Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
The Association of Town Finance Committees wrapped up its three-part Annual Meeting webinar series on Nov. 12.
The final session focused on K-12 school operations and the Student Opportunity Act, with Russell Johnston, senior associate commissioner at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and Tim Piwowar, superintendent of schools in Billerica and president of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents. The pair discussed the measures being taken to keep students and schools safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
When asked by moderator and ATFC President Brian Boyle what finance committee members can do to improve communication to residents, Piwowar answered, “Stay away from Facebook!” He explained that relying on social media for information distribution and important policy discussions is a mistake. He encouraged regular communication with the superintendent, town manager, school committee members and select boards.
Johnston advised finance committee members to “operate from a place of confidence and not fear.” He advises local officials to make data-driven decisions that are based in science.
The ATFC held previous Annual Meeting sessions on Oct. 22 and 27.
The Oct. 22 meeting featured a legislative and budget update from MMA Legislative Director John Robertson and a budgeting presentation by Northborough Town Administrator John Coderre.
Several Division of Local Services bureau chiefs joined Senior Deputy Commissioner Sean Cronin on Oct. 27 for an overview of DLS operations and the assistance available.
More than 130 attendees took part in the first-ever virtual Annual Meeting. All sessions were recorded and were made available to registrants.
Swampscott Finance Committee Member Mary Ellen Fletcher joined the association’s Board of Directors during the business meeting, held on Oct. 22, and former Wilbraham Finance Committee Member Carolyn Brennan left the board after four years of service, including this past year as first vice president.