The Municipal Advocate, the MMA’s quarterly magazine, presents in-depth articles about important and timely municipal issues, such as budgeting, technology, management, and legal issues. An emphasis is placed on innovative solutions and problem-solving strategies.

Here are articles from recent issues:

Vol. 30, No. 2 – Climate Change

• Especially Vulnerable Cape Towns Act Regionally on Climate Change

• Municipalities on the Frontline of Climate Change: What COVID-19 Has Taught Us About Resiliency

• MVP: Preparing the Commonwealth’s Communities for Climate Change

• Statewide Network Thinks Globally and Acts Locally to Battle Climate Change

• Thousands of North Shore Structures Threatened by Flooding Within 10 Years, Report Finds

• Law: Municipal Adaptations, Collaborations Are Key to Community Resilience

 

Vol. 30, No. 1 – Age-Friendly Communities: Strategies for Success

• Around the State: Local Age-Friendly Efforts Provide Models for Success

• Age-Friendly Massachusetts: What It Is and Why It Matters

• Q&A: Experts Explain Age- and Dementia-Friendly Movements in Massachusetts

• Dementia-Friendly Movement Seeks to Move People Out of the Shadows

• Law: Joint Powers Entities Present New Opportunities for Intergovernmental Collaboration

 

Vol. 29, No. 4 – Recycling and solid waste

• Around the State: Hamilton and Wenham Are Leaders in Curbside Composting

• Recycling Shakeup Presents Challenges, But It’s Still the Right Thing to Do

• One of the Original Recyclables, Textiles Present an Opportunity to Cut Solid Waste

• Product Stewardship Can Save Money While Improving Environmental Outcomes

• Nearly 100 Communities Have Taken Action to Reduce Plastic Bag Waste

• Law: Tips for Negotiating Municipal Recycling Contracts in Changing Marketplace

 

Vol. 29, No. 3 – Transportation Infrastructure

• Around the State: Becket Injects Longevity Into Paved Roads

• Without Chapter 90 Increase, Local Road Conditions Are Worsening

• Taking the Long View: Town Implements Twenty-Year Plan to Upgrade All Roads

• Transportation in an Era of Transition: Key Findings From Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation Report

• New Tool Helps Local Officials Initiate Infrastructure Projects and Identify Issues Well Before Work Begins

• Why Your City or Town Should Consider Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

• Law: SJC Decision Guides Open Meeting Law Compliance

 

Vol. 29, No. 2 – Education Finance

• Around the State: A Single Countywide School District? It Could Happen in the Berkshires

• The Duties of Public Education Have Grown Markedly in Recent Decades

• Two Decades Into Education Reform Effort, Commission Calls for Substantial Changes to Funding Formula

• The Charter School Funding Formula Is Broken—and Wreaking Havoc With Municipal Finances

• Law: A Massachusetts Employer’s Guide to Sexual Harassment Allegations in the Wake of #MeToo

 

Vol. 29, No. 1 – Pedestrian & Cyclist Safety

• Around the State: Framingham Makes Progress on Pedestrian Safety-One Step at a Time

• Safe Walking Is the Heart and Soul of a Livable, Vibrant Community

• Complete Streets Guidance for Communities From Urban to Rural

• Context Should Dictate Best Solutions for Protecting Cyclists

• Law: Filling Vacancies Requires Attention to Public Governance Statutes

 

Vol. 28, No. 4 – Social Media

• Around the State: Franklin Sees Results From Social Media Push to Connect With Residents, Businesses

• What Makes Some Local Governments So Successful at Social Media

• Considerations for a Municipal Social Media Policy

• Now Trending: #CityHall on Social Media

• Law: To Tweet or Not to Tweet? Social Media, Public Records and the Open Meeting Law

 

Vol. 28, No. 3 – Municipal Insurance Strategies

• Overexposed: Thinking Through All Angles of Local Liability

• Top 10 Health Insurance Cost Management Strategies

• Wellness With Impact: It Takes a Culture Shift to Affect Overall Health of Populations

• Avoiding Surprises Related to Injured-on-Duty Claims

• Protecting the Public and Officers: De-escalation Is Just One Component

• Training and Planning Can Help Staff Manage Tense Situations

• Law: State Law Sets Process for Cost-Saving Changes to Municipal Health Benefits

 

Vol. 28, No. 2 – Cross-Sector Collaboration

• Sustainable Approaches to Public Problem-Solving Require Intuitive Thinking—and Collaboration

• Collaborative Leadership Is Focus of Boston Fed’s Working Cities Challenge

• Ambitious Project Seeks to Change Lawrence’s Path—and That of Its Residents

• Collaborating to Transform Gateway Cities

• Rural County Has Proven Track Record With Cross-Sector Collaboration

• Law: Public-Private Partnerships Offer Alternative Model for Water Infrastructure Projects

 

Vol. 28, No. 1 – Water Infrastructure

• Around the State: Town Employs Green Technologies To Reduce Stormwater Impact

• Our Aging Water Infrastructure Is Buried, But Must Not Be Forgotten

• Making the Case for Water Infrastructure Investments

• Support Runs Deep for Land Conservation to Benefit Drinking Water

• Region-Wide Response to Pollution Uses Blend of Emerging Technologies

• Anaerobic Digestion Is a Viable Option for Managing Wastewater Residuals

• Law: SJC Allows Municipalities to Create Sewer Banks

 

Vol. 27, No. 4 – Economic Development

• Around the State: Manufacturing Remains Central in Pittsfield

• Marlborough Economic Development Corporation Works to ‘Expand the Pie’

