Improve Your Computer Security – These Model Policies Can Help! 

Mon. Sep 28, 2020, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Speaker
Alex Caron, Professional Services Director, Leahy Center for Digital Forensics & Cyber Security, Champlain College

Implementing computer security policies will help protect your municipality from costly cyber-attacks. Experts at Champlain College’s Leahy Center for Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity developed templates for five foundational policies for VLCT members. The templates are designed to meet the needs of small municipalities. Learn how to protect your computer infrastructure today! 

Click here to watch the recorded presentation [1]

Click here to download the presentation slides [2]

Modernize Your Land Records

Mon. Sep 28, 2020, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Speaker
Tanya Marshall, State Archivist and Chief Records Officer, State of Vermont

Tanya Marshall explains the legislative intent of Vermont’s Coronavirus Municipal Records Digitization Grants, national standards and best practices for recording and providing access to land records, and how municipalities can make further investments to modernize their land records.

Click here to watch the recorded presentation [3]

Click here to download the presentation slides
[4]

Responding to COVID-19 – Lessons Learned and Best Practices Going Forward

Tue. Sep 29, 2020, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Speaker
Emily Harris, Vermont Emergency Management, Engagement Section Chief, State of Vermont

Emily Harris, MPA, discusses lessons learned as we grapple with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. What are best practices going forward? What have we learned about best ways to communicate with constituents and how to keep Vermonters safe? What does preparing for the next crisis entail? 

Session Resources & Links

Vermont Emergency Management [5] Reusable face mask municipal points of contact, information on FEMA Public Assistance, municipal Q&A about COVID-19

Vermont Emergency Preparedness Conference [6]9/29 & 9/30, 1-5pm both days

FEMA Preparedness Training for Vermont Community-Based Organizations [7] 9/30, 10-11:30am

Agency of Commerce and Community Development [8] Travel information, work safe guidance, signage

Vermont Department of Health [9] Prevention tips, guidance for schools, information about quarantine

Pop up Testing [10]

Vermont League of Cities and Towns [11] Recorded trainings, reopening guidance, Town Operations Frequently Asked Questions

Vermont Department of Taxes [12] Local Government Expense Reimbursement Grant information

Food resources:

o   Farmers to Families Registration [13]

o   Other food resources: dial 2-1-1

Emergency Relief Assistance Fund [14] How much money each town is eligible for from the state following a disaster.

Click here to watch the recorded presentation [15]

Click here to download the presentation slides [16]

 

What “Defund the Police” Means for Municipalities

Tue. Sep 29, 2020, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Speaker
Lou Reiter, Co-Director, Legal & Liability Risk Management Institute

The 'Defund' movement may provide law enforcement agencies and municipalities with a chance to make productive changes in mission and practice. Several issues are discussed, including community flashpoints, civilian grievances, the internal numbers game, external investigations, considerations for small police departments, and the future of U.S. policing.

Click to watch the recorded presentation [17]

Click here to download the presentation slides [18] [16]

 

Economic Recovery and Stability During COVID-19

Thu. Oct 1, 2020, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Speakers

Joan Goldstein, Commissioner, Vermont Department of Economic Development, State of Vermont

Josh Hanford, Commissioner, Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development, State of Vermont

Austin Davis, Government Affairs Manager, Lake Champlain Chamber of Commerce

Local economies and the vibrant downtowns and village centers that define our communities are suddenly in economic crisis. Even with economic recovery grants and federal assistance, it is going to be tough to retain our singular businesses or to restructure for recovery. What are strategies for supporting economic recovery? How do we help businesses when the weather requires them to move indoors? Are there best practices that will keep people safe and small businesses viable as we move through the COVID-19 pandemic? 

Click to watch the recorded presentation [19] 

Click here to download the presentation slides
[20]
Just or Bust: How Racial Equity is Critical to the Future of Vermont Towns

Fri. Oct 2, 2020, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Speaker

Xusana Davis, State of Vermont, Executive Director for Racial Equity

Xusana Davis discusses how to work with the State on equity and how to practice it in the context of municipal governance. In this presentation she also shows and explains historical context, demographic statistics, and related economic data.

Session Resources and Links

• Municipal Tools [21]

• Action & Allyship Guide [22]

• RETF Report 1 [23]

• [24]Grist Article: How Black Land Became White Sand: The Racial Erosion of the US Coasts [24]

Click here to watch the recorded presentation [25] 

Click here to download the presentation slides [26]

 

Online Tools to Improve Tax Assessment and Collection

Fri. Oct 2, 2020, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Speakers

Pat Santoso, Principal, Axiomatic LLC

Tim Terway, GIS Professional, Vermont Center for Geographic Information

Jill Remick, Director, Vermont Department of Taxes

This session features two innovative projects – the integrated property tax management system and the statewide parcel mapping project – which will improve municipal property tax assessment and collection as well as other functionality relied on by the town and the public. Speakers conduct live demonstrations and describe how the systems will improve municipal functions. 

Click here to watch the recorded presentation [27] 

Click here to download the presentation slides

[28]

 

Keeping Your Community Informed and Engaged During Crisis

Fri. Oct 2, 2020, 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Speaker

Coralee Holm, Director, Community Engagement & Innovation, City of South Burlington 

When your community experiences crisis, the first thing they want is information. How do you become a trusted source of information and what channels do you use—the media, social media, Front Porch Forum, public meetings? How do you engage your residents during the crisis? It can quickly feel overwhelming. When you are a small shop, you need simple and effective tools. In this workshop, learn about which channels you should use, how to determine what to share, and the importance of timing. Walk away with a simple planning tool to help you organize and get information out quickly and accurately.

Click here to watch the recorded presentation
[29]Click here to download the presentation slides [30]