Annual Meeting Tentative Agenda

• 12:00 p.m.

  NYCOM Registration Desk Opens

• 2:45 p.m.

  POLICY COMMITTEE MEETINGS
  (all registrants are encouraged to attend)

  • Finance
    This discussion will navigate the challenging implementation and grant administration process for recent award recipients, and a representative from C.T. Male Associates will dissect how you can enhance your funding chances for projects that weren’t chosen.
  • Government Operations and Community Development
    The Committee will receive a brief update of enacted and pending legislation on topics including SEQRA, FOIL abuse, online legal notices, and code enforcement. The remaining time will be dedicated to a presentation from Waymo about autonomous driving technology.
    
  • Employee Relations and Public Safety
    This Committee will discuss the proposed amendments to Tier 6 and their potential economic impact on municipalities. In addition, new proposed legislation will be addressed that would authorize the payment of stipends to volunteer firefighters.
    
  • Energy and Environment
    This Committee will discuss recent lead service line replacement efforts and the legislative proposals introduced this year to address this challenge.  The session will provide updates on policy developments and what local governments can anticipate from the State moving forward.
    
• 4:00 p.m.

  CONCURRENT SESSIONS

  • Albany Update
    This session will provide attendees with the latest information about what's happening at the State Capitol, including an overview of the State Budget and the status of pending legislation and policy issues affecting local government finances and operations.
    
  • Welcome to the Twilight Zone: Labor Relations Update *#
    Every year the State passes new laws that will impact public sector employers and employees. Municipalities must know and understand the changes to ensure that current policies are in compliance with the law. This session will cover the new laws, including recent court decisions impacting public sector labor relations in New York State.
  • Women's Advisory Committee: Connect, Collaborate, and Lead
    Join the NYCOM Women’s Advisory Committee for a supportive session designed for women (and men!) in city and village offices. Through a relaxed peer mentoring format, participants will exchange ideas, share strategies, and build lasting professional connections with fellow municipal leaders.
  • Cybersecurity: What Local Officials Need to Know About Training and Reporting Requirements #
    New cybersecurity requirements are placing additional responsibilities on local governments, particularly when it comes to training and incident reporting. In this session, representatives from several state agencies will explain (almost) everything cities and villages need to know now. The discussion will focus on requirements impacting water and wastewater systems, while also highlighting broader expectations that apply across municipal operations. Participants will leave with a better understanding of applicable training and reporting requirements and how to begin putting them into practice.
• 6:30 p.m.

  WELCOME DINNER: AMERICA250

• 8:00 p.m.

  ENTERTAINMENT
  The John Mayors

• 7:30 a.m.

  NYCOM Registration Desk Opens

• 8:00 a.m.

  EARLY-RISER WORKSHOP

  • Local Officials Open Forum #
    This session will provide local officials with the opportunity to engage in a relaxed and frank discussion with each other about the challenges they are facing and the solutions they have found for the various issues affecting their communities.
  • Understanding the New ADA Requirements for Municipal Websites *
    The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has promulgated regulations to ensure that web content and mobile applications are accessible to people with disabilities as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Specifically, the DOJ has adopted the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines ("WCAG") 2.1, Level AA as the technical standard for web content and mobile app accessibility under Title II of the ADA. This session will provide an overview of the WCAG 2.1 requirements and how local governments should proceed to comply with this requirement.
    
• 9:15 a.m.

  ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING
  AWARDS PRESENTATIONS (EOA, LGAA, NYMIR)

• 9:45 a.m.

  LEADING WITH DIGNITY
  KEYNOTE SPEAKER: TAMI PYFER, CO-CREATOR, THE DIGNITY INDEX
  As national politics become more divisive and toxic, the impact of anger and contempt in public speech is increasingly being felt in local politics. The critical work happening in our cities and villages is stymied by the contempt in our public discourse, which can increase division among elected and appointed officials, create animosity among constituents, and prevent the collaboration that leads to problem solving. The Dignity Index is a tool to help ease divisions, prevent violence, and solve problems by highlighting the use of dignity over contempt when disagreements arise. Tami Pyfer,  co-creator of the Dignity Index and a former city council member, will introduce participants to this tool and share strategies for using dignity as a leadership strategy.

• 11:15 a.m.

  CONCURRENT SESSIONS

  • The Fundamentals of FOIL and Open Meetings Law: Navigating New York's Sunshine Laws *#
    The Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) and the Open Meetings Law (OML) serve as important checks on local government actions. Local officials who fail to comply with these sunshine laws risk exposing their municipalities to expensive litigation and having their actions invalidated. Additionally, violations of FOIL and the OML can undermine public trust in their municipal institutions. This session will provide an overview of the requirements of FOIL and the OML. 
    
  • Fiscal Responsibilities of the Governing Board
    The governing board’s oversight role can touch virtually every aspect of a local government’s operations. This session will address some key functions including budget responsibilities, interim reporting, the audit of claims, and the annual audit requirements. Resources available to assist in these oversight activities will also be provided.
  • Prevailing Wage in Practice: Compliance Updates and Lessons from the Field #
    Prevailing wage requirements continue to present challenges for cities and villages, particularly as state requirements evolve and enforcement increases. This session will focus on how prevailing wage is applied in practice, with an emphasis on real-world compliance issues. Topics will include public works projects, cooperative purchasing, the contractor registry, certified payroll requirements, prevailing wage contract numbers, and common areas where municipalities and contractors encounter difficulties. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of their responsibilities and leave with practical insights to help avoid missteps and ensure projects remain compliant with the State’s prevailing wage requirements.
    
• 12:30 p.m.

  LUNCH

• 2:00 p.m.

  CONCURRENT SESSIONS

  • Planning is Not Optional Anymore: Using Data to Compete for Grants #
    In today’s competitive funding environment, communities must demonstrate clear need, readiness, and impact - not just submit applications. This session will show local officials how to use data and focused planning to strengthen grant competitiveness and avoid common missteps. Learn what state agency grantors look for, how to connect data and community needs to viable projects, and how to position your municipality for successful funding outcomes.
  • Safe Celebrations: Municipal Readiness for America250 and Beyond
    From fireworks and parades to festivals and 5Ks, villages and cities across New York are gearing up to celebrate America's 250th anniversary - but milestone events come with more than just pomp and patriotism. This class will help local officials understand their responsibilities when hosting public celebrations, including legal, logistical, safety and liability considerations. This session will cover permitting, insurance requirements, vendor agreements, emergency planning, and best practices to keep your event safe and avoid liabilities that can be prevented with proper planning. Whether you're planning a one-time celebration or continuing festivities, this session will help ensure your event is safe, successful, and stress-free from pre-event planning through post-event breakdown. 
  • Putting Dignity Into Practice #
    Serving in local government is becoming increasingly difficult to navigate, due in part to the outsized influence the toxic rhetoric surrounding national politics is having on our communities. This session will build on the keynote address with a deeper dive and practice in the application of the Dignity Index.
    
• 3:30 p.m.

  CONCURRENT SESSIONS

  • Community Renewal: From Distressed Homes to Main Street Revitalization *
    Communities continue to deal with the long-standing crisis of vacant and abandoned properties. Unfortunately, because there is no single cause for property neglect and abandonment, there is no single solution to addressing it. This session will lay out the steps local officials need to take to address this crisis effectively, beginning with an overview of the importance of collecting and using data to identify the causes of vacancy and abandonment, and concluding with a discussion of key tools available to local governments.
  • The Essentials: Required Policies for All Local Governments *#
    State law requires cities and villages to adopt and maintain a range of policies that serve as the backbone of day-to-day municipal operations. From procurement and ethics to workplace safety, cybersecurity, investments, and emergency response, cities and villages are required to adopt and maintain these policies. This session will provide a comprehensive overview of the required policies, highlight key statutory obligations, and provide practical guidance on adoption, review, and implementation to ensure that these policies are not only compliant, but effective.
    
  • Road Map for Public Facility Improvements
    How do you know when it’s time for a new facility? When the roof leak fills more than one bucket per week? When the employee breakroom does triple duty as the conference room and the mailroom? There are lots of tell-tale signs, but getting started can be the hardest part. This session will focus on identifying facility challenges, scoping a facility that will meet your needs into the future, bringing the public into the discussion, and finding the dollars necessary to take plans to reality.
• 5:45 p.m.

  PRESIDENT'S RECEPTION

• 7:00 p.m.

  ANNUAL BANQUET AND INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS

  FIREWORKS

• 8:15 a.m.

  NYCOM Registration Desk Opens

• 8:15 a.m.

  EARLY-RISER WORKSHOPS

  • SEQRA: A Step-by-Step Overview of New York's Environmental Review Process *#
    Every action of an agency, such as a City Council, Village Board of Trustees, ZBA, or a planning board, is subject to the State’s Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). While the SEQRA statute and regulations are a bit convoluted and weirdly structured, SEQRA’s requirements are fairly straightforward. This presentation will provide a clear explanation of the SEQRA process, highlighting the basic requirements of SEQRA and explaining the differences between Type I, Type II, and Unlisted Actions. The session will also include an introduction to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s EAF Mapper and how it can be used to facilitate preparing both short and long environmental assessment forms. The presentation will conclude with a brief discussion of drafting SEQR decisions.
    
  • Municipal Home Rule Requests: Special Act Legislation for New York's Cities and Villages
    Cities and villages have substantial authority to enact laws pursuant to Municipal Home Rule Law § 10 and many other state statutes. However, in many areas, New York State has preempted local governments from enacting local laws without express authority from the State Legislature. This session will provide a step-by-step guide to navigating this process. Participants will learn how to prepare and submit a request to the State Legislature and the different types of special acts that may be pursued.
• 9:45 a.m.

  CONCURRENT SESSIONS

  • Sound the Alarm: Administering a Village Volunteer Fire Department *#
    Volunteer fire departments are an integral part of the fabric which makes our communities vibrant. Most departments run smoothly. However, when problems arise many questions exist regarding oversight and accountability of the department. This session will address some of the thornier topics related to administering a volunteer village fire department and the department’s relationship with the village board.
    
  • The Internet is Forever: First Amendment Rules for Social Media *#
    For cities and villages, managing social media is not just a communications function, it also raises important legal considerations under the First Amendment. One post can spark engagement, both positive and negative. This session will explore the legal boundaries that apply when local governments use social media, including public forum considerations, comment moderation, and the limits on blocking or deleting content. Participants will also receive practical guidance on handling criticism, maintaining appropriate access, and managing accounts in a way that is both effective and legally sound.
    
  • Emergency Management 101: The Why and How of Declaring a Local State of Emergency *#
    Natural and man-made disasters can be the toughest test of local officials. Whether the emergency is the result of a storm, an explosion, or a fire, municipal officials must act quickly to protect the public, prevent further destruction, and restore the community to its normal state. This session will cover the procedure for declaring a local state of emergency pursuant to Executive Law Article 2-B and the power local officials have under Article 2-B once an emergency is declared. In addition, the session will cover other issues local officials encounter during emergencies, such as continuity of government, holding meetings of a public body in response to an emergency and procuring goods and services to respond to the emergency.