It is my pleasure to announce the program for the 2004 Hampshire & Franklin Municipal Conference on Saturday, March 27th, at The Clarion Hotel and Conference Center in Northampton. I've teamed up with the Franklin and Hampshire Councils of Governments this year to bring you this event, which features several leaders from the Legislature and the Administration. I hope that you will be able to join us for a day of lively discussion, a sandwich buffet lunch, and a keynote speech from Senate President Robert Travaglini (D-East Boston).

Please take a minute to review the lineup of this year’s conference. If you have any questions, or to RSVP, call my district office at 413-587-6289, or send an e-mail to Tom in my district office at tumitch@sprynet.com.

I'm looking forward to seeing you March 27th!

Elder Affairs

Topics likely to be covered in session are: the future of health care financing for seniors, including home care programs and prescription drug subsidies, and the future of programs run by the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, like grants to local Councils on Aging.

Panelists:	Senator Susan Tucker (D-Andover) Chair, Elder Affairs Committee Secretary Jennifer Davis Carey Executive Office of Elder Affairs Representative Peter Koutoujian (D-Waltham) Chair, Health Care Committee Representative John Scibak (D-South Hadley) Elder Affairs Committee
Moderator:	Isaac BenEzra, President Mass. Senior Action Council

Smart Growth Initiative

The Smart Growth Initiative will be discussed during this session, along with other possible changes in zoning and planning.

Panelists:	Doug Foy, Chief of Development Representative Stephen Kulik (D-Worthington) Senator Pamela Resor (D-Acton) Chair, Natural Resources Committee Representative William Greene (D-Billerica) Chair, Natural Resources Committee Jeff Lacy, Metropolitan District Commission Fred Habib, Deputy Director Department of Housing and Community Development
Moderator:	Senator Andrea Nuciforo (D-Pittsfield)

Education Policy

Topics will likely include MCAS and bi-lingual education, and questions about the Education Reform Act.

Panelists:	Senator Robert Antonioni (D-