Policy Committees of the MMA (2012)

The MMA organizes and staffs policy committees that review and develop positions on local government activities that are the subject of state and federal government interest. Policy committees present new or revised policies to MMA members for a vote at the MMA’s Annual Business Meeting, held each year in January. Committees also make recommendations to the MMA Board of Directors on specific legislative proposals.

The following are descriptions of the MMA’s current policy committees and the members who are serving in 2012:

Fiscal Policy Committee

This committee considers all municipal finance issues. Any initiative that deals solely with a financial issue is directed first to this committee. Legislation that has a fiscal impact is referred to this committee from other committees as well. This committee also develops a policy framework for local government financing in the future.

Mayors
Thomas M. Menino, Boston
Setti Warren, Newton
Joseph Curtatone, Somerville

Selectmen
Carmin Reiss, Concord
Gerald Wasserman, Needham
David Kielson, Chesterfield

Councillors
Jason Silva, Beverly
John Mullaney, Braintree
Brian Hatleberg, Chelsea

Managers
Charles Sumner, Brewster
Richard LaFond, Carver
Bernard F. Lynch, Lowell, Chair

Finance Committee
Cinder McNerney, Swampscott
Allan Tosti, Arlington

Presidential
Jonathan Edwards, Whately, Selectman
Suzanne McAuliffe, Yarmouth, Selectman
John Musante, Amherst, Town Manager
James Malloy, Westborough, Town Manager

Technical
Stephen E. Cirillo, Brookline, Finance Director
Wayne Marquis, Danvers, Town Manager
Adam Chapdelaine, Arlington, Town Manager
Samuel Tyler, president, Boston Municipal Research Bureau

Policy Committee on Energy and the Environment

This committee formulates policy for the association in the following areas: water quality, water supply, air quality, solid waste, hazardous waste, wetlands, coastal areas, and wastewater treatment.

Mayors
Richard Alcombright, North Adams
Mark Hawke, Gardner
Kimberly Driscoll, Salem

Selectmen
Nancy Yeatts, Lakeville
Rene Wood, Sheffield   
John Drobinski, Sudbury, Chair

Councillors
Margaret Laforest, Quincy
Ari Herzog, Newburyport
Henrietta Davis, Cambridge    [Mayor]

Managers
Michael  O’Brien, Worcester
Orlando Pacheco, Lancaster
James Merriam, Harwich

Finance Committee
Nancy Goulart, Dighton
Richard Paulsen, Wareham

Presidential
VACANT
John Giorgio, Kopelman&Paige
Frederick Koed, Cohasset Selectman
Sherry Costa-Hanlon, Taunton Councilor

Technical
Robert Goober, Weston & Sampson
Alan Cathcart, Concord/MWWA
Bradford Swing, Boston Dir. of Energy Policy
Robert Garrity, Norfolk Selectman

Policy Committee on Municipal and Regional Administration

This committee considers those issues that relate to the organization, structure, efficiency, and productivity of local and regional government and the relationships between the two levels of government. Among the issues addressed by this committee are the processes and structure at the local and regional levels for the procurement and provision of human services, safety and health inspections, and technical assistance.

Mayors
Robert Dolan, Melrose
William Martin, Greenfield
Vacant   

Selectmen
Pamela Harting-Barrat, Acton
Robert Correnti, Billerica
Gardner Trask, Danvers

Councillors
Robert Lavoie, Amesbury
Thomas Gould, Peabody
Lisle Baker, Newton

Managers
Frederic Turkington, Wayland
Peter I. Hechenbleikner, Reading, Chair
Lee Erdmann, Springfield

Finance Committee
Martin Crowley, East Bridgewater

Presidential
Ben Tafoya, Reading Selectman
Edward McManus, Harwich Selectman
Brian Palmucci, Quincy Councillor
William Doherty, Barnstable County

Technical
Dennis DiZoglio, Merrimac Valley Planning Commission, Executive Director       
Robert Dean, Franklin Regional of Governments, Director of Regional Services
Vacant   
Lisa Blackmer, North Adams Councilor

Policy Committee on Personnel and Labor Relations

This committee has responsibility for formulating policy for the association in the following areas: collective bargaining, civil service, employee benefits, police and fire collective bargaining, and pension reform.

Mayors
Vacant   
James Fiorentini, Haverhill
Thatcher W. Kezer, III, Amesbury

Selectmen
Jess Aptowitz, Mansfield
Robert Burr, Canton
Donald Bourque, Webster

Councillors
Leland Cheung, Cambridge
Robert Van Campen, Everett
Vacant   

Managers
John Murray III, Acton
David G. Cressman, Dartmouth, Chair
James Boudreau, Norwell

Finance Committee
Paul Joyce, Dedham
Ira Miller, Sharon

Presidential
Michael Farrell, Georgetown Administrator
Marc Waldman, Wellesley, Treasurer and Collector
Susan Adler, Wellesley, Human Resources Director
James Plath, Dennis Finance Committee

Technical
Stephanie McNeil, Franklin, Human Resources Dir.
Michael Gardner, Cambridge, Personnel Advisor
Diane Crimmins, Belmont, Personnel Director
Vacant

Policy Committee on Public Works, Transportation and Public Utilities

This committee considers issues that relate to regional and metropolitan transportation, transportation planning, the relationship between local governments and the Massachusetts Highway Department, and the question of levels of local control in joint state-local public works programs.

Mayors
Joseph Sullivan, Braintree
Lisa Wong, Fitchburg
Carlo DeMaria, Everett

Selectmen
VACANT
Daniel Ricci, Webster   
James Lovejoy, Mount Washington

Councillors
Norman Boisvert, Fitchburg
Charles Ryan, Braintree
Ronald Boucher, North Adams

Managers
Diane Norris, Danvers, Chair
Richard Reed, Bedford
Stephen Rollins, Hanover

Finance Committee
Richard Creem, Needham

Presidential
Charles Blanchard, Palmer Town Manager
Gregory Taylor, Public Works Consultant
Timothy Walsh, Westwood Public Works Director
Michelle Ciccolo, Hudson Community Development

Technical
James Shuris, Holden DPW Director   
Carl Valente, Lexington, Town Manager
John Petrin, Ashland, Town Manager
David Knowlton, Salem Public Works