MMA recognizes 9 towns for excellence in their annual report

Oak Bluffs, Needham and Topsfield took the top prize in their respective categories in the MMA’s Annual Town Report Contest.

Local officials from nine communities, including second- and third-place finishers, were presented with their awards at the MMA Annual Meeting on Jan. 25.

Contest judges considered layout and design, quantity and depth of information, organization, originality, and overall usefulness of the report to residents.

The winners are:

Category 1 (Population 12,500-plus)
1st: Needham
2nd: Arlington
3rd: Concord

Category 2 (Population 5,000-12,499)
1st: Topsfield
2nd: Ashburnham
3rd: Weston

Category 3 (Population below 5,000)
1st: Oak Bluffs
2nd: Rowe
3rd: Stockbridge

The contest was judged by James Merriam, the former town administrator in Harwich, and Ashley Shea, the manager of communications, outreach and special projects at the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission.