OML UPDATE AT-A-GLANCE
Here are the top five things you need to know from this past week:
· Next week is the 2021 OML Annual Conference! Join us from October 20-22 for our virtual conference, featuring an expanded agenda with even more topics and presentations on issues critical to municipalities. You can access this new expanded agenda HERE. We will also be sending recordings of each presentation to all attendees. This means no one will face any scheduling conflicts as you will be able to view the recording any time at your convenience. Additionally, we have lowered the registration fee to $150. If you have not already, you can register for the conference HERE.
· As a follow-up to the October 5 webinar with BroadbandOhio titled “Ohio’s Efforts to Bring Affordable Broadband to Unserved and Underserved Areas, BroadbandOhio has made available the following information links in response to questions asked by our members during the webinar. You can access all of the links HERE.
· The Municipal Finance Officers Association of Ohio (MFOA) is excited to announce that it will be holding its 2021 Annual Fall Conference virtually November 3-5. This conference will provide attendees with the training they need to ensure excellent job performance, all from the comfort and convenience from wherever they are currently working. MFOA has greatly reduced registration costs to for a MFOA member is $50.00 and the cost for a nonmember is $75.00. All registrants will receive a copy of each session after the conferences, allowing participants to listen to any of the sessions that they might have missed at their convenience. You can find the conference agenda HERE. If you have not yet already, register HERE. Read more in the article below.
· Municipal income tax administrators are invited to register for an upcoming webinar on Thursday, October 28 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. entitled “Municipal Income Tax: COVID-19 Impacts and What’s Next”. This webinar will cover extension of the temporary withholding provision in Sec. 29 of HB 197 until the end of 2021, which was enacted in the state operating budget earlier this year. The webinar will also cover the upcoming impacts of the expiration of Sec. 29 and what municipalities can do to prepare. There will be an opportunity for Q&A during the webinar. Register HERE.
· Calling all municipal engineers: the League has launched the newly-created Municipal Engineers Association of Ohio to enable municipal engineers to take advantage of peer-to-peer networking opportunities, understand and impact state legislation and policies, and receive professional development. Inaugural members will help shape the mission, goals, and priorities of this important organization. Learn more and find the link to join in the article below.
JOIN US NEXT WEEK FOR VIRTUAL 2021 OML ANNUAL CONFERENCE WITH NEW AND EXPANDED AGENDA
The 2021 OML Annual Conference is happening from October 20-22. By going virtual, the League is able to offer attendees an expanded agenda, adding even more topics and presentations critical to Ohio’s municipal leaders. What all are we covering? Here are a few examples:
What the heck is happening in Congress? Clarence Anthony, Executive Director of the National League of Cities (NLC), will enlighten our attendees on federal legislation such as the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and where negotiations are with the current infrastructure package, and provide updates on other critical NLC programs and opportunities important to Ohio’s municipalities.
What do the new population trends mean to your community, other municipalities and the state? Representatives from the U.S. Census Bureau will discuss the impacts of the data from the 2020 census and what these trends and changes in demographics mean to the future of our state.
What is the current situation with the municipal income tax and what is the future impact to collections as it relates to new working conditions? Attendees will learn the latest about the changing landscape of this critical issue with a panel of municipal income tax experts.
What are the best strategies to tackle affordable housing issues and what are other communities doing? Experts in the field will give our attendees the most up to date information on opportunities and strategies to address these continuing challenges.
How do I attract more jobs to my community? The League is excited to host Mr. Ralph Inforzato, CEO of the Japanese External Trade Organization (JETRO) and Mr. Yusuke Shindo, Consul General of Japan in Detroit, to share with our members the mission of their non-profit organization that connects businesses and communities with the resources they need to successfully bring Japanese businesses that are ready and waiting to come to Ohio communities.
As a local elected official, have you ever thought “I wish I would have known…”? City of Mount Vernon Mayor Matthew Starr will present on ways municipalities can drastically improve their onboarding programs for local elected officials to reduce the learning curve and enable early success in areas like productivity, decision-making, and understanding the organizational culture. This is a can’t-miss session.
New state funding? Tell me more! The two-year state operating budget created several grant programs that can help municipalities fund essential local services. The Ohio Department of Development will present on both brownfield demolition grants and broadband expansion funding, while the Ohio Department of Public Safety will discuss new body-worn camera grants for local law enforcement agencies.
Peer-to-peer networking opportunities? We will once again hold our very popular roundtable discussions for village and city officials so members can take advantage of this crucial peer-to-peer networking opportunity.
These are only a few examples of critical information the League will be presenting at this year’s (virtual) 2021 OML Annual Conference. The full agenda can be found HERE.
Busy on the 20th-22nd? No worries. We will be sending recordings of each presentation to all attendees. This means no one will face any scheduling conflicts as you will be able to view the recording any time at your convenience.
We have lowered the registration fee to $150. If you have not already, you can register for the conference HERE.
