The 2020 conference for newly elected local government leaders presented by the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM) will take place on Saturday, Jan. 11, from 9 a.m. to 3 p .m. in Cromwell at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel.
More than 90 new city and town leaders from nearly 50 municipalities across the state will gather for this free day-long workshop presented by the statewide association of towns and cities in Connecticut.
Here are key highlights from the January 11 conference.
The workshop sessions include presentations from recognized experts with lengthy experience covering three core local government subject areas:
- Fundamentals of Municipal Government presented by Matthew Knickerbocker, long-time first selectman of Bethel
- Freedom of Information Act/Meetings/Ethics presented by attorneys from the law firm of Murtha Cullina LLP
- Budget and Fiscal Management presented by Brandon Robertson, veteran town manager of Avon
The subject matter will be covered in three rotating sessions so that all attendees — new municipal CEOs, new legislative body members, and new Board of Finance members — receive tailored comprehensive training in each of these critical areas of municipal government.
The day will begin with remarks by Joe DeLong, Executive Director, CCM.
“These sessions, accompanied by the unique networking opportunities presented, will provide a critical introduction to the complexities of and resources available for effectively running a Connecticut local government in this new decade,” DeLong said.
The day-long program will also give leaders up-to-the-minute information on the state budget and the impact on each community; present CCM’s incisive 2020 General Assembly Forecast; and provide detailed background on unfunded state mandates and their impact on each town’s ability to provide services, fend off property tax increases, and stabilize its workforce. It is also an opportunity for new officials to meet each other and make connections with others who understand the intricacies of working in local government.
The Jan. 11 program provides a key opportunity for leaders to gain credits toward CCM’s Certified Connecticut Municipal Official (CCMO) designation. This workshop is good for 3 credit hours of Organizational Development that can be used towards completing certification.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
Locally, four elected officials from Seymour are giving up a Saturday to attend this forum:
Christopher Bowen, a member of the Seymour Board of Selectmen
Grace Brangwynne, an alternate on the Board of Finance
Kwame Dunbar, a member of the Seymour Board of Finance
Bettyann Peck, a member of the Seymour Board of Finance
