Municipal Government - Webinars - Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA)

Office of the Veteran Advocate (OVA): Resources Available to Municipalities and their Veterans

This webinar offers an introduction to the Office of the Veteran Advocate, highlighting ways the agency can support municipalities and providing examples of its work with the town of Ludlow. Recommended audience: chief municipal officials

Municipal OperationsWebinarfreePublication Date: Apr 30, 2025

AI Basics for Local Government

This webinar provides an introduction to using artificial intelligence in municipal work, reviewing generative AI and specific municipal applications. Recommended audience: All members

Municipal Policies and ProceduresWebinarfreePublication Date: Apr 17, 2025

Citizens Academies: How to Engage Your Communities

This webinar explores the positive impact of citizens academies on communities, offering key insights, best practices and lessons learned from local programs. Recommended audience: Communications officials, all members

Community EngagementWebinarfreePublication Date: Apr 09, 2025

Navigating Public Records and Open Meeting Laws

This webinar offers an overview of the state’s public records and open meeting laws, including legal requirements and common violations. Recommended audience: All members

Open Meeting, Public Records, Ethics LawsWebinarfreePublication Date: Mar 19, 2025

Empowering Town Boards and Committees: Best Practices for Select Boards

The Massachusetts Select Board Association discusses strategies for empowering town boards and committee members, including outreach and communication, interviewing and onboarding. Recommended audience: Select board members

Municipal GovernanceWebinarPublication Date: Mar 12, 2025

An Insider's Look at Town Meeting

The Massachusetts Select Board Association held a virtual workshop with the Massachusetts Moderators Association on Feb. 25 to discuss select board roles and responsibilities relative to town meetings. Recommended audience: Select board members, town moderators

Municipal GovernanceWebinarPublication Date: Feb 25, 2025

Mutual Aid During Crisis and Every Day: Severe Weather, Wildfire, and Emergency Medical Services

This webinar gives an overview of the critical importance of mutual aid efforts during wildfires and other disasters, the legal framework, and the various systems in place to ensure that communities have the help they need. Recommended audience: Chief municipal officials

Municipal OperationsWebinarfreePublication Date: Jan 16, 2025

Getting Ahead of and Combating Misinformation: Strategies for Effective Management

This webinar discusses strategies for local leaders to identify misinformation before it spreads, control misinformation that is circulating, and regain their message. Recommended audience: Communications officials, all members

Community EngagementWebinarfreePublication Date: Dec 10, 2024

Public Holiday Decorations in Your Community: Overview and Important Legal Considerations

This webinar reviews important legal considerations for municipal officials when making decisions on holiday displays and decorations. Recommended audience: All members

Municipal Policies and ProceduresWebinarfreePublication Date: Nov 18, 2024

First Amendment Audits: Practical Tips for Preparation

This webinar discusses how to prepare for “First Amendment audits,” report the interactions, and determine follow-up measures. Recommended audience: Public-facing municipal officials

Municipal Policies and ProceduresWebinarfreePublication Date: Oct 22, 2024

Foundations of Municipal Communications

This webinar focuses on the basics of municipal communications, including identifying audiences, crafting messaging, and selecting the best communication channels. Recommended audience: Communications officials, all members

Community EngagementWebinarfreePublication Date: Oct 15, 2024

Building Stronger Communities Through Civic Participation

This webinar discusses the roles of select board members in building stronger communities through civic participation. Recommended audience: Select board members

Community EngagementWebinarPublication Date: Sep 19, 2024

Mastering Municipal Branding: Best Practices and Benefits

This webinar offers insights and discusses challenges related to developing and using a new municipal brand, and how it can positively impact economic development. Recommended audience: Communications officials, chief municipal officials

Community EngagementWebinarfreePublication Date: Jun 12, 2024

Municipal Law 101 with Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane

This boot camp with the municipal law team at Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane reviews key regulatory concepts, including ethics, the public records law, and the open meeting law. Recommended audience: Chief municipal officials, select board members, councillors

Open Meeting, Public Records, Ethics LawsWebinarfreePublication Date: May 08, 2024

