Day One Agenda - April 15, 2021
9:10 a.m. Welcome – Stephen W. Gove, Executive Director, Maine Municipal Association
9:15 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Keynote Address – The State of Broadband in Maine
The issue remains a high priority: The quality of broadband Internet service remains pivotal throughout the state, as Maine competes in the global economic development marketplace. So, how’s it going? How are Mainers being served in cities like Augusta, Bangor and Portland, but also in rural areas and on island communities? What new idea and projects are out there to serve as educational examples?
Presenter: Nick Battista, Senior Policy Officer, Island Institute and ConnectME Authority Board Member
MTCMA Certification – .75 points Leadership category
10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. BREAK/ SPONSOR BREAKOUT MINI SESSION - OTELCO
10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. The Future of Electric Vehicle Initiatives in Maine
As the independent administrator of energy efficiency programs in Maine, Efficiency Maine provides a variety of financial incentives for public and private entities to support programs and projects that will ultimately reduce greenhouse gases in our state. Join us to learn more about Efficiency Maine’s Electric Vehicle Initiatives, including their electric charging station initiative and grant program, as well as an update on the future of electric-powered vehicles, in general, and how towns and cities should think about fleet vehicle purchasing in the future.
Presenters: Anastasia Hediger, Program Manager, Climate and Policy Initiatives; Amalia (Molly) Siegel, Program Manager for Electric Vehicle Initiatives, Efficiency Maine; Ephrem Paraschak, Town Manager, Town of Gorham
MTCMA Certification – 1 point Finance/Budget category
11:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. BREAK/ SPONSOR BREAKOUT MINI SESSION - MISSION BROADBAND
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Using Artificial Intelligence to Lower Operating Costs & Environmental Impact
Did you know 45% of a building’s energy is consumed by the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system, and 30% is typically wasted? Artificial intelligence (AI), the transformative technology being used in a growing array of industries -- from automobile to healthcare to retail – is also a powerful tool for municipalities. A self-operating technology, AI optimizes existing HVAC systems to reduce energy consumption. AI-driven HVAC operations can also help mitigate the potential spread of pathogens and improve air quality. Join this session to learn ways in which AI can work within your municipality’s facilities.
Presenters: Mark Carter, Vice President, Smart Solutions, RealTerm Energy
MTCMA Certification – 1 point Leadership and Finance/Budget categories
12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. BREAK/ SPONSOR BREAKOUT MINI SESSION
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Wind Power’s Pioneer
Oh, the lessons learned! The Town of Mars Hill became Maine’s “granddaddy of ‘em all” in 2006, when First Wind Holdings built 28 wind turbines in this Aroostook County town of 1,410 people – the first major wind project in our state. Dave Cyr, who later helped oversee the community’s foray into wind energy, will provide updates on the project and explain the finances behind wind power in Mars Hill.
Presenter: David Cyr, Former Town Manager of Mars Hill
MTCMA Certification – 1 point Finance/Budget and Leadership categories
2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. BREAK/ SPONSOR BREAKOUT MINI SESSION - TITAN ENERGY
2:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. The Legal Aspects of Solar Power
This session will explore a variety of legal issues that municipalities may face when exploring the idea of municipal solar energy projects - from requests for proposals (RFPs) and power purchase agreements (PPAs) to land use issues and “solar ordinances.” Two leading municipal attorneys will lead you through a discussion of these and other topics.
Presenters: Mark Bower and Ben McCall, Attorneys, Jensen, Baird, Gardner & Henry
MTCMA Certification – 1 point Legal category
Day Two Agenda - April 16, 2021
9:00 a.m. Welcome Back!
9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Tightening Your Financial Security
Fraud schemes can fly under the radar until it is too late, resulting in costly remediation for the organizations affected. Data from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners shows that organizations lose approximately 5% of revenue due to fraud. This presentation will discuss fraud prevention from an organizational level down to individual employees, touching on risk assessment, internal control, and types of fraud, ending with a live demonstration of creating a realistic phishing email.
Presenters: Jeremy Clough, Information Security Officer, Machias Savings Bank; Jim Edwards, SVP Cash Management Solutions, Machias Savings Bank
MTCMA Certification – 1 point Finance/Budget category
10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. BREAK/ SPONSOR BREAKOUT MINI SESSION - SEBAGO TECHNICS
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. TRIO Toolbox
Harris Local Government’s TRIO software suite is a popular package that many small to large municipalities and water and sewer districts in Maine rely upon. This session is designed to help TRIO users understand the tool better, know where to turn for help – and ask questions of the Harris experts themselves.
Presenters: Ben Clairmont and Brian Hackett, TRIO/Harris Local Government
MTCMA Certification – 1 point Finance/Budget category
1 CMA/CAT re-certification credit through Maine Revenue Services
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. BREAK/ SPONSOR BREAKOUT MINI SESSIONS - EATON PEABODY
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Solar Siting: Encouraging Thoughtfully Sited Renewable Energy Development
Maine Audubon, along with several partners, has developed a variety of tools to help municipalities realize the benefits of solar development while avoiding and minimizing impacts to Maine’s most vulnerable natural resources. In addition to a model solar land use ordinance and low-impact best practice guidelines, Maine Audubon has created a mapping tool that brings together spatial information on electrical infrastructure, previously degraded sites, and natural resources to encourage thoughtfully sited solar projects across the state. We will share these tools and discuss solar siting strategy.
Presenter: Sarah Haggerty, Conservation Biologist/GIS Manager, Maine Audubon