Written by The Massachusetts Municipal Councillors’ Association will hold a training session for all city and town councillors on Saturday, Nov. 16.
The free meeting will be held at Cyprian Keyes Golf Club in Boylston from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and includes lunch.
The program will begin with a session on municipal finance and budgeting, followed by an interactive zoning primer led by Watertown City Manager George Proakis.
This will be followed by a council operations session addressing the ins and outs of the councillor’s role, presented by a former Amherst Councillor Shalini Bahl and the clerk to the Council, Athena O’Keeffe, who are currently authoring a Handbook for the Amherst Town Council.
The day will begin with an MMA legislative and budget update.
Networking opportunities will be built into the program.
Agenda
8:15 – 9 a.m.
Registration, Breakfast, Networking
9 a.m.
Welcome and MMA Update
John McLaughlin, Waltham City Council President, MMCA and MMA President
Adam Chapdelaine, MMA Executive Director
9:30 a.m.
Finance and Budgeting Basics for Councillors
Every councillor plays an important role in the budget process. This will be an opportunity to learn from a seasoned expert and ask questions about your community’s budget.
Anna Freedman, Finance Director, Salem
Moderator: Brendan Sweeney, Beverly City Councillor and Boxford Assistant Town Administrator
10:30 – 10:45 a.m.
Break
10:45 – 11:45 a.m.
Ten Things You May Not Know About Zoning
George Proakis, City Manager, Watertown
11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Everything You Wish You Knew as a Councillor
This session will explore the ins and outs of being a councillor, including the basics of the legislative process.
Shalini Bahl, former Town Councillor, Amherst
Athena O’Keeffe, Clerk to the Council and Strategic Affairs and Legislative Affairs Officer, Amherst
12:45 p.m.
Lunch
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