Promoting Civil Discourse at Town Meeting

This webinar reviews how to conduct meetings that promote civil public discourse by developing meeting rules, anticipating contentious issues, creating a climate for respectful deliberation, and managing disruptive behavior. Recommended audience: Town moderators, select board members

Municipal Policies and ProceduresWebinarfreePublication Date: May 02, 2024

Inspiring Climate Action: Effective Community Engagement

This webinar reviews best practices for engaging different populations in climate planning and adapting to community needs, as well as re-evaluating the effectiveness of efforts over time. Recommended audience: All members

Climate ChangeWebinarfreePublication Date: Apr 30, 2024

Parliamentary Procedure at Council Meetings: A Practitioner’s View

This MMCA webinar focuses on the rules and procedures that govern how a city council meeting operates, including the role of “Robert’s Rules of Order” and individual city council rules. Recommended audience: Councillors

Municipal Policies and ProceduresWebinarfreePublication Date: Apr 24, 2024

Conflict Conversations (Part 2): Practical Tips for Productive Dialogue

This webinar reviews how to have productive conversations amidst tension and volatility, including how to stay clear-headed, unbiased, and empathetic when emotions are high. Recommended audience: All members

Community EngagementWebinarfreePublication Date: Apr 02, 2024

Spring 2024 Legislative Briefing

This virtual briefing with the MMA's Legislative team reviews recent regulatory and legislative activity, including the state budget, Municipal Empowerment Act, PFAS regulations, road and bridge funding, housing bond bill, and more. Recommended audience: All members

Municipal GovernanceWebinarfreePublication Date: Mar 28, 2024

Digitizing Municipal Records: Guidelines for Getting Started

This webinar discusses how to build a sustainable document management strategy, prepare files for digitization, and best practices for digitization while complying with Records Conservation Board requirements. Recommended audience: Chief municipal officials, all members

Municipal Policies and ProceduresWebinarfreePublication Date: Mar 19, 2024

Empathy and Emotional Intelligence: The Customer Connectors

This webinar discusses how to leverage emotional intelligence to meet customer needs, defuse public anger, and disarm demeaning behavior while using active listening to build rapport and bolster the ability to express empathy. Recommended audience: All members

Municipal OperationsWebinarpaidPublication Date: Feb 14, 2024

Conflict Conversations: Empathetic Dialogue in Volatile Times

This webinar shares practical tips for fostering constructive dialogue in challenging times and provides insight into how a trauma response can affect communication. Recommended audience: All members

Community EngagementWebinarfreePublication Date: Jan 11, 2024

Flag Flying Policies and Requests: What Municipalities Need to Know

This webinar reviews the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Shurtleff v. City of Boston, best practices for municipal flag flying policies, and how to handle requests from third parties to fly flags. Recommendation audience: Chief municipal officials, select board members, councillors, all members

Municipal Policies and ProceduresWebinarfreePublication Date: Jan 03, 2024

Cannabis Compliance: Reviewing the New Regulatory Requirements for Host Communities

This webinar reviews the Cannabis Control Commission’s newly promulgated regulations and their impact on host communities.

Economic DevelopmentWebinarfreePublication Date: Dec 11, 2023

Form of Government FAQs

This webinar addresses common questions asked during a charter review or government study process, including CEO titles and positions that may be under consideration for changing from elected to appointed.

Municipal GovernanceWebinarfreePublication Date: Nov 29, 2023

Fall 2023 MMA Legislative Briefing

This briefing reviews the latest activity in the current legislative session, including the fiscal 2024 state budget, cannabis regulations, zoning compliance for MBTA communities, PFAS, and more.

Municipal GovernanceWebinarfreePublication Date: Nov 20, 2023

Running an Effective Meeting: How to Set Yourself Up for Success

This webinar covers best practices for agenda preparation, holding hybrid meetings, drafting meeting minutes, establishing expectations, and managing public hearings. Speakers: • Diane Kennedy, Advisory Committee Member and former Select Board Member, Cohasset • Michael Bettencourt, Select Board Member, Winchester • Attorney Karis North of Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane • Kim Roy, Assistant…

Municipal Policies and ProceduresWebinarfreePublication Date: Nov 15, 2023

Communication Foundations: Essential Skills for Setting Expectations and Delegating

This session explores how to send and receive messages effectively, including clearly communicating expectations, resetting expectations after communication failures, and best practices for delegation.

