By Rebecca Fleury
It is hard to believe this is my last newsletter article as your MME President. It certainly has been a year to remember. MME is full of fantastic leaders and local government managers. You step up in so many ways to serve your communities. You think outside the box, and you face global pandemics and natural disasters head on with compassion and grace. I believe this makes you some of the best municipal executives in the U.S.
I want to thank the Board for their tremendous efforts and support this year. We discussed many things and acted upon many things. You handled it professionally and with a great deal of thought and intentionality. It has been my honor to serve as your president. I know I leave you in good hands with Michael Cain and Christine Burns next year.
I look forward to gathering (safely) with all of you at the Winter Institute, January 25-28, 2022, in Troy. The Professional Development Committee is working hard to put a great agenda together. Be sure to register early!
Board Activity
The Board met on December 13 with another full agenda. We approved several things that I would like to share. One you are already aware. On December 16, I sent an email to all members informing that the Board approved an MME Event/Conference Code of Conduct. This was in response to concerns raised at the Summer Workshop about harassing and discriminatory behavior. Going forward, all registrations for MME events and conferences will have a box to check to confirm you understand and agree to the Code of Conduct.
The Board also discussed the proposed amendment to the MME Constitution, Article VI, per a letter dated November 17, 2021. We will hold a discussion with membership at the Winter Institute regarding the proposal and plan for a membership vote in the first quarter 2022. As written, the Board has concerns with the proposed language, but it is important we hear from the membership.
John Shay is chairing the current nominations process and the proposed change would not be in effect until the 2022 nominations process. A big thank you to John and all the members of the nominating committee for their efforts.
Another decision of the Board involved the creation of a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee with members to be appointed by the MME President. The DEI Committee will review the discussion notes from the conversation that took place in Grand Rapids, along with efforts of the ICMA and other state associations. Then, will formulate a recommendation to the Board on future tasks to be assigned to the Committee. The discussion notes from the Grand Rapids convening can be found on the MME website, in the DEI Committee section.
Lastly, the Board held a good discussion on sharing our MME membership list and contact information. In the past, this information has not been shared due to concerns with privacy. However, the Board agreed, moving forward, this information could be shared within the membership. An example would be sharing the list with committee chairs to disseminate information or poll the membership.
Membership Categories
The Board is still reviewing membership categories. A subcommittee was put together in May to review our membership and constitution language. They found some professional members that needed to move to affiliate members and that task was completed. The Board is still reviewing the MME Constitution use of the “Assistant to” title as qualifying for professional, voting membership level. The MME Constitution also allows for full ICMA Members to qualify as professional, voting members of MME. Given the recent changes in membership for ICMA, this may need further clarification as some MME members may qualify as voting members of ICMA under the new rules, but not MME. ICMA also has a threshold for full membership which includes senior staff (intended to be assistants/deputies) that seems to cause some confusion with some department heads and a number of members with nontraditional titles. This is still under review by the Board.
Listserv Task Force
An additional topic of discussion involves membership categories and listserv access. This was part of the scope of work for the Listserv Task Force. The Board reviewed the recommendations of the Listserv Task Force at their meeting on November 18, 2021 and approved them with one amendment. This amendment states the immediate past president and members of the Listserv Task Force will serve as listserv mediators for one year. After one year, the Board will evaluate the activities of the mediators to determine the need for any modifications.
The adopted listserv guidelines are available on the MME website and will be discussed at the Winter Institute. A big thank you to Al Vanderberg for chairing this task force.
Regional Groups
The Regional Groups Task Force also completed their work. The MME Board approved guidelines as proposed. The Mission of Regional Groups states that regional groups exist to provide local opportunity for municipal executives to engage with each other for a range of informal and formal purposes. Informal purposes include networking socializing, mentoring recruiting, and engaging in discussions of local, statewide, and national issues impacting the execution of their professional responsibilities. Formal purposes include educational opportunities such as speakers and municipal tours, acting as a liaison with nearby educational institutions with programs in municipal management, conducting outreach to foster interest in and appreciation for the municipal executive profession, and supporting the activities of MME and its statewide committees.
The Board discussed the need to have clear and non-overlapping boundaries for a regional map and that the map be posted on the MME website. The Board also asked that language be included to say that managers may attend any meeting they’d like, and the goal is for all to feel welcome somewhere. Additional groups may also be created, should this become a desired option.
The approved Guidelines for Regional Groups can be found on the MME website along with a boundary map. This will also be discussed at the Winter Institute. A big thank you to Bridgette Gransden for chairing this Task Force.
Staffing Support Options
The Staffing Support Task Force presented three options for the Board to consider; Option 1) Retain current staffing services relationship with MML; Option 2) Increase service level through one of three variants: a) negotiate additional support from MML; b) hire a new MML staff member who would report to MME Board; c) Seek additional staffing support on a contractual basis; Option 3) A “New Approach” that would discontinue MME’s support staffing relationship with MML and search for a new service provider.
The Board directed the Task Force to further explore Option 2; including updating the recommendations for support services with MML, as well as developing a more specific scope of services from either a contracted or hired executive director position. They also directed the Task Force to review the implications of this additional staffing in relation to MME membership dues amounts.
A big thank you to Keith Van Beek who is chairing the Staffing Support Task Force.
Advice for 2022
I offer a piece of advice as we close out 2021 and welcome in 2022: Remember to think twice about the words you use, and the manner in which you share those words. It is easy to bang out words on a keyboard but how those on the receiving end interpret those words could be very different from what you intended. Perhaps if we all remembered and practiced the Golden Rule, our world would be a little kinder.
Be mindful of the wake you leave behind.
Rebecca Fleury
President, Michigan Municipal Executives
City Manager, Battle Creek
Rebecca Fleury has served in local government management for 21 years, specializing in the areas of public finance, community development, and public safety. She has served as the city manager for Battle Creek since October 2014, and also served in the City of Kalamazoo, the City of Hastings, and the Village of Middleville. She is a member of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and is a Credentialed Manager through ICMA, as well as an active member of the Michigan Municipal Executives serving as president, having served on several committees, and as past chair of the Professional Development Committee. You may reach her at rlfleury@battlecreekmi.gov.