CONVENTION PROGRAM January 26, 2012 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. Breakfastin the Exposition Hall                                Early Bird Raffle Drawing 9:45 a.m.–11:00 a.m. Concurrent Workshops–Session I "Worker's Compensation Court to the Rescue?" Bristol "A" Room Injured while working from home? Denied a public safety accidental disability retirement pension? Under emerging new legal theories about when an employee may be working in this nearly always work-connected world, and a new law which passed the last legislative session governing the award of police and fire disability pensions, the Workers’ Compensation Court will be answering these and other timely questions. *Please Note: This session will be videotaped for replay on the League’s website Moderator: Denise Lapolla, Workers’ Compensation Manager, RI Interlocal Risk Management Trust Speakers: The Honorable George E. Healy, Jr., Chief Judge of the RI Workers’ Compensation Court John Harnett, Esq., Lovett Schefrin Harnett Nick Fernandes, President, Information with Integrity, Inc. Ian C. Ridlon, Esq., General Counsel, RI Interlocal Risk Management Trust "Stormwater Utilities-RI Moves Forward" Bristol "B" Room Increasingly, Rhode Island's cities and towns are grappling with the impacts of uncontrolled stormwater runoff. Many of Rhode Island's municipalities are challenged to fully fund even the programmatic and operational expenses of complying with their RIPDES Phase II Stormwater Permits. This session is the final workshop in a series on Stormwater Utilities that will present findings on the feasibility of utility districts in Westerly and Middletown based on studies now underway in those communities. This workshop will also include a discussion of State law and policy enabling municipalities to implement utility districts in Rhode Island. Moderator: Ames B. Colt, Ph.D. Chair, Rhode Island Bays, Rivers, & Watersheds Coordination Team, Office of the Governor/RIDEM Speakers: Elizabeth Scott, Deputy Chief, RIDEM/Office of Water Resources Thomas O’Loughlin, Middletown Public Works Director Steven Hartford, Esq, Westerly Town Manager Caswell Cooke, Jr. Westerly Town Council "Planning for Sustainable Communities-Opportunities under New Comprehensive Planning Act " Narragansett Room This workshop will cover the new Comprehensive Planning Act and the opportunities/challenges facing communities under this new law. Moderator: Jared Rhodes, Chief, Statewide Planning Speaker: Kevin Nelson, Supervising Planner, Comprehensive Plans, Statewide Planning "Reducing Solid Waste Disposal Costs Thru Single-Stream Recycling, Collection Automation & Regionalization" Ocean Room This workshop will provide practical advice on how to reduce municipal solid waste disposal costs through single- stream recycling implementation, adding automation and cost to collection and regionalizing services. Speakers: Sarah, Kite, Director of Recycling Services, RIRRC Michael McGonagle, Director of IT and Business Analysis, RIRRC "Alternative Energy Sources for Water & Wastewater Facilities" Rhode Island Room Water and wastewater systems can achieve significant cost savings and incentives through the use of renewable energy resources. This presentation will provide information on the use of renewable energy alternatives for municipal and private facilities including hydrodynamic, geothermal and solar. Specific examples of alternative uses will be discussed along with associated costs and state and federal incentives. Speaker: Sebastian Amenta, Regional Program Director, Comprehensive Environmental "Implementing RI's New Energy Legislation:  How It Can Work for Municipalities" Patriots Room Municipalities across RI can benefit from the sweeping new energy legislation enacted in 2011. How can our towns take advantage of these opportunities to save money, increase energy resiliency, and utilize locally produced, predictably priced, and fuel free energy? This panel of RI experts will provide a roadmap for communities because they are saving nine small towns more than $750,000 a year in energy cost reductions! Speakers: Jeff Broadhead, Executive Director, Washington County Regional Planning Council Steve Hartford, Town Manager, Westerly Seth Handy, Esq., Handy Law, LLC 11:45 a.m.–1:00 p.m. ConcurrentWorkshops–Session II "Financial Forecasting & Budget Balancing Strategies for Local Governments" Bristol "A" Room Learn how to identify fiscal gaps in your long term financial outlook and learn how to develop strategies to solve these fiscal shortfalls. *Please Note: This session will be videotaped for replay on the League’s website Speakers: Dean Kaplan, Managing Director & Leader of Strategic Consulting, PFM Group Bill Fazioli, Senior Managing Consultant, PFM Group "Motor Vehicle Values, Tax Rates, Exemptions, and Solutions" Bristol "B" Room This panel will discuss the history of motor vehicle taxation in the state with a focus on the standardized valuation of vehicles, the implication of fixed tax rates, the exemption on each vehicle, and solutions for reforming the system. Speakers: Peder Schaefer, Associate Director, Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns Dave Quinn, Tax Assessor, City of Pawtucket Linda Cwiek, Tax Assessor, Town of North Kingstown Ken Mallette, Tax Assessor, City of Warwick "Getting to Know You-Getting to Know All About You-Interviewing Techniques" Narragansett Room This workshop will cover techniques that will be of assistance to anyone involved in interviewing candidates for employment. Topics to be covered include: tools for the Interviewee and Interviewer, how to format questions and conduct an effective interview, the top ten interviewing pitfalls, what questions can and cannot be asked and much more. Participants will witness firsthand both a “good” interview and a “bad” interview! Moderator: Nancy A. Lalli, President RIGFOA; Controller, City of Newport Speaker: Michael J. Coury, IPMA-CP, Human Resources Administrator, City of Newport "How ‘Producer Responsibility’ Legislation Could Help Municipalities" Ocean Room Learn about the concept of “Producer Responsibility” and how legislation on the topic could positively impact municipalities. The RI Product Stewardship Council is comprised of Recycling Coordinators, DPW staff, and Municipal Councilmembers, all of whom are in touch with the monetary repercussions of our waste system. Speakers: Joe Neild, Director of Public Works, City of Central Falls Kristin Littlefield, Clean Cities Coordinator, City of Newport Lindsay Brickle, Police Analyst, City of Providence Ellie Leonardsmith, Community Organizer, Clean Water Action "Online Services available at No Cost to Communities" Rhode Island Room RI.gov has a master contract with the State to offer online services to state agencies and cities and towns at no cost. We would like to showcase some of the newer services we are working to bring to you. Speakers: Dan Chapman, Creative Director, RI.gov Nicole Courtemanche, Project Manager, RI.gov "Hazardous Materials & Building Structures Risk: Management Considerations for Municipal Entities " Patriots Room Every municipal department has a vested interest in reducing their exposure to claims and losses through the implementation of risk management programs. Those who do not take steps to reduce their exposure can expect to pay a premium rate for their insurance. Our panel of Engineers and Environmental Scientists will provide tips on how to prevent losses by discussing key maintenance/inspection tasks and what to do when an emergency/unexpected event occurs. Moderator: Robert C. Atwood, P.E., LSP, President/CEO, Resource Controls Associates Speaker: Mark J. House, Vice President, Resource Controls Associates 1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m. Luncheon in the Exposition Hall                                Raffle Drawings 2:30 p.m.–3:45 p.m. Concurrent Workshops–Session III "GASB’s Pending Pension Changes" Bristol "A" Room The workshop will discuss the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) proposed changes in financial reporting for pensions. *Please Note: This session will be videotaped for replay on the League’s website Speaker: Dennis Hoyle, Auditor General, State of Rhode Island "Energy Performance Contracting for RI Municipalities" Bristol "B" Room A discussion of the performance contracting process, financing options, measurements, and verification of projects, including the potential for renewable energy components. Speakers: James Cotton, Johnson Controls Steve Maceroni, Public Financial Management Richard Vaillencourt, Canterbury Energy Engineering Kathleen Stanley, Johnson Controls "Investing in Economic Development – An Innovative Approach for Cash-Strapped Municipalities" Narragansett Room Rhode Island’s Main Street districts are vitally important to the economic well-being of municipalities and to the State as a whole. Partnering with the private sector to revitalize existing mixed-use centers makes the most efficient use of existing infrastructure, returns underperforming properties to the tax rolls and generally improves the quality of life for all Rhode Islanders. And while many cities and towns have ambitious plans to do this, they often lack the necessary resources. Come participate in a discussion about an innovative proposal that would enable municipalities to use a portion of levy growth within targeted areas to re-invest in economic development. Moderator: Scott Wolf, Executive Director, Grow Smart Rhode Island Speakers: Rep. Jeremiah T. O’Grady, District 46 - Lincoln/Pawtucket Thomas Kravtiz, Director of Planning and Economic Development, Town of Burrillville Samuel J. Bradner, Senior Development Manager, The Peregrine Group, LLC "Strategies for Interagency Coordination to Encourage Sustainable Development" Ocean Room The concepts of smart growth and sustainable development are embraced by Rhode Island on many levels. However, sustainable development requires coordination and partnership among organizations representing a wide array of issues and interests. Several State and local initiatives are underway this year to make sure these policies translate into better development on the ground in all communities in Rhode Island through interagency cooperation and coordination of resources. Moderator: Amy Rainone, Rhode Island Housing Speakers: Jeff Davis, Rhode Island Housing Bonnie Nickerson, City of Providence Gary Bliss, City of Providence "Community Low Impact Development Stormwater Management" Rhode Island Room This workshop will present an overview of the new Rhode Island Community LID Site Planning and Design Guidance Manual (LID Manual). The LID Manual provides communities with the specific guidance, case studies and economic justification they can use to revise their existing land use regulations to more effectively avoid and reduce the impacts of development to water quality, habitat and community character while helping to reduce municipal service costs, increase property values and preserve community character. Speaker: Timothy P. Thies, PE, Sr. Project Engineer "Complete Streets Workshop" Patriots Room Six cities and towns in Rhode Island have already passed “complete streets” ordinances, while still more are pending passage. This workshop will feature a panel of experts from community groups and municipal and state governments that have been involved in the adoption and implementation of “completed streets” policies. Learn how your city or town can benefit from Complete Streets and what the next step is in making it happen! Moderator: Abel Collins, Program Manager, Sierra Club RI Speakers: Meghan Grady, Chief Operation Officer, YWCA Northern Rhode Island Bob Smith, Deputy Chief Engineer, RIDOT Vin Murray, Director of Planning, Town of South Kingstown 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