Municipal OperationsWebinarpaidPublication Date: Oct 17, 2023

Effective Constituent Communication: The Key to Fostering Public Engagement

This webinar explores the spectrum of engagement, how to effectively communicate with constituents, and customizing outreach according to your target audience.

Community EngagementWebinarfreePublication Date: Sep 26, 2023

Cannabis Compliance: Draft Regulations on Host Community Agreements

This webinar discusses the implications of the Cannabis Control Commission’s draft regulations on host community agreements and social equity.

Economic DevelopmentWebinarfreePublication Date: Aug 07, 2023

Public Records and Open Meeting Laws: An Open Forum with KP Law

This interactive webinar offers an extended opportunity for questions and answers about the state’s public records and open meeting laws.

Open Meeting, Public Records, Ethics LawsWebinarfreePublication Date: Jul 18, 2023

Regulating Comments at Public Meetings: De-Escalation Strategies for Uncivilized Discourse

This webinar shares practical tips for de-escalating public anger, including how to maintain composure and use constructive language, how to respond rather than react, and how the timing of communication makes a difference.

Municipal Policies and ProceduresWebinarfreePublication Date: Jun 12, 2023

Regulating Comments at Public Meetings: The Legal and Operational Perspective

This webinar gives an overview of the recent Supreme Judicial Court decision regarding public comment at local government meetings (Barron v. Kolenda) from a legal and operational perspective, and provides an update on MIIA’s code of conduct policy.

Municipal Policies and ProceduresWebinarfreePublication Date: Jun 05, 2023

Questions Every CEO Should Be Asking Their Assessing Department

The local assessing function was the topic of a Massachusetts Municipal Management Association webinar on May 18 led by Chris Wilcock, bureau chief of local assessment at the Division of Local Services.

Municipal OperationsWebinarfreePublication Date: May 18, 2023

Public Records and Open Meeting Laws: Recent Developments Concerning Municipalities

This webinar discusses each law in the context of municipal government, as well as practical considerations for municipalities given the March 2o23 Supreme Judicial Court decision regarding public comment at meetings of government bodies.

Open Meeting, Public Records, Ethics LawsWebinarfreePublication Date: Apr 25, 2023

Coping With Conflict: Internal Resolution Strategies webinar

This webinar highlights strategies for effective internal conflict management, including in the municipal workplace and within volunteer committees and councils, and for negating its negative effects and maintaining a positive and healthy work culture.

Municipal OperationsWebinarfreePublication Date: Mar 28, 2023

Best Practices for Using Social Media in Municipal Government

This webinar showcases how to use social media as a tool to communicate and engage with communities, while complying with legal requirements.

Community EngagementWebinarfreePublication Date: Mar 07, 2023

Resident Engagement: Best Practices for Municipalities

This webinar presents best practices for engaging residents in municipal decision-making processes and coordinating equitable efforts across the Commonwealth.

Community EngagementWebinarfreePublication Date: Feb 21, 2023

Managing Municipal Meetings: Guidelines for Facilitating Effectively

This webinar reviews guidelines for effective public meeting facilitation, including how to assemble an agenda, manage time efficiently, and respond to unruly attendees in cases where a meeting becomes emotionally charged.

Municipal Policies and ProceduresWebinarfreePublication Date: Feb 07, 2023

First Amendment Audits: How to Keep Calm and Respond

This webinar offers an overview of First Amendment audits and how to prepare for one, including strategies for calmly communicating with auditors, reporting the interaction, and determining follow-up measures.

Municipal Policies and ProceduresWebinarfreePublication Date: Jan 10, 2023

Host Community Agreements and Municipalities: Cannabis Law Update

This webinar covers how a wide-ranging cannabis law enacted in 2022 is likely to affect host community agreements and community impact fees, as well as how municipalities can best position themselves in the changing environment.

Economic DevelopmentWebinarfreePublication Date: Nov 09, 2022

Municipal Conflict Management

This webinar covers effective conflict management and de-escalation strategies that local officials can use to reduce tensions that can arise with constituents.