• Rebuilding Gateway Cities Is Key to State’s Economic Future

• Business Incubators: Tools for Local Enterprise Development

• All Economies Are Local: A Jobs and Growth Strategy for Cities and Towns

• Law: Getting Ready for a Brighter Economic Development Forecast in 2014

 

Vol. 27, No. 3 – Information Technology

• Westford Takes Service-First Approach to Technology Investments

• Technology’s Dark Side: Yes, a Data Breach Could Happen to Your Community

• Common Municipal IT Mistakes, and How to Address Them

• Commonwealth Connect Empowers Residents and Municipal Staff

• Law: Public Records, Electronic Documents and Traps for the Unwary

 

Vol. 27, No. 2 – Transportation

• Transportation: Where We’ve Been, Where We Are, and Why It Matters

• What Is the Cost of Doing Nothing? For Economy, It Could Be Huge

• Chapter 90: Making a Difference Where the Rubber Meets the Road

• Investing in Pavement Management Can Improve Roads, Save Money

• Law: How to Complete a Successful Public Works Project in Three Steps

 

Vol. 27, No. 1 – Municipal Libraries

• Libraries Continue Their Evolution to Meet Changing Needs

• Libraries Are Well-Positioned to Help Job Seekers

• With Demand Growing, Libraries Face Fiscal Pressure

• Building Hope: Public Library Construction in Massachusetts

• Building and Maintaining Community Support Is Key to Library Survival

• Trial Court Law Libraries Ready to Provide Answers

 

Vol. 26, No. 4 – Energy Strategies

• With Solar Surge, Massachusetts Is Now a Sunshine State

• State Program Helps Cities, Towns Cut Costs While Going Green

• New Group Is Tool for Municipal Energy Management

• Power Is Money: Municipal Opportunities in the Deregulated Electricity Marketplace

• Law: Examining the Rules and Risks Surrounding Procurement of Renewable Energy Facilities

 

Vol. 26, No. 3 – Emergency Preparedness and Response

• Around the State: After Storm, Municipal Light Plants Shone

• Wind-Blown City Rallies to Recover From Tornado

• Continuity of Operations: A Guide for Local Governments

• Higher Seas, Fiercer Storms Create Challenges for Cities and Towns

• Technology Must Be a Central Part of Emergency Management Planning

 

Vol. 26, No. 2 – The Census and Changing Demographics

• Demographic Changes Tell a Story of Opportunity

• Correcting Census Counts Can Mean Dollars for Cities, Towns

• How the Census and Other Data Can Be Used to Inform Local Initiatives

• Communities Must Be Ready to Meet Changing Human Service Needs

 

Vol. 26, No. 1 – Civic Engagement and Civil Discourse

• A Civic Calling: The Municipal Leader’s Role in Rebuilding Trust in Government

• (Un)civil Discourse: Local Officials Share Their Strategies for Dealing With Bloggers, Commenters, and Other Harsh Critics

• COS 2.0: Changing the Way We Do Public Business

• Creating a Civil Dialogue: With Employees, Departments and the Public

• Law: Can Municipalities Afford Not to Mediate?

 

Vol. 25, No. 4 – Healthy Communities

• Municipal Leaders Can Help to Create Healthy Communities

• Community Design Can Improve Health, Environment and Local Economy

• How Somerville Became ‘The Fittest City in America’

• A Rural, Regional Approach to Building Healthy Communities

• Law: Is There a ‘Smarter’ Way to Build Affordable Housing in Massachusetts?

 

Vol. 25, No. 3 – Regionalization

• Around the State: Regional Dispatch Becoming Reality on North Shore

• Regionalization Can Preserve Essential Services and Streamline Service Delivery

• It’s Time to Take Another Look at Collaboration

• Mayor Urges Local Leaders to ‘Think Differently’ in Pursuit of Collaboration

• Regionalization: Fairy Tales and Scary Bedtime Stories

• Law: The Legal Aspects of Regionalizing Municipal Services

 

Vol. 25, No. 2 – Municipal Law Update

• Local Officials Must Be Prepared for Changes to Open Meeting Law

• Recovering and Preserving Public Records in the Age of Electronic Documents

• Blogs, Social Networks and the First Amendment: Public Employers Retain Certain Rights to Take Action Based on Online Speech

• Communities Should Examine Civil Service Promotional and Layoff Strategies to Avoid Discrimination Claims

• Communities Can Benefit From a Plan to Manage Municipal Real Estate

 

Vol. 25, No. 1 – Risk Management

• Preserving Dollars With Risk Management

• Anticipating Risk and Planning Response

• Planning for the Unexpected: Maintaining Key Operations During a Pandemic

• Appropriate Care—and Encouraging Healthy Choices—Can Put a Dent in Workers’ Comp and Health Costs

• Law: Strategies for Avoiding Employment Retaliation Claims

 

Vol. 24, No. 4 – Leadership in Challenging Times

• Mayor Sees Outreach As Pathway Through Fiscal Challenges

• Drawing Inspiration From Dr. Seuss: Now Is the Time to Revisit His Lessons on Leadership

• Nothing Stays the Same: Leadership Techniques To Empower People During Change Initiatives

• In Face of Staff Cuts, Cities and Towns Need a New Management Roadmap

 

Vol. 24, No. 3 – Savings and Efficiency

• Around the State: Town Uses Data to Back Money-Saving Decisions

• City Looks to Savings, Efficiency to Persevere in Troubled Times

• A Civil Union: How a Town Government and Schools Consolidated Functions, With Benefits for Both

• How Does a Town Sustain Itself? Tyngsborough Examines Path to the Future

• Local Governments Respond to Fiscal Challenges