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Event Information
2026 CCM Annual Convention and Gubernatorial Debate
October 27, 2026 - October 28, 2026
Each fall, more than 1,100 attendees, including local government leaders from across the state and companies providing the best in products and services to towns and cities, gather together for two days of informative workshops, interactive discussions, and networking opportunities.
Note: During the registration process, selecting a workshop session DOES NOT reserve your seat for that session. It is simply for scheduling purposes.
Registration Fees:
Pricing through October 23, 2026:
- Municipal Member
- To attend October 27 and October 28: $349
- To attend October 28 ONLY: $299
- Non-member (municipal, state)
- To attend October 27 and October 28: $399
- To attend October 28 ONLY: $349
Pricing beginning October 27 onsite:
- Municipal Member
- To attend October 27 and October 28: $399
- To attend October 28 ONLY: $349
- Non-member (municipal, state)
- To attend October 27 and October 28: $449
- To attend October 28 ONLY: $399
Convention Registration Cancellation Policy:
All convention registration cancellations must be provided to CCM in writing no later than Friday, September 18, 2026. If you do not cancel your registration by this date, you are still responsible for the cost of your registration, even if you do not attend. CCM will not refund registration fees for registrations canceled after September 18, 2026. CCM is not responsible for travel delays caused by accidents, road closures, road construction, weather, etc. Attendees should use judgment and allow ample travel time to arrive.
Early
Standard
Late
$299.00
Early
Standard
Late
$399.00
Early
Standard
Late
$349.00
Early
Standard
Late
$399.00
Early
Standard
Late
$349.00
Early
Standard
Late
$449.00
Early
Standard
Late
$399.00
Agenda
| Tuesday - October 27 | ||
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| 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm | ||
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Visit Exhibitors & Expo Hall
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Location: Expo Hall |
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| 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm | ||
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Hot Topic Panel: Turning Up the Heat With AI and Hot Wings
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Location: Learning Lab Stage - Expo Hall |
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| 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm | ||
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2026 CCM Convention Welcome Reception
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Location: Expo Hall |
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| 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm | ||
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2026 CCM Convention Awards Dinner / Televised Gubernatorial Debate
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Included as part of full member and non-member registration. Location: Expo Hall |
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| Wednesday - October 28 | ||
| 8:00 am - 10:00 am | ||
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Breakfast & Visit the Expo Hall
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Location: Expo Hall |
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| 8:30 am - 9:30 am | ||
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CT Main Street Panel on Economic Development & the Arts (Expo Hall)
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Location: Learning Lab Stage - Expo Hall |
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| 9:30 am - 9:45 am | ||
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BusPatrol Presentation
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Location: Learning Lab Stage - Expo Hall |
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| 10:00 am - 11:00 am | ||
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Workshop Session A1: Beyond Boundaries: Building a Regional Economic Ecosystem
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This workshop explores how CT communities can move past traditional "competition" to embrace a collaborative regional ecosystem that drives collective growth. Attendees will learn how to align individual municipal goals with a broader regional strategy, focusing on pooling resources to attract investment and talent that benefit the entire area. The session covers identifying shared industry clusters, streamlining regional messaging, and creating formal frameworks for cooperation. By the end of the session, attendees will have a roadmap for breaking down silos and leveraging their neighbors' strengths for shared success. Presented by the Connecticut Economic Development Association (CEDAS). Location: TBA |
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Workshop Session A2: The Future Faces of Public Service: Enhancing Municipal Staffing Capacity
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This session will focus on employment trends and preferences for entry level and new staff, discuss approaches to succession planning, and explore how societal, industry-specific, and technology usage influences recruitment and onboarding strategies. Interactive discussions will focus on contrasts between new staff expectations with their lived realities in local government careers, what factors influence departures from municipal opportunities, and what factors influence younger generation talent in their career journeys. Presenters will outline approaches to developing and assessing internal policies and structures, outlining needs for succession planning, leverage experiential learning concepts and exercises, and provide examples on building staffing pipelines to different pockets of public service functional areas. Presented by UConn School of Public Policy Location: TBA |
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Workshop Session A3: Stop Publishing, Start Engaging: A New Era of Municipal Finance Communication
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Most municipalities meet transparency requirements—but still struggle to make financial information meaningful or accessible to residents. Traditional budget books and static reports often fall short of building true understanding, trust, or participation. This session explores how local governments can move beyond simply publishing financial data to actively engaging their communities. Attendees will learn practical strategies to translate complex financial information into clear, interactive, and resident-friendly experiences that drive awareness and trust. Presenters will share real-world examples of municipalities that have successfully modernized their financial communication, along with actionable steps to improve accessibility, increase engagement, and strengthen public confidence in fiscal decision-making. Participants will leave with ideas they can implement immediately—without overhauling their entire budgeting process. Presented by ClearGov Location: TBA |
