4 tips to improve hybrid team collaboration | Agreement between publisher and Mass. city turns sour | Philadelphia readies for protests as Chauvin verdict nears
April 20, 2021
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Be intentional about including remote and on-site team members in meetings, assignments and communication, writes Remote Leadership Institute co-founder Wayne Turmel. "It needs to be both easy and comfortable for people to reach out to each other, include all team members in discussions and develop the relationships that make work happen, regardless of if they're at the next desk or in the next time zone," he writes.
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The Taunton, Mass., City Council has nullified a Tax Increment Financing arrangement established in 2017 for a Boston Globe printing plant as the relationship has deteriorated. The Globe recently changed its tax designation to manufacturing, which exempts it from paying personal property tax and results in Taunton losing around $700,000 per year.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has declared an emergency in Philadelphia at the request of city officials and is deploying National Guard forces to support local law enforcement in anticipation of unrest as former police officer Derek Chauvin's trial nears its conclusion. City officials say they have learned from errors made during protests last summer in the wake of George Floyd's killing.
Residents of Morrison, Ill., will be able to receive mass emergency alerts from the city's new CodeRED system, which can transmit emergency messaging via phone, text, email and social media posts. "The system will be used to notify our community of severe weather, public safety emergencies, boil orders, street closures and any other critical notices," says Police Chief Brian Melton.
Officials in Florence County, S.C., hope agreements with two companies could help replace some of the 360 jobs that were lost when a local recycling plant shut down in January. Councilmembers last week discussed deals for the unnamed companies, noting they would bring 329 jobs to the region.
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Officials in West St. Paul, Minn., have ordered Ryan Weyandt and Michael Hainlin to remove the Black Lives Matter mural painted on their fence, citing a three ordinances. City Manager Ryan Schroeder says the city has received multiple complaints about the mural, but City Council member Lisa Eng-Sarne has suggested relaxing the rules.
Officials in Ashiya, Japan, say an anonymous man has donated approximately $9,200 to the city, asking that it be used to support youth who are caring for older family members while studying or working. The city plans to honor the donor's wishes, adding the money to its social welfare fund.
City Manager Garry Brumback of Treasure Island, Fla., informed commissioners this month that he intends to retire by June 1. The commissioners plan to discuss the hiring process for the next manager at their workshop meeting today.
With new cyberthreats emerging every day, ICMA has partnered with the National Association of Counties (NACo) to strengthen local governments' cybersecurity efforts. The Cybersecurity Collaborative provides top-tier technology security professionals, information, intelligence, best practices, and other resources to prepare for, prevent, and mitigate cybersecurity threats. Learn more about the Collaborative and sign up to receive more information today!
ICMA invites all members to share their knowledge and skills by serving on a member task force or committee in 2021. Member task forces and committees draw on the expertise and interests of a broad cross section of the membership to study issues of interest and importance to local governments and to the organization. Volunteering also provides opportunities for member connection, networking, and professional development. To express your interest in serving, log in to your ICMA member profile here, find the "My Volunteer Opportunities" link in your profile and submit your selection(s) by May 7. Questions? Contact Member Benefits & Services.
ICMA offers training and technical assistance to local governments to promote ethical conduct by local government staff, elected officials, and those appointed to serve on boards and commissions; contact Martha Perego via email.