Municipal GovernanceWebinarfreePublication Date: Nov 02, 2022

Trends in Municipal Charter Change

A Massachusetts Select Board Association webinar on Oct. 14 covered trends in municipal charter and bylaw changes.

Municipal GovernanceWebinarPublication Date: Oct 14, 2022

MSA Legislative Recap

The MMA legislative team provided a recap of the 2022 legislative session, as well as an in-depth discussion of some issues of particular importance to select boards.

Municipal OperationsWebinarPublication Date: Sep 09, 2022

MMA Legislative Recap

Members of the MMA’s Legislative Division covered key items that passed (or didn’t), as well as what’s on the horizon. They also answered questions from members.

Municipal OperationsWebinarPublication Date: Aug 18, 2022

Municipal Risk Management 101

Presented by the Massachusetts Municipal Management Association and the Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association, this webinar focuses on how to identify, monitor and address risks in municipalities.

Municipal GovernmentWebinarPublication Date: Jun 21, 2022

Technology and Staffing Needs for Virtual and Hybrid Public Meetings

A Massachusetts Select Board Association webinar discussed the technology and staffing resources required for municipalities to run successful virtual and hybrid meetings.

Municipal OperationsWebinarPublication Date: Jun 15, 2022

Cybersecurity for Councillors

Presented by the Massachusetts Municipal Councillors' Association

Municipal GovernmentWebinarPublication Date: Apr 21, 2022

Building a Culture of Cybersecurity: Minimum Baseline for Municipalities

2022 MMA Annual Meeting and Trade Show webinar: This panel examined ransomware and provided guidance and resources to address it.

Municipal GovernmentWebinarPublication Date: Feb 14, 2022

Municipal Law Update

2022 MMA Annual Meeting and Trade Show webinar: Municipal attorneys brought attendees up to speed on important developments in municipal law as they relate to Massachusetts cities and towns, in areas such as land use and zoning, municipal finance and taxation, public governance, and other areas with significant developments.

Municipal OperationsWebinarPublication Date: Jan 31, 2022

Municipal Strategies for Online and In-Person Engagement

2022 MMA Annual Meeting and Trade Show webinar: Attendees learned about programs and platforms being used to disseminate important information, new strategies developed to provide opportunities for online engagement and participation, and steps to bring communities back together for safe in-person connection.

Community EngagementWebinarPublication Date: Jan 26, 2022

Home Rule: Why You Should Care About It

Presented by Massachusetts Municipal Management Association

Municipal GovernanceWebinarPublication Date: Sep 17, 2021

The Rules of Engagement: Promoting Civility and Productivity in Council Meetings

Presented by the Massachusetts Municipal Councillors’ Association

Municipal OperationsWebinarPublication Date: Sep 14, 2021

Future of Public Meetings

Presented by the Massachusetts Select Board Association

Municipal OperationsWebinarPublication Date: Jul 28, 2021

Ask the Experts: Open Meeting and Public Records Laws, and Municipal Finance

Presented by the Massachusetts Select Board Association

Open Meeting, Public Records, Ethics LawsWebinarPublication Date: Jul 14, 2021

How to Harness and Develop Volunteer Energy

Presented by Association of Town Finance Committees

Community EngagementWebinarPublication Date: May 19, 2021

Code of Conduct for Town Boards and Committees

Presented by the Massachusetts Select Board Association and the Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association

Municipal Policies and ProceduresWebinarPublication Date: May 12, 2021

Diversity and Immigration

Presented by the Massachusetts Municipal Councillors’ Association

Community EngagementWebinarPublication Date: Nov 19, 2020

Open Meeting and Public Records Laws 101

Massachusetts Select Board Association’s annual Leadership Conference series

Open Meeting, Public Records, Ethics LawsWebinarPublication Date: Jul 15, 2020

Practical Guide to Town Meetings and Elections During COVID-19

Presented by the Massachusetts Municipal Select Board Association and the Association of Town Finance Committees

Municipal OperationsWebinarPublication Date: Jun 03, 2020

Common Challenges Faced by Municipal Government

Massachusetts Select Board Association’s annual Leadership Conference series

Open Meeting, Public Records, Ethics LawsWebinarPublication Date: May 20, 2020

Common Challenges Faced by Municipal Government

Massachusetts Select Board Association’s Annual Leadership Conference series

Municipal Policies and ProceduresWebinarPublication Date: May 20, 2020

Managing During Difficult Times

Presented by the Massachusetts Municipal Management Association and the Massachusetts Municipal Human Resources association