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Workshop Session A4: You May Be Costing Your Employees Thousands Without Realizing It: How to Benchmark Your Retirement Plan Fees
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This session provides a clear and practical framework for understanding retirement plan fees, fulfilling fiduciary responsibilities, and implementing a benchmarking process that protects both employees and the municipality. Attendees will gain a straightforward understanding of where fees exist, how they impact long-term outcomes, and how to evaluate whether their current plan is competitive. Practical examples from Connecticut municipalities will demonstrate how small adjustments can lead to meaningful financial improvements for employees without increasing municipal budgets. Presented by Integrity Benefit Partners. Location: TBA |
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Workshop Session A5: TBD
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Location: TBA |
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| 11:00 am - 11:55 am | ||
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Break / Visit the Exhibit Hall with Learning Lab Stage Presentations
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Paid Presentation A: 11 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.; Paid Presentation B: 11:20 a.m. to 11:35 a.m.; Paid Presentation C: 11:40 a.m. to 11:55 a.m. Location: Learning Lab Stage - Expo Hall |
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| 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm | ||
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Networking Lunch & Awards Ceremony
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Location: Main Stage in Back of Expo Hall |
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| 1:45 pm - 2:45 pm | ||
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Workshop Session B1: Securing Civic Spaces: Balancing Open Access and Safety
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This session will provide municipal leaders with legal clarity and practical strategies to handle the rising trend of "First Amendment audits" in public spaces. Attorneys will break down the complexities of Freedom of Speech, specifically addressing scenarios where individuals film employees, ask confrontational questions, or engage in disruptive conduct. Through video clips of real-world responses, leaders will learn exactly what speech or conduct crosses the line and is not legally protected. The presentation will also discuss actionable operational security measures, focusing on employee safety and securing non-public workspaces. Participants will discuss proven protocols for managing disruptive individuals and leave with a framework for implementing employee training that protects both staff and town operations. Presented by CAMA. Location: TBA |
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Workshop Session B2: Municipal Leadership Training
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This targeted training transitions municipal managers and department heads from task-driven supervisors into high-impact, human-centered leaders. The session focuses on understanding the critical difference between managing daily city operations and leading people with purpose. Participants will explore practical frameworks for building deep interpersonal trust, with a heavy emphasis on developing Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and leadership credibility within public sector teams. Additionally, managers will acquire self-evaluation tools to objectively view their leadership through their subordinates' eyes. Ultimately, this program equips your leadership team with the communication and self-awareness needed to boost employee retention, enhance service delivery, and strengthen organizational morale. Presented by CIRMA. Location: TBA |
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Workshop Session B3: Facilitated Panel Discussion to Discuss the CT Fire Service
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Connecticut’s fire service is facing significant challenges. Since 2021, statewide initiatives, including Summit 2025, Special Act 21-12, the Comptroller’s Special Examination on Firefighters, and a Statewide Fire Study, have identified concerns ranging from recruitment and retention difficulties and declining volunteer participation to growing risks of behavioral health issues and occupational cancer. Collaborative efforts have advanced legislation, including reforms to the Commission, expanded recruitment and retention initiatives, enhanced benefits for fallen heroes, new municipal fire protection data-reporting requirements, and discussions about a statewide fire service to support municipalities facing operational challenges. These efforts reflect a growing recognition that sustainable fire protection requires collaboration among state and local leaders and fire service organizations. Join Comptroller Sean Scanlon, Representative Pat Boyd, DESPP leadership, Fire Commission representatives, and the Joint Council of Fire Service Organizations for a facilitated discussion on the evolving fire service landscape. Presented by Joint Council of Fire Service Organizations. Location: TBA |
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Workshop Session B4: Connecticut's Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP): What Municipal Leaders Need to Know
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This session will explore the strategic design, cost management, and administrative impact of DROP participation. Understanding both the benefits and the operational complexities of the program will help municipalities make informed decisions about offering the DROP benefit and develop a manageable approach to education, communication, and ongoing administration. From a workforce perspective, a municipality's success with DROP hinges on ensuring employees clearly understand how the benefit works, the key considerations that apply to their individual situations, and the financial impact of their choice. Leaders will learn how providing clear comparisons between DROP and traditional retirement outcomes can build employee confidence, streamline talent retention, and support long-term succession planning. Presented by Equitable Advisors in collaboration with Madaket Partners. Location: TBA |
