs and calls for a higher level of state support for the Chapter 90 local road and bridge program.
The MMA’s Fiscal Policy Committee has proposed a Resolution Calling for a Full Local-Federal Partnership to Protect the United States Economy, Preserve Essential Services for Citizens, and Ensure the Fiscal Health of the Cities and Towns of the Commonwealth. The resolution calls on Congress and the president to “only enact policy that carefully balances the priority of long-term deficit reduction with the priority of partnering with local government to create strong cities and towns that can promote economic growth and job creation.” It calls for protection of such programs as Community Development Block Grants, Choice Neighborhoods, state and local law enforcement assistance grants, Community Oriented Policing Services, the Clean and Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, Title 1 and IDEA education funds, emergency preparedness and homeland security, and the Federal Transit Capital Investment Grants program.
The MMA’s Policy Committee on Personnel and Labor Relations has proposed a Resolution on the Urgent Need to Ensure Sustainability for Other Post-Employment Benefit Costs. The resolution calls for the state to “recognize the unaffordable OPEB liability that cities, towns and taxpayers are facing,” and provide a path to reform and sustainability. It also calls for municipalities to have options for managing OPEB costs, including investing funds when appropriate, but opposes any policy that would impose a prefunding requirement.
The MMA’s Policy Committee on Energy and the Environment has proposed a Resolution Supporting a Local-State-Federal Partnership to Protect the Environment. The resolution calls for state and federal agencies to “commit to a cooperative partnership with municipalities,” oppose unfunded mandates or preemption of municipal taxing authority, and conduct a municipal cost-benefit analysis as part of any proposed legislation or regulation. It also calls for a multi-year environmental bond bill to fund water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure improvements, a dam removal and repair bill, and the allocation of the $25 million Drinking Water Quality Act Authorization passed in 2008.
The policy committees ask all interested municipal officials to share their comments in advance of the MMA’s Annual Business Meeting. Comments can be submitted to the MMA, Attn: Legislative Division, 1 Winthrop Square, Boston, MA 02110, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
- Proposed Resolution Calling for a Full Local-Federal Partnership to Protect the United States Economy, Preserve Essential Services for Citizens, and Ensure the Fiscal Health of the Cities and Towns of the Commonwealth
- Proposed Resolution on the Urgent Need to Ensure Sustainability for Other Post-Employment Benefit Costs
- Proposed Resolution Supporting a Local-State-Federal Partnership to Protect the Environment
- Proposed Resolution Calling for Solutions to the Transportation Finance Crisis
- Voting at the MMA Annual Business Meeting
