Voices in Local Government

Guest Information

Michael Paulhus, town manager, Plainville, CT. LinkedIn
 

Topics

Crushing the Stigma of Local Government

Building a Brand for Local Government

Empowering a Creative Social Media Team

Engaging the Community Through Content

Measuring Success and Overcoming Negativity

Tools and Strategies for Effective Communication

The Role of Government Structure in Community Engagement

Resources

Self-Paced Online Course: Communicating with Elected Officials, Staff, and the Media

Free On-demand Webinar: Improving Trust and Transparency with Better Public Communications

See Plainville's social accounts in action:

LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.

Topics

FEMA Individual Assistance.

FEMA Public Assistance.

Cost and reimbursement and documentation.

Assign someone on staff as the point to understand FEMA reporting requirements and ensure compliance.

Categories of reimbursement and cost share between Federal, state, and local.

Policies for overtime pay.

The importance of not going it alone.

How to take care of yourself and staff.

Resources

ICMA Hurricane Response Resources

Federal Disaster Assistance 

Leadership Before, During, and After a Crisis

Guest Information

Mark Zeigler, Senior Lecturer and Director of First-Year Experience Programs, Florida State University

Desiree Casanova, Assistant to the County Administrator, Sarasota Florida

 

Resources from ICMA Learning Lab

Self-Paced Online Course: Communicating with Elected Officials, Staff, and the Media

Free On-demand Webinar: Improving Trust and Transparency with Better Public Communications

Guest Information

Mark Zeigler, Senior Lecturer and Director of First-Year Experience Programs, Florida State University

Desiree Casanova, Assistant to the County Administrator, Sarasota Florida
 

Takeaways

• Effective communication requires understanding the past, present, and future of interactions.
• Empathy is crucial in communication, especially in local government settings.
• Nonverbal communication can account for a significant portion of the message conveyed.
• Follow-up communication is essential to show that you value the conversation.
• Personalized responses can significantly improve public trust in government.
• Active listening involves not just hearing but understanding the speaker's message.
• Tailoring communication styles to the audience can enhance understanding and cooperation.
• Silence can be detrimental; addressing issues directly is important.
• Building trust takes time and requires consistent, genuine interactions.
• Stories can be powerful tools to connect with skeptical audiences.
   

Chapters

Introduction to Effective Communication

Philosophical Foundations of Communication

Understanding Roles in Communication

Empathy and Active Listening

Nonverbal Communication Techniques

The Power of Follow-Up Communication

Personalized Responses in Local Government

Tailoring Communication Styles

Resources from ICMA Learning Lab

Self-Paced Online Course: Communicating with Elected Officials, Staff, and the Media

Free On-demand Webinar: Improving Trust and Transparency with Better Public Communications

Guest Information

Dave O’Reilly, CivicPlus Chief Operating Officer

Mike Paciello, AudioEye Chief Accessibility Officer

Takeaways

The Department of Justice has issued a final ruling on website accessibility, requiring compliance with specific timeframes based on population size and tax income.

Local governments need to establish a clear compliance plan, conduct an audit of their digital presence, and prioritize fixing frequently accessed pages.

Residents with disabilities should be involved in the feedback process to ensure their needs are met.

Building core competency within the organization and vetting vendors with deep domain expertise is crucial for successful implementation.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

02:44 Compliance Deadlines

08:20 The Role of Feedback and Resident Engagement

18:49 The Urgency of Compliance

22:16 Challenges and Vendor Selection

27:43 Ensuring Compliance and Building Competency

31:03 Conclusion

 

Resources

7 Steps to Meeting the DOJ's New Web Accessibility Ruling

 

Chapters

Part Three

The successful response at the Texas Allen Outlet Mall shooting

Building Trust and Coordination

The Role of City and County Managers

Ensuring Training and Resources

Resources

ALERRT.org

UnitedOnGuns.org for free downloads on the Mass Shooting Playbook plus first 24 hours

Ten Essential Actions to Improve School Safety

Chapters

Part Two

Leadership and Chain of Command

Collaboration between Law Enforcement and Fire Departments

Protocols and Tabletop Exercises

Challenges and Planning for Response in Rural Areas

The Chain of Survival and Models of Response

Resources

ALERRT.org

UnitedOnGuns.org for free downloads on the Mass Shooting Playbook plus first 24 hours

Ten Essential Actions to Improve School Safety

Chapters

Part One

Introduction and Commitment to Local Solutions

Law Enforcement Preparedness Overview

Challenges of Box Checking and the Need for Ongoing Training

Training Expectations for Law Enforcement Officers

Funding Options and the Role of City Managers

Making Proper Response a Priority

 

Resources

ALERRT.org

UnitedOnGuns.org for free downloads on the Mass Shooting Playbook plus first 24 hours

Ten Essential Actions to Improve School Safety

Warren Hutmacher joins ICMA's Voices in Local Government podcast for a recurring Q/A theme on local gov careers, hiring, and recruiting. Today's topic is what can lose... or keep a great employee doing great work.

Warren Hutmacher joins ICMA's Voices in Local Government podcast for a recurring Q/A theme on local gov careers, hiring, and recruiting. Today's topic is mandatory residency requirements for city/county managers. Pros, cons, questions, and concerns. Then listen for part two, How to Lose Great Employees.