We are looking forward to offering our attendees an agenda packed with valuable information covering timely issues that Ohio's local leaders need to navigate these unprecedented times. Make sure you register soon!
LEAGUE OFFERS OPPONENT TESTIMONY ON HOUSE BILL PREEMPTING HOME RULE AUTHORITY ON KNIFE REGULATIONS
This week, the League offered opponent testimony on the House version of legislation preempting municipal authority over the regulation of knives HB 243, which is sponsored by Rep. Cutrona (R – Canfield) by prohibiting local governments from regulating or taxing knives and knife components. You can read the opponent testimony in full HERE.
This bill is another preemption against local authority as granted to municipalizes by the Ohio Constitution and is opposed by the League. We will continue to keep our members updated on this legislation.
INVITATION TO JOIN MUNICIPAL ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION OF OHIO (MEAO)
The League is inviting your municipal engineer to become an inaugural member of the Municipal Engineers Association of Ohio. As an inaugural member, your municipality will help us shape the mission, goals, and priorities of this important organization. Membership will allow you to engage your fellow municipal engineers, understand and impact state legislation, programs and policies, receive professional development. Learn more about MEAO membership HERE.
MUNICIPAL FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION (MFOA) OPENS REGISTRATION FOR VIRTUAL CONFERENCE NOVEMBER 3-5
The Municipal Finance Officers Association of Ohio (MFOA) is excited to announce that it will be holding its 2021 Annual Fall Conference virtually November 3-5.
This conference will provide attendees with the training they need to ensure excellent job performance, all from the comfort and convenience from wherever they are currently working. The conference agenda is packed with talented presenters that attenders will enjoy listening to while gaining great deal of invaluable knowledge and information.
MFOA has greatly reduced registration costs: the registration fee for a MFOA member is $50.00 and the cost for a nonmember is $75.00. Participants will need a computer and a phone. Registration requires a valid individual email address, and multiple registrations with a bulk email address will be rejected.
Registration confirmation, instructions and materials will be sent to paid attendees on October 29, 2021. In order to ensure that the instructions and materials reach attendees in enough time, we have set a registration and payment deadline of Wednesday October 27, 2021.
All registrants will receive a copy of each session after the conferences, allowing participants to listen to any of the sessions that they might have missed at their convenience.
Continuing education credits will be available. You can find the conference agenda HERE. If you have not yet already, register HERE. We hope you will be able to join us for this exciting virtual conference!
BROADBANDOHIO TO HOST WEBINAR ON GRANT PROGRAM CHALLENGE PROCESS
On Monday, October 25 at 2 p.m., BroadbandOhio will be hosting a webinar entitled “Ohio Residential Broadband Expansion Grant Program Challenge Process.” Attendees will learn everything they need to know about what it means when there are challenges to applicants’ addresses. BroadbandOhio staff will explain the formal process and timeline that goes along with the challenge process. At the conclusion of the webinar, BroadbandOhio will review examples of Frequently Ask Questions related to the process and host a Q&A session.
To learn more and to register, click HERE.
OHIO EPA TO HOST WEBINAR ON NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (NPDES)
On October 21 at 10 a.m., the Ohio EPA will be hosting a webinar entitled “NPDES Permitting New and Proposed Rules and Policies.” The webinar will discuss new and proposed rules, policies, in-process, and upcoming regulations that could impact your non-stormwater National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. Learn more and register HERE.
FREE UPCOMING OML WEBINAR ON WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
On November 18 at 11:00 a.m., the League will be hosting a free webinar entitled “Workers’ Compensation Issues Most Impacting Cities and Villages”. The Ohio’s Firefighter Cancer Presumption law was enacted four years ago and PTSD legislation for first responders was passed last year. These laws impact cities & villages as much as any employer in the State. This presentation will discuss how cities & villages can investigate and respond to these claims. Learn more and register HERE.
PROCLAMATION CAN HELP MUNICIPALITIES SHOW SUPPORT FOR AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS
The following is a communication from the Ohio Afterschool Network:
Many communities across the United States will secure a proclamation from their governor or municipal leaders in support of Lights on Afterschool. In fact, nearly every governor in the country signs a proclamation each year. Gov. DeWine has provided a proclamation for 2021! This gesture is a simple way for municipalities to show their support for the programs, youth and families in Ohio. You can access sample proclamation language HERE.
COMMITTEE RECAP: BILLS OF MUNICIPAL INTEREST
· SB 56 – Design Contracts. Sponsored by Sen. Blessing (R – Colerain Twp.), would regulate the use of indemnity provisions in professional design contracts related to public improvements. During its third hearing before the House Civil Justice Committee, no testimony was given on the bill. The League is neutral on this legislation.
· SB 105 – Minority Businesses. Sponsored by Sen. Sykes (D – Akron) and Sen. Schuring (R – Canton), would require political subdivisions to recognize state certifications of minority business enterprises. The bill received a first hearing before the House Economic and Workforce Development Committee. The League is neutral on this legislation.