Labor and PersonnelWebinarPublication Date: Apr 09, 2020

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Numbers to Narrative: How to Visually Communicate Your Municipal Budget

Creating Clear Guidelines for Responsible AI Implementation

AI in Action: Practical Use Cases for Municipal Departments

The Power of Context: Setting the Foundation for AI

Maximize Your Funding With Syncurrent

Digital Accessibility Awareness for Municipalities

Cybersecurity for Municipalities

Strategic Communications for Local Government

Foundations of Crisis Communications

Municipal Legal Updates: Summer 2025

Introduction to Developing Municipal Financial Policies

Open Forum With KP Law: Navigating Public Records and Open Meeting Laws

Demystifying DEI: Legal DEI Practices and How to Apply Them to Your Community

Office of the Veteran Advocate (OVA): Resources Available to Municipalities and their Veterans

AI Basics for Local Government

Citizens Academies: How to Engage Your Communities

Navigating Public Records and Open Meeting Laws

Empowering Town Boards and Committees: Best Practices for Select Boards

An Insider's Look at Town Meeting

Mutual Aid During Crisis and Every Day: Severe Weather, Wildfire, and Emergency Medical Services

Getting Ahead of and Combating Misinformation: Strategies for Effective Management

Public Holiday Decorations in Your Community: Overview and Important Legal Considerations

First Amendment Audits: Practical Tips for Preparation

Foundations of Municipal Communications

Building Stronger Communities Through Civic Participation

Mastering Municipal Branding: Best Practices and Benefits

Municipal Law 101 with Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane

Promoting Civil Discourse at Town Meeting

Inspiring Climate Action: Effective Community Engagement

Parliamentary Procedure at Council Meetings: A Practitioner’s View

Conflict Conversations (Part 2): Practical Tips for Productive Dialogue

Spring 2024 Legislative Briefing

Digitizing Municipal Records: Guidelines for Getting Started

Empathy and Emotional Intelligence: The Customer Connectors

Conflict Conversations: Empathetic Dialogue in Volatile Times

Flag Flying Policies and Requests: What Municipalities Need to Know

Cannabis Compliance: Reviewing the New Regulatory Requirements for Host Communities

Form of Government FAQs

Fall 2023 MMA Legislative Briefing

Running an Effective Meeting: How to Set Yourself Up for Success

Communication Foundations: Essential Skills for Setting Expectations and Delegating

Effective Constituent Communication: The Key to Fostering Public Engagement

Cannabis Compliance: Draft Regulations on Host Community Agreements

Public Records and Open Meeting Laws: An Open Forum with KP Law

Regulating Comments at Public Meetings: De-Escalation Strategies for Uncivilized Discourse

Regulating Comments at Public Meetings: The Legal and Operational Perspective

Questions Every CEO Should Be Asking Their Assessing Department

Public Records and Open Meeting Laws: Recent Developments Concerning Municipalities

Coping With Conflict: Internal Resolution Strategies webinar

Best Practices for Using Social Media in Municipal Government

Resident Engagement: Best Practices for Municipalities

Managing Municipal Meetings: Guidelines for Facilitating Effectively

First Amendment Audits: How to Keep Calm and Respond

Host Community Agreements and Municipalities: Cannabis Law Update

Municipal Conflict Management

Trends in Municipal Charter Change

MSA Legislative Recap

MMA Legislative Recap

Municipal Risk Management 101

Technology and Staffing Needs for Virtual and Hybrid Public Meetings

Cybersecurity for Councillors

Building a Culture of Cybersecurity: Minimum Baseline for Municipalities

Municipal Law Update

Municipal Strategies for Online and In-Person Engagement

Home Rule: Why You Should Care About It

The Rules of Engagement: Promoting Civility and Productivity in Council Meetings

Future of Public Meetings

Ask the Experts: Open Meeting and Public Records Laws, and Municipal Finance

How to Harness and Develop Volunteer Energy

Code of Conduct for Town Boards and Committees

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