We Love Where You Live

Supporting Mental Health During the Coronavirus Outbreak

Host: Emily Kieliszewski, Membership Engagement Specialist, Michigan Municipal League

 

Guest: Dr. Debra Pinals, Medical Director for Behavioral Health and Forensic Programs, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

 

During this global health pandemic, local government leaders are on the front lines providing leadership to communities, often while dealing with the crisis in their own homes. This session shares valuable guidance on how leaders can cope with extreme personal and professional stressors and adjust to changes in how we all connect and work. This webinar also includes action-oriented tools for leaders to bolster commitment and efforts to support employee mental health at this time.

Michigan Dept. of Treasury - COVID-19 Updates and Resources for Local Governments

The Michigan Department of Treasury presented this webinar in partnership with the Michigan Municipal League, Michigan Townships Association, and the Michigan Association of Counties. Topics include Michigan economic forecasting, FEMA update, State budget process, and local government budgeting and projections.

Re-opening Your Community: What's the Best Strategy?

Host: Emily Kieliszewski, Membership Engagement Specialist, Michigan Municipal League

Guests:
Joseph Gacioch, City Manager, Ferndale
Melanie Piana, Mayor, Ferndale
Deborah Stuart, City Manager, Mason

With COVID-19 cases on the decline in Michigan, it appears we are on the horizon of gradually returning to some version of normalcy. Do you have a plan to re-open your community? Should you have a plan? Hear leaders in two Michigan communities discuss their plans to get back to running local government in the wake of the statewide shutdown. We hope this webinar gives you some ideas on ways you might re-open your own community in the coming weeks and months.

 

Considerations for Municipal Enforcement of Executive Order 2020-42

Host: Emily Kieliszewski, Membership Engagement Specialist, Michigan Municipal League

Guest: Michael Bogren, Partner, Plunkett Cooney, PC

Michael Bogren, partner at Plunkett Cooney, examines the constitutional and statutory underpinnings of the recent executive orders issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He also examines the enforcement authority of municipalities and discusses issues related to enforcement of specific provisions of EO 2020-42 including the restrictions on the sale of goods, the prohibition on travel between residences, and the prohibition on certain gatherings.

Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) - What Public Employers Need to Know

Host: Emily Kieliszewski, Membership Engagement Specialist, Michigan Municipal League

Guests:
Mel Muskovitz, Attorney, Dykema
Jim Hermon, Attorney, Dykema

On March 18, 2020, the federal government signed into law the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which requires all  employers to provide two weeks paid sick leave to employees who are unable to work or telework due to COVID-19 related issues, and to provide up to 12 weeks leave (with 10 weeks paid) to employees who are unable to work or telework because they have to take time off to care for children who are at home because of a school or daycare closure.

 

This new law imposes significant new requirements on both public and private sector employers. During this webinar, Dykema labor and employment attorneys, Jim Hermon and Mel Muskovitz, discuss the act, including specific issues related to public sector employers.  In addition, the webinar helps public sector employers prepare for the next phase  of the pandemic by discussing issues related to the return to work of employees.

COVID-19 Updates and Resources for Local Governments

The Michigan Department of Treasury partnered with the League, Michigan Townships Association, and Michigan Association of Counties for this webinar. Topics include local government economic impacts, state resources, and federal funding information.

MBC-LEO COVID-19 Discussion

Host: Lois Allen Richardson, President, Michigan Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials

Guests:
Garlin Gilchrist, Lt. Governor, State of Michigan
Dr. A. Oveta Fuller, Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan

Lt. Governor Gilchrist and Dr. A. Oveta Fuller led a discussion with MBC-LEO members on COVID-19, its impact on the African-American community, and ways that we can help our communities during this crisis.

 

Secure the Cities: Cybersecurity 101 for Michigan's Municipalities

Host: Emily Kieliszewski, Membership Engagement Specialist, Michigan Municipal League

Guests:
Andy Brush, Cyber Security Partnerships, State of Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget
Jeff Hoffman, Detective Sergeant, Michigan Cyber Command Center

Cyber attacks on municipalities rose aggressively in 2019, exposing cities across the country to massive data breaches, hijacked services, and costing communities millions. 2020 was looking to be more of the same, and now we are faced with supporting and securing a collection of new teleworkers due to COVID-19. Local government databases, utilities, emergency services are all at risk. Local communities often lack the resources and knowledge to fight back. Many municipalities are unaware of the resources and information that is available at the state level. In this webinar, you’ll hear about the impact of cyber attacks on local governments, what state departments are doing to protect your cities from attacks, and learn best practices on how to detect and respond to modern cyber-attacks against our communities in a growing digital world.

 

New FOIA Executive Order - Flexibility During COVID-19

Host: Emily Kieliszewski, Membership Engagement Specialist, Michigan Municipal League

Guest: Lisa J. Hamameh, Attorney, Rosati, Schultz, Joppich & Amtsbuechler, PC

On April 5, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-38, which relaxes the requirements for responding to FOIA requests received during the State of Emergency related to COVID-19. The stated purpose of the Executive Order is to protect workers who handle FOIA requests by allowing public bodies to defer all or some portion of requests that would require workers to report to work in-person. This webinar will help you understand how to handle FOIA requests under the relaxed rules and will offer suggestions for best practices.

COVID-19 - Leading in a Crisis, with Harvard Professor Stephen Goldsmith

Host: Emily Kieliszewski, Membership Engagement Specialist, Michigan Municipal League

Guest:
Stephen Goldsmith, Daniel Paul Professor of the Practice of Government and the Director of the Innovations in American Government Program, Harvard University

Leadership skills are never more important than in an emergency such as the coronavirus pandemic we are currently experiencing. In this webinar, Harvard Professor Stephen Goldsmith shares some of the best ways to harness leadership in times of crisis. He also highlights how to use technology to create a more responsive government that engenders citizen trust.