MMA conference gives town leaders new ideas
Published on January 23rd, 2002
STONEHAM, MA - Stoneham leaders began this workweek rejuvenated by the information and advice showered upon them at the Mass Municipal Association convention last weekend.
“The town of Easton pays employees $100 for cost saving ideas. They’ve saved $250,000 so far this (fiscal) year,” said Stoneham Selectmen Chairman Tony Kennedy.
The MMA mixes business with pleasure to educate the managers and boards of the 351 Massachusetts cities and towns about municipal government. From Friday, Jan. 11, to Sunday, Jan. 13, more than 600 members stayed at the Sheraton Boston and attended a sampling of 27 workshops on subjects ranging from capital planning to managing healthcare costs to increasing town meeting attendance.
Not every community is a member, but the turnout is usually more than 500 people. Member communities pay annual dues — $5,000 for Stoneham — based on the population and wealth of the city or town. These dues pay for the conference as well as funding the MMA’s full-time lobbying and research efforts.
First-year Selectmen Mary Pecoraro enjoyed her first trip to the conference. She was most impressed by the capital-planning workshop presented by Arlington Capital Planning Committee Chairman Charles Foskett.
“We have plans, but do the people know them?” Pecoraro asked. In Arlington a committee oversees capital planning and publicizes when the city will need what.
Pecoraro also attended a Chapter 70 workshop with Kennedy and members of the Finance Board.
“We have to keep pressure on the legislators,” Pecoraro said.
Town Administrator David Berry attended several finance workshops.
Kennedy attended a workshop titled “Making Town Meeting a better experience.” Westford mails booklets to all citizens prior to the meeting. Belmont holds informational meetings about articles leading up to the town meeting.
But Kennedy was most interested by what he learned in a workshop about rising healthcare costs. A consultant from Aon Consulting, Inc., a national healthcare consulting firm with offices in Boston, hosted the workshop.
“They talked about disease management. Employers identify employees who have serious diseases and step in to monitor treatment and encourage preventative measures to control costs,” Kennedy said.
The Aon consultant also said many communities are considering increasing the employee share of health insurance premiums.
“A five percent increase in the employees’ share could mean $150,000 savings (this year),” Kennedy said.
This is just a sample of some of the workshops attended by some of the Stoneham attendees. Residents should be happy that town leaders took the time to learn from what has worked around the state. These diverse ideas help to prepare Stoneham leaders to figure out what’s best for Stoneham.
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