CONVENTION PROGRAM February 5, 2009 8:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Registration 8:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Exposition Open 8:30 a.m.–9:45 a.m. Breakfast in the Exposition Hall                               Early Bird Raffle Drawing 9:45 a.m.–11:00 a.m. Concurrent Workshops–Session I "Sidewalk Liability: Myths, the Law and Solutions" Bristol "A" Room Maintaining Sidewalks: Whose job is it anyway? There is considerable confusion within municipalities regarding the duty to maintain sidewalks within respective cities and towns. The directives from the courts and the General Assembly in this area are often confusing, contradictory and outdated. Nonetheless, failure to maintain municipal streets and virtually all sidewalks can subject a municipality to liability when an injury occurs. This RI Interlocal Trust seminar will help municipal officials develop the knowledge and skills necessary to implement an appropriate sidewalk maintenance program. Speakers: Melody Alger, Esq., Balch, Gianfrancesco, Mathieu & Szerlag Paul Dutra, Esq., Claims Specialist and Supervisor, The Trust "Expanding Learning Beyond the School Day: Afterschool Works!" Bristol "B" Room Take this opportunity to learn more about why - and how - to implement or increase afterschool programs in your city or town. After school programs help kids to achieve better peer relations, behavior, and academic scores while lowering drug-use, violence, and teen pregnancy. Hear about two cities’ unique systems for running afterschool programs and why afterschool programs should be a priority for municipal leaders. In addition, representatives from the National League of Cities will discuss their resources which are available to cities and towns to implement high quality afterschool programs. Speakers: Mayor David N. Cicilline, Providence Mayor Scott Avedisian, Warwick Jeff Gale, Director of Policy & Communications, RI Afterschool Plus Alliance Bela Shah, National League of Cities "KeepSpace Communities Initiative" Narragansett Room Learn all about KeepSpace, a groundbreaking approach to creating thriving, lasting communities. Founded by Rhode Island Housing, KeepSpace embraces broad-based, respectful partnerships among those committed to building and preserving a Rhode Island in which families can thrive, children can learn and grow, and communities can prosper. Moderator: Richard Godfrey, Executive Director, Rhode Island Housing Speakers: Nathan Kelly, Senior Planner, Horsley Witten Group Frank Shea, Executive Director, Olneyville Housing Corporation; or Nancy Whit, Pawtucket Citizens Development Corporation "AskRI: Resources for Government and a Whole Lot More" Ocean Room The Internet provides easy access to an abundance of information, but it is often hard to tell what's accurate, reliable or current, not to mention how long it takes to find the information you need. AskRI provides free online access to a host of premium information resources available to all Rhode Islanders. Learn about the databases and information professionals available to serve your information needs and how to quickly find current and reliable information. Speaker: Karen Mellor, Library Program Manager, RI Office of Library and Information Services "Renewable Energy Opportunities at Municipal Facilities" Rhode Island Room This presentation will focus on forms of renewable energy, including wind, solar, photovoltaic, solar thermal, biogas, and geothermal applications available to municipalities. This workshop will also include a review of Federal and State incentives and sample projects from the region. Speaker: Steve, Wiehe, P.G., Project Manager, Weston & Sampson "Transformational Technologies for State & Local Governments" Patriots Room This session will provide a high level overview of applications which can significantly impact the day to day operations of local government, including radio interoperability in the area of public safety and the usage of speech based directories and video services department-wide This presentation will also include case studies highlighting benefits other municipalities have gained by implementing each application. Speaker: Rick Houlihan, Technical Director, Carousel Industries 11:45 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Concurrent Workshops–Session II "Innovative ideas for funding GASB 45 Liabilities" Bristol "A" Room Aon Consulting will lead a workshop covering the funding of Other Post Employment Benefit (“OPEB”) liabilities. Topics to be discussed will include the following: To fund, or not to fund? A discussion on the benefits and risks to both the employer and employee of establishing an OPEB Trust and actively funding OPEB liabilities. How should we fund the Trust once it is established? A discussion of available funding options in the current difficult market environment (use current cash flow, borrowing in the capital markets, etc). What other sources of funds are out there? A discussion of innovative funding sources cities and towns can tap into that many don’t realize are available to them. How should we invest funds placed in the Trust? A discussion on available investment options and the importance of performing due diligence on investment managers and their strategies. Speakers: Charles “Chick” Steinberg, Senior Vice President, Benefit Funding Solutions Group, Aon Consulting Carlos Trujillo, Senior Consultant, Benefit Funding Solutions Group, Aon Consulting "Budgets on the Brink: Can municipal collaboration help save the bottom line?" Bristol "B" Room A freewheeling cracker-barrel discussion for municipal managers and others to explore ideas for shared services, uncover potential pitfalls, retain community identity and examine already successful collaborations. Given today’s fiscal challenges, local governments nationwide are expressing a new willingness to explore a range of regional cooperation efforts that start with informal working dialogues and go all the way to formal structural change. Rhode Island’s 2010 municipal budget preparations may call for extraordinary measures; and this workshop will help identify potential innovative approaches. Moderator: Tina Dolen, Executive Director [Aquidneck Island Planning Commission] Speakers: Lyle D. Wray, Executive Director of the Capitol Region Council of Governments, Hartford CT William Sequino, Jr, Town Manager of East Greenwich Michael Embury, Town Manager of North Kingstown Linda Dunlavy, Executive Director, Franklin Regional Council of Governments, MA "Everyone Counts! Census 2010 and