Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
The Massachusetts Municipal Management Association will hold its annual spring conference on June 2 and 3 at the Beauport Hotel in Gloucester.
The program registration deadline is May 23, and the cancellation deadline is May 27. (See registration link at bottom of page.)
Hotel rooms
The Beauport Hotel has sold out for these dates, but there are two hotels nearby with availability June 1-3. The Ocean House Hotel at Bass Rocks (www.oceanhousegloucester.com) is a 10-minute drive from the Beauport and features updated rooms with ocean views. The Cape Ann Marina Hotel (capeannmarina.com) is a 4-minute drive from the Beauport and sits on the Annisquam River, in a working marina.
COVID protocols
For this in-person event, the MMA will provide on-site COVID testing for all attendees, who must test negative to participate. Due to this testing protocol, masks will not be required. On the day of the event, attendees also must show proof of being fully vaccinated for COVID (card, photo or QR code). (Religious or medical vaccine exemptions are allowed with a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours.) Personal guests attending the dinner must also show proof of vaccine and take a rapid COVID test on site.
Thursday, June 2
8 a.m.
Conference Registration, Breakfast
9:45 a.m.
Conference Welcome
• Bud Dunham, Sandwich Town Manager and MMMA President
10 a.m.-11:45 a.m.
Proactive Leadership in Turbulent Times: Where Do We Go from Here?
• Michael Stuart, MIIA EAP Program Director
• Katie Gilfeather, MIIA EAP Clinician
There has never been a shortage of challenges with leading municipal operations, and the past two years have significantly added to the challenge. You have faced and endured significant complexities from an intersection of situations including the pandemic, political and social unrest, and a sudden disruption in workplace operations and employee perspective on work. This culminated in a prolonged period of anger, fear, vulnerability, uncertainty, and confusion that impacted, and continues to impact, the municipal workplace. Over this time, MIIA’s EAP provider, AllOne Health, has worked closely with municipal leaders and employees. This session will focus on recognizing what was experienced over the past two years; increasing understanding and awareness of the professional and personal impact; and reviewing strategies and best practices as we move forward. Attendees can expect to have a clear understanding of the scope and depth of changes that have increased our leadership challenges and to learn from the presenters and their colleagues best practices and strategies for moving forward based on the concept that challenges are most likely to continue.
11:45 a.m.-1 p.m.
Lunch
1-2 p.m.
Morning program continued
2:15-2:30 p.m.
Break
2:15-3:30 p.m.
How to Be Happier At Work
• Kate Fitzpatrick, Town Manager, Needham
What does resilience look like for you? How can you build individual resiliency and become happier at work? Participants will have an opportunity to create a plan of action developed after examining where they are in the resiliency journey.
Evening Event
Dinner is at the Gloucester House Restaurant (63 Rogers St.), a casual, rustic spot that will provide plenty of room for conversation along with dinner. Arrive anytime after 5:30 p.m. Appetizers will be served at 6 p.m. and the dinner buffet will begin shortly thereafter. The restaurant is a half mile from the hotel and an easy walk, but parking is available for anyone who prefers to drive. All attendees and guests are welcome, but must pre-register and adhere to the COVID testing guidelines.
Friday, June 3
7:45-9:30 a.m.
Breakfast Buffet
8-9 a.m.
Executive Committee Meeting
9:15-10 a.m.
MMA Update
• Geoff Beckith, MMA Executive Director
10-10:15 a.m.
MMMA Budget Presentation
• Jim Boudreau, MMMA Secretary Treasurer
10:15-10:30 a.m.
Division of Local Services
Sean Cronin, Senior Deputy Commissioner of Local Services
With DLS Gateway being the primary interface between DLS and municipal officials, Cronin would like to engage in a conversation about how it could be of better use for town managers/administrators
10:30-10:45 a.m.
ICMA Update
Tricia Vinchesi, Northeast Director, ICMA
10:45-noon
Labor Law and Contract Update (Executive Session for MMMA members only)
• D. Moschos, Seder Law
This session will focus on recent labor cases as well as provide an update on contract issues.
Moderator: Tony Mazzucco, General Manager, Norwood
Noon
Lunch
Boxed lunches may be eaten in the dining room or taken to go.
Location
Beauport Hotel, Gloucester
Contact
MMA Senior Member Services Coordinator Denise Baker, dbaker@mma.org
Massachusetts Municipal Management Association