Please note, during the registration process, you may select your workshop preference. This is not a seat reservation.
Session A - 9:45am to 10:45am
Inclusive Service Delivery: Reaching More Residents, Having More Impact, and Saving Money
Learn how delivering municipal services with the intent of being inclusive will reach more citizens/residents, have more impact, and save money. This workshop will discuss how inclusive delivery of services will engage various groups within the community to contribute to the vitality and wellbeing of the municipality. Attendees will be provided with the questions that will help to determine the ways in which your services promote equity and inclusion.
Additionally, there will be the opportunity to discuss best practices with other municipalities on implementing inclusive municipal service delivery, engaging the whole community in meaningful use and participation.
Psychological Assessments of Police Officers: What Do You Need To Know?
co-sponsored by Connecticut Interlocal Risk Management Agency (CIRMA)
Required by the recent Connecticut Police Accountability Act, Police Officers are required to undergo regular psychological evaluations. These sessions are intended to provide the audience with a holistic understanding of what a psychological assessment is, how findings are and should be communicated to department leadership and ultimately how leadership should properly manage the employment practices liability potentially associated with having to make an adverse employment decision..
Statutory Tax Incentives For Economic Growth: A General Overview of What Is Available, Eligibility Requirements and How These Incentives Spawn Economic Growth.
This session will discuss the available statutory options to provide municipal tax relief to enhance economic growth.
Understanding Connecticut's Freedom of Information Act (and New Remote Meetings Provisions)
The FOIA contains open meetings and public records requirements (along with numerous exceptions) that unfortunately are often misconstrued. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to modifications to the FOIA, especially with respect to meetings. This workshop should serve to provide guidance to elected officials and municipal personnel seeking to navigate the FOIA, along with updates on the FOIA from interesting recent cases. Special attention will be paid to hot issues such as the new “remote” and “hybrid” meetings provisions.
Upon completion of this session, the audience will hopefully have a better understanding of the FOIA, so that a) agency meetings can function more smoothly and in compliance with the law, and b) agency members and personnel are more aware of the public (or private/exempt) nature of records they may receive and create, especially in light of modern technologies and the new “remote” and “hybrid” meeting requirements.
Valuing and Communicating Total Compensation
Do you know the dollar value of the retirement, health care, disability, and other benefits that you offer your employees? Are you able to provide a complete, long-term picture of that value so that you can better retain and attract talent?
In this session, you will learn how to determine and communicate critical compensation information to benefit your collective bargaining and labor relations.
Session B - 1:15pm to 2:15pm
Going Green & Saving Green with Electric Vehicle Charging and Energy Efficiency for Municipalities
Learn about the new 2022 energy efficiency opportunities, rebates, and incentives to put more CT towns on the map as the top environmentally and economically sustainable communities in the country. Resource Lighting & Energy works with your utility company, state, and federal agencies and has fine-tuned the process to help CT municipalities get the most from the programs available to build a brighter future. This workshop will show you how to get a direct return on investment by offering Electric Vehicle Charging Stations to the community, show how upgraded lighting and mechanical systems and insulation can make a world of difference in energy savings for the town, and of course, learn more about how to reach these sustainability goals by utilizing utility and government rebates and incentives.
The Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)…the What, Where, When and How Municipalities Can Best Access Federal and State Grant Opportunities
Everyone is aware of IIJA, but with so many different programs and initiatives, local governments may not know where to start. Please join us at this panel discussion, which will highlight how state, municipal, and local stakeholders leaders can efficiently and effectively leverage resources to maximize IIJA grant opportunities and make sense of it all.
PFAS Management
The session will cover important considerations for the planning and management of PFAS, potential sources, identifying sensitive receptors, asset management, treatment technologies, land management, regulatory requirements, funding opportunities, and more.
Responding to and Managing Outcomes of Police Officer Psychological Evaluations
co-sponsored by Connecticut Interlocal Risk Management Agency (CIRMA)
Required by the recent Connecticut Police Accountability Act, Police Officers are required to undergo regular psychological evaluations. These sessions are intended to provide the audience with a holistic understanding of what a psychological assessment is, how findings are and should be communicated to department leadership and ultimately how leadership should properly manage the employment practices liability potentially associated with having to make an adverse employment decision.
Roundtables
Come discuss issues facing your community directly with your peers. Topics will include: human resources, finance, economic development, municipal law, and communications
Session C - 3:00pm to 4:00pm
2022 Collective Bargaining and Grievance Arbitration Update
co-sponsored by Connecticut Public Employer Labor Relations Association (ConnPELRA)
Pat McHale will discuss the current state of municipal collective bargaining in Connecticut and offer some predictions regarding future negotiations. Pat also will discuss some recent municipal grievance arbitration awards and how municipalities can use them to their advantage.
Achieving Universal Broadband Connectivity with Public Private Partnerships
Universal access to high speed internet is essential for digital equity and economic vitality. Broadband public-private partnerships (P3s) involving municipalities and private companies can build fiber futures where everyone is connected.
What kind of partnership is right for your town? What are the essential differences and key considerations?
Learn the options municipalities have for building universal fiber-to-the-home networks and how towns can maintain ownership control over the network, while private partner companies oversee infrastructure, operations, and internet services.
Fostering Livable Communities: Towards Aging, Dementia, and Disability Inclusivity
Connecticut is the 6th oldest state in the nation and has the third longest-lived constituency. Through data from the new, first-of-its-kind Connecticut Healthy Aging Data Report, story-telling about innovative practices across Connecticut communities, and guided visualization around our own aging experience, this session will:
- Empower participants with information on strategies and best practices to create more aging and disability-inclusive communities;
- Improve understanding of what aging means, the many ways that older people contribute to community, and how to reframe aging to counter ageism; and
- Serve as the municipal launch event of the Connecticut Age Well Collaborative, a statewide, cross-sector initiative that fosters Connecticut communities where everyone can thrive in growing up and growing older.
The presentation panel includes:
- Commissioner Amy Porter, Connecticut State Department of Aging and Disability Services
- Alyssa Norwood, Connecticut Age Well Collaborative, Director
- Additional potential panelists
Participants will further learn about municipal opportunities through the Connecticut Age Well Collaborative, which co-creates and implements innovative grassroots projects and policies, evaluates and educates on best practices, and celebrates aging, dementia, and disability-inclusive communities.
Streamlining Your Land Use Regulatory Process
More important than any incentive or other financial benefit, a predictable and consistent land use process is what will help your town translate development proposals into real tax-paying projects that improve the town's business community, as well as motivate residents and businesses to expand and renovate their properties. Attendees will understand how the most important component for a land-use regulatory process to function successfully is that the process be predictable and consistent. We will walk you through HOW to do this successfully in your community, engaging your staff and volunteer commissioners as well as elected officials.
Vegetation Management
Eversource is working every day to deliver the safe and reliable electricity that Connecticut residents and businesses depend on. Eversource tree crews work year-round to implement vegetation management programs that balance the many benefits that trees provide with the responsibility to maintain the safety and reliability of the electric system. Collaboration is key to reducing outages and public safety issues like blocked roads during storms. Our goal is to partner with our communities and customers to address trees that have the potential to impact thousands of customers across the state.