Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
MMA Legislative Director David Baier on Sept. 23 was named the winner of the Massachusetts Municipal Personnel Association’s Emil Skop Award, which recognizes contributions made in the field of municipal human resources management.
Baier began work in the MMA’s Legislative Division in February 1982, and six years later he was appointed legislative director. He has advocated for municipalities for the past 28 years, particularly in the areas of labor and personnel.
“His expertise, historical knowledge, and advice have proven critical to the MMPA’s success,” said Concord Human Resources Administrator Amy Foley during the award presentation. “David is our warrior when it comes to labor and personnel issues. … He has been our point person for formulating policy in collective bargaining, civil service, employee benefits, pension reform, and more.”
In addition to being the MMA staff person for the association’s Policy Committee on Personnel and Labor Relations, Baier regularly attends MMPA meetings, where he provides updates about legislative developments and labor issues in the courts.
“David is quick to clue us in when there is a bill being debated that we should be aware of, or to ask a member to testify when a matter of importance is being deliberated in Boston,” Foley said. “Many colleagues are amazed by David’s ability to garner respect [from adversaries] as he fights the most heated battles on our behalf.”
Baier, she said, is known for his “sixth sense” about which bills could gain momentum and which will simply fade away. He has worked tirelessly to oppose compulsory binding arbitration for municipal labor contracts, a priority of firefighters’ unions, and to advocate for municipal health insurance reform.
Baier is a U.S. Army veteran and, in the late 1960s, was assigned to an Army Security Agency unit in West Berlin, Germany, which he consistently describes as “the outpost of freedom in a sea of communism” at that time.
A native of St. Louis, Mo., Baier and his wife, Linda, lived in Natick for many years, where they raised two daughters. He and his wife recently moved to Plymouth. He is a history buff who loves golf, the Boston Red Sox, and political debates.
Emil Skop, for whom the award is named, was one of the founding members of the MMPA and served as its first executive secretary. He is remembered for his efforts and dedication to the field of human resources.