Above: State officials will be coming to Southborough next month to train Town officials and the public on rules of governance.
The Town will hold three training sessions next month related to government ethics/conflicts of interest, political campaigns, and Open Meeting Law. While the Town is hosting the sessions, they will be run by state officials.
The free sessions are not only for committee/board volunteers, but also for members of the public who want to better understand the rules. For planning purposes, pre-registration is requested.
Town Clerk Jim Hegarty asked me to share:
The public is invited to attend these training sessions.
The Southborough Town Clerk’s Office is hosting 3 training seminars conducted by state officials. Each training session will be held at the Southborough Senior Center, 9 Cordaville Road.
- State Ethics Commission – Wednesday November 6, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
The State Ethics Commission serves the public by fostering integrity in government. The training will include Conflict of Interest rules which apply to elected officials, all town employees and volunteers appointed to boards and committees. The training will be provided by David Giannotti, who is the Public Education and Communications Division Chief for the State Ethics Commission.
Over the past few years, there have been many issues raised regarding ethics complaints and violations, so this will be a great opportunity to learn what is and what isn’t an ethics violation.
- Office of Campaign and Political Finance – Wednesday November 13, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
The OCPF administers the Massachusetts campaign finance laws which provide for limitations, and in some cases absolute prohibitions, on certain sources of campaign contributions and participation. These rules apply to candidates running for office and in many cases, they can regulate the actions supports can take on the candidate’s behalf. The training will be provided by Jason Tait, Director of Communication & Public Education
- Attorney General – Open Meeting Law – Wednesday November 20, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
The Attorney General’s Office works to promote openness and transparency in government through fair and consistent enforcement of the Open Meeting Law. That law dictates that most meetings of public bodies be held in public, and it establishes rules that public bodies must follow in the creation and maintenance of meeting minutes and other records relating to those meetings. An attorney from the Attorney General’s Office of Open Government will provide the training. This is the same unit that reviews and renders decisions on Open Meeting Law complaints.
The Town of Southborough has been the subject of several Open Meeting Law complaints in recent years. This training will help the public, elected officials, and volunteers appointed to boards and committees understand their rights and responsibilities.
To ensure that we have a sufficient quantity of handouts available at the meeting, please RSVP to Southborough Town Clerk Jim Hegarty via email at jhegarty@southboroughma.com.
Please call Southborough Town Clerk Jim Hegarty at (508) 485-0710 x 3007 if you have any questions.
The public is invited to attend these training sessions.
Hello,
As a reminder, the Office of Campaign and Political Finance will be providing training on laws related to campaign finances and elections tomorrow night – Wednesday November 13, from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at the Senior Center.
These rules apply to candidates running for office and in many cases, they can regulate the actions supports can take on the candidate’s behalf.
The training will be provided by Jason Tait, Director of Communication & Public Education
Jim Hegarty
Southborough Town Clerk
(508) 485-0710 x 3007