Your Community!" Narragansett Room Census 2010 is fast approaching! A complete and accurate census count for your city and town is extremely important. Over $300 billion in federal funding is allocated each year based on Census numbers. Learn how your community can make sure it receives its fair share and learn about the census activities taking place right now! Also, learn how to access the most up to date census data for your area! Speakers: Kathleen Ludgate, US Census Bureau Cesar Monzon, US Census Bureau Arthur Bakis, US Census Bureau "GIS Data Collection, Use & Legal Consequences" Ocean Room Because the Rhode Island land surveyors have questioned the use of GIS data for public information, a discussion of the issue is both timely and warranted. Paul Jordan is currently serving as Chairman of the RI GIS Executive Committee and will present on this subject, along with Mike Doyle, who is the Vice Chairman. Speakers: Paul Jordan, Supervising GIS Specialist, RI DEM Mike Doyle, GIS Project Manager, Fuss & O'Neill "How to Protect Your Issuer Credit Rating During Periods of Market Volatility" Rhode Island Room During the latter portion of 2008, the municipal markets experienced unprecedented volatility and were virtually closed to new issuance for a period of time. Municipal Bond Insurance became extremely scarce, if not totally unavailable or economic, making an issuer’s underlying credit rating more important than ever. Speakers: The Honorable Frank T. Caprio, Rhode Island General Treasurer William Fazioli, First Southwest Company Stephen Maceroni, First Southwest Company Mary Kay Sells, First Southwest Company "Tapping Federal Dollars with Green Infrastructure" Patriots Room This workshop will describe what’s happening in Green Infrastructure and how to take advantage of new initiatives and federal infrastructure monies. Speakers: Eileen Pannetier, President, Comprehensive Environmental, Inc. John Vancor, Sr. Engineer, Comprehensive Environmental, Inc. 1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m. Delegates Luncheon, Exposition Hall Raffle Drawings 2:30 p.m.–3:45 p.m. Concurrent Workshops–Session III "Addressing Foreclosures: Best Practices and Resources" Bristol "A" Room The foreclosure crisis is impacting homeowners and communities throughout the State of Rhode Island. In order to be prepared to respond to federal, state and local initiatives to reduce the affects of foreclosures, city and town officials should understand prevention strategies, the need to accurately track foreclosure activity, and best practices for securing foreclosed properties and returning them to productive use. This workshop will provide information about programs and resources to assist communities. Moderator: Noreen Shawcross, Chief, Office of Housing and Community Development Speakers: Michael Tondra, Neighborhood Stabilization Program Coordinator, Office of Housing and Community Development Amy Rainone, Director of Policy, Rhode Island Housing Barney Heath, Assistant Director, Dept. of Planning and Redevelopment, City of Pawtucket "Defending Against a “Caruolo Action" Bristol "B" Room Mr. Oliverio represented Cranston city officials in their recent “Caroulo” lawsuit, and he will discuss the historical significance of Judge Savage’s decision in that case and its potential impact on cities and towns. Speakers: Matthew Oliverio, Esq., Oliverio & Marcaccio LLP "Energy Efficiency Programs for Cities & Towns" Narragansett Room Given the current economic downturn, it is now more important than ever for municipalities to undertake cost-cutting measures. National Grid offers both an energy efficiency program and a gas energy efficiency program. Come hear how both can benefit your community! Speakers: Mark DiPetrillo, Manager, National Grid Chuck Norden, National Grid "Functional, Fast, and Free- Five Tools to Improve Your Municipal Web Site" Ocean Room Whether you are a town administrator, municipal Webmaster, or just interested in what's new, you're invited to join the team from RI.gov - the state's official Web site - as they discuss free tools that will improve your municipal Web site and help better serve your citizens. Learn how to use Google to chart Web site traffic or display area maps, create town meeting and event calendars using iCal, and quickly share information bulletins through Twitter. Each solution is functional, fast and free - no hardware or extensive technical knowledge necessary! Speakers: Dan Chapman, RI.gov Director of Creative Services Elizabeth Pemmerl, RI.gov Project Manager Tom Viall, RI.gov General Manager "Drinking Water Infrastructure, Challenges, Tools and Funding" Rhode Island Room EPA will lead a discussion on the Stimulus Bill and its impact on public health, water quality and job creation through the funding of water infrastructure. The session will also highlight broad challenges facing water utilities and available tools and programs. Moderator: Doug Goutro, Special Assistant to the Regional Administrator, EPA Speaker: Jane Downing, Chief, Drinking Water Branch, EPA "A New Approach to Critical Infrastructure Rehabilitation/Replacement Projects" Patriots Room We have all heard the news: "Rhode Island has the highest percentage of structurally deficient or functionally obsolete bridges in the nation." We have all heard the comments: "Why are Rhode Island’s Roadways in such tough shape compared to neighboring New England States?" This presentation will showcase "fast track, outside the box, green, and highly sustainable approaches" to replacing and rehabilitating critical bridge, roadway, and stormwater/flood control infrastructure that is currently being utilized effectively throughout New England and the rest of the nation. The goal of this presentation is to inform public officials and stakeholders of minimally disruptive and highly economical critical infrastructure solutions that have recently come to the forefront of the construction industry. Moderator: Bill Young, P.E., Regional Engineer (RI/Southeastern MA), Contech Construction Products, Inc. Speakers: Tom Hennessey, Regional Project Consultant, Contech Construction Products, Inc. Don Herbert, Senior Regional Engineer (Connecticut), Contech Construction Products, Inc. Richard Kane, Atlantic Region Geosynthetics Manager, Contech Construction Products, Inc. The Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns extends its warmest thanks to each of the seminar and workshop participants who generously contributed their time and efforts to make our program possible. Back to the Convention main page