The 351

As Massachusetts heads into the final stretch of its two-year legislative session, the stakes for cities and towns across the Commonwealth couldn’t be higher. MMA Legislative Director Dave Koffman helps unpack the key municipal priorities currently pending on Beacon Hill — from public education funding and local aid in the Fiscal 2027 state budget to long-term investments in roads, bridges, and critical infrastructure. He speaks about how local leaders can help shape meaningful policy solutions, and offers a behind-the-scenes look at how the MMA advocates for all 351 cities and towns. For Further Reading:  Navigating the Storm: Charting a Course Toward Fiscal Stability: https://www.mma.org/resources/a-perfect-storm-cities-and-towns-face-historic-fiscal-pressures/ MMA offers policy recommendations to address fiscal ‘Perfect Storm’ facing municipalities: https://www.mma.org/mma-offers-policy-recommendations-to-address-fiscal-perfect-storm-facing-municipalities/ MMA Legislative Package: https://www.mma.org/advocacy/mma-legislative-package/ To learn more about the MMA: www.mma.org

From 1,400 attendees and 377 first-time participants to viral videos, fiery “Burning Questions,” and remarks from state and national leaders, this year’s Connect 351 event showcased both the scale and the spirit of local government in Massachusetts.In this episode, MMA Deputy Executive Director Katie McCue joins Adam and John to reflect on the moments, messages, and momentum from this year’s annual Massachusetts Municipal Association conference.You’ll hear why national leaders say the collaboration between local and state government in Massachusetts stands out across the country, how members are rallying around the MMA’s “Perfect Storm” report, and what it means to advocate collectively in challenging times.Plus, reflections on the event from Danvers Assistant Town Manager and Communications Director Jen Breaker, Sharon Select Board Chair Kiana Baskin, and Ashfield Town Administrator Paul McLatchy III.For Further Reading:Learn more about the event: https://www.mma.org/connect-351/ To learn more about the MMA: www.mma.org

What if the solution for healing divisions in our nation started at the local level? UNITE CEO Tim Shriver and Dignity Index co-creator Tami Pyfer explain their hopeful, practical path to improving public discourse and strengthening our relationships and our country. In this episode, they join Adam and John at Connect 351 to talk through the importance of dignity, how they see the role of local leaders in fighting against the “contempt industrial complex,” and where they see change happening every day – at school board meetings, city council chambers, and other community gatherings.For Further Reading:The Dignity Index: https://www.dignity.us To learn more about the MMA: www.mma.org

What are the real pressures facing local leaders in Massachusetts in 2026? In this episode, we speak with the outgoing president and incoming president of the MMA — Franklin Town Administrator Jaime Hellen and Amesbury Mayor Kassandra Gove, respectively — as they go in-depth about how local leaders are often torn in multiple directions and work to achieve success for their communities under the constraints of time, staffing and budgets. They share how fortunate they feel to do the work they do, despite the challenges, and how the MMA is the “glue” that brings local leaders together to solve mutual problems. They also discuss tackling funding shortfalls, and what they’ve learned from their mutual love of hiking.For Further Reading:More on Jaime and Kassandra’s leadership: https://www.mma.org/jamie-hellen-is-new-mma-president-kassandra-gove-is-vp/ To learn more about the MMA: www.mma.org

What can Massachusetts leaders learn from someone with three and a half decades of public service experience? Kate Fitzpatrick spent 35 years with the Town of Needham, and is now the Northeast Regional Director for the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). Throughout her career, she’s recognized the importance of navigating divisions, building consensus, and engaging with the community. She shares her proven strategies and explains why she takes the long view, why process matters just as much as outcomes, and why mentorship is vital to the health of our cities and towns.For Further Reading:Check out Kate’s blog: https://verykatefitzpatrick.com/ To learn more about the MMA: www.mma.org

What does a lack of funding from the federal level mean for leaders of cities and towns? In this episode, we look beyond the national politics that are dominating the headlines and dive deeper into the real work of nonpartisan local government with Clarence Anthony, Executive Director of the National League of Cities. A former mayor himself, Clarence talks about the opportunities for strong leadership in cities and towns in this moment, the importance of humanity in public service, the toll of polarization, and what he sees are the most urgent priorities to address. For Further Reading:Check out Clarence’s podcast with the National League of Cities, CitiesSpeak: https://www.nlc.org/news-insights/citiesspeak-podcastLearn more about Connect 351, where Clarence will be a keynote speaker: https://www.mma.org/nlcs-clarence-anthony-is-saturday-keynote-for-connect-351 To learn more about the MMA: www.mma.org

As we look into 2026, municipalities across Massachusetts face an onslaught of challenges, from housing affordability to energy costs to maintaining the quality essential services that residents rely on every day. Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll highlights what the administration is doing to help communities tackle these issues, the importance of local governments and public service, and the lessons she learned as Mayor of Salem that she uses to inform her leadership today. For Further Reading:• Lt. Gov. Driscoll reflects on journey from local to state elected office• Healey-Driscoll Administration Files Municipal Empowerment Bill to Enhance Ability of Local Leaders to Deliver High-Quality Services for Their Communities• Administration re-files Municipal Empowerment Act• MMA, local leaders urge legislators to support Municipal Empowerment Act 00:32 Massachusetts: A Historical and Demographic Overview00:55 Introducing the Lieutenant Governor01:51 Key Issues Facing Massachusetts05:39 Municipal Empowerment Act09:18 State and Local Government Collaboration10:35 Lieutenant Governor's Reflections on Public Service13:50 Challenges and Achievements in Local Government17:11 Federal and State Government Relations20:40 Co-Leadership in the Healey-Driscoll Administration23:19 Reflections on Public Service and Future Aspirations To learn more about the MMA: www.mma.org

A combination of inflation-driven costs, diminishing state support for municipal services, and tight restrictions on local revenue-raising have created a “perfect storm” for local governments in Massachusetts. In this episode, hosts Adam and John talk about the MMA’s ground-breaking “Perfect Storm” report, which examines the fiscal challenges faced by the state’s 351 cities and towns, and the association’s “Navigating the Storm” response. They discuss key findings around the insufficient recovery of local aid post-Great Recession, the unreasonableness of Proposition 2½ in current economic conditions — and potential solutions, particularly the critical need for state reinvestment to support essential local services.For Further Reading: • Navigating the Storm: Charting a Course Toward Fiscal Stability• MMA offers policy recommendations to address fiscal ‘Perfect Storm’ facing municipalities 00:57 The Perfect Storm Report: Background and Process04:54 Key Findings of the Report10:25 Impact of Fiscal Challenges on Local Services13:13 Proposition 2½: Analysis and Recommendations20:20 State Aid and Financial Recommendations24:30 The Importance of Local Government Services28:12 Advocacy and the Road Ahead To learn more about the MMA: www.mma.org

Leading Massachusetts into the future will take the talent, dedication, and hard work of leaders from all of our 351 cities and towns. Our mission at the Massachusetts Municipal Association is to help those leaders deal with some of the toughest issues in the state. Get a sneak peak of the show, where hosts Adam Chapdelaine, executive director of the MMA, and John Ouellette, communications director at the MMA, speak with the innovators and experts who are leading the Commonwealth forward and working to make it stronger.   To learn more about the MMA: www.mma.org