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Workshop Session B5: From Spreadsheet to Story: Improving Cross-Department Budget Communication
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Municipal finance teams and department leaders share responsibility for delivering effective services to residents yet often struggle to communicate across different professional languages. This interactive workshop helps municipalities bridge the gap between financial data and department priorities, turning spreadsheets into clear, resident-focused stories that support decision-making, accountability, and public trust. Designed for finance staff, department heads, and managers, the session explores practical strategies for translating budgets, variances, and cost drivers into language that resonates with operating departments, elected officials, and community stakeholders. Through real-world examples and small-group discussion, participants will examine how departmental needs, service outcomes, and fiscal constraints intersect, and how stronger collaboration can improve planning, grant readiness, and operational efficiency. Attendees will leave with practical tools to improve cross-department communication, strengthen budget narratives, and connect financial decisions to public value and service outcomes. Presented by The Connection Location: TBA |
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| 2:45 pm - 3:15 pm | ||
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Conference Break / Visit the Expo Hall - Prizes Awarded for Exhibit Hall Passport Contest
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Location: TBA |
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| 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm | ||
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Workshop Session C1: How to Earn Residents’ Trust in 60 Seconds or less
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You only have a few seconds to capture attention online. Learn how local governments can use concise, engaging social media content to reach residents and earn their trust. This session shows how to turn complex information into clear, compelling messages that perform on today’s fast-moving platforms. Packed with hands on practical advice and tips to build a following, this session helps public sector teams communicate more effectively, connect authentically, and stand out in crowded digital spaces. Presented by Town of Plainville. Location: TBA |
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Workshop Session C2: The Robots Aren’t Hiring—You Are! Avoiding Liability, Bias Claims, and Compliance Pitfalls in AI-Assisted Hiring and employment decisions
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Artificial intelligence is transforming how employers recruit, screen, rank, and hire candidates. But when an AI tool rejects an applicant, who is responsible? For Connecticut municipalities, the answer may create significant legal, labor, and public accountability risks. This interactive workshop provides a practical introduction to AI and examines Connecticut-specific employment issues, including recent legislation (PA 26-15), CT Attorney General guidance, discrimination risks, disability accommodation obligations, transparency requirements, and public records considerations. Through real-world scenarios and audience participation, attendees will learn how to evaluate AI hiring tools, identify legal and compliance pitfalls, and implement defensible governance practices before technology decisions become litigation exhibits. Participants will leave with a practical checklist for managing AI in municipal hiring and employment decisions. Presented by Harris Beach Murtha. Location: TBA |
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Workshop Session C3: Stronger Together. Partnership 2.0: Delivering Sustainable Healthcare for Connecticut Municipalities
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Health insurance continues to increase in cost and complexity. The Connecticut Partnership Plan 2.0 provides municipalities and boards of education with access to the State of Connecticut's employee health plan, creating a larger risk pool that promotes stable, competitive healthcare costs while offering comprehensive benefits. This presentation provides an overview of plan eligibility, enrollment, benefit offerings, the Health Enhancement Program (HEP), renewal process, and participation requirements. Attendees will learn how Partnership 2.0 leverages the purchasing power of more than 268,000 covered lives to deliver long-term value, wellness-focused programs, and predictable annual renewals while maintaining high-quality medical, pharmacy, dental, and vision coverage for participating employers and their employees. Presented by the Office of the State Comptroller. Location: TBA |
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Workshop Session C4: CCM's Women In Government - Leadership Workshop
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Location: TBA |
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Workshop Session C5: Stop Overpaying for POTS Lines: How Connecticut Towns Are Cutting Telecom Costs Without Sacrificing Safety
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Across Connecticut, municipalities are facing dramatic and often unexpected increases in utility expenses tied to legacy telecommunications infrastructure, particularly Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) lines. In some cases, towns have seen cost rise by hundreds or even thousands of percent in a matter of months, placing strain on already tight budgets. This session will provide a framework for auditing and reducing unnecessary telecom expenses while maintaining or improving critical public safety and operational capabilities. Examples from Connecticut municipalities will illustrate how local leaders have successfully reduced costs, improved system visibility, and modernized their communications without disrupting daily operations or navigating complex procurement processes. Presented by CCi Voice. Location: TBA |
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| 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm | ||
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Networking Reception
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Location: TBA |
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Speakers
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