Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
The MMA released its first annual municipal “best practices” report at its Annual Meeting on Jan. 22 and 23.
The 24-page report describes 14 strategies for improving efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of municipal services and administration of municipal government. Topics range from municipal finance and human resources to standards for public works, economic development and environmental practices.
“I feel we have a primary duty as elected officials and town managers to pursue the implementation of best practices,” said Orleans Selectman David Dunford, who concluded his one-year term as president of the MMA on Jan. 23. “Who benefits from this? Our towns and cities directly, our citizens and constituents, the stature and perception of elected officials, and ourselves, through personal fulfillment and achievement.”
The best practices featured in the report were compiled by the members of the MMA’s five policy committees, which include more than 100 local officials from across the state. Over the next few months, policy committee members will be choosing new best practice topics for discussion this year, to be presented in Volume 2 at next year’s MMA Annual Meeting. The committees are currently seeking suggestions from local officials across the state.
“This initiative is particularly important to assist us all in managing what we oversee in the most cost-effective and efficient ways possible, reflecting the best in state-of-the-art management practices,” Dunford said to MMA members at the Annual Meeting.
The best practices are available in a new special area of the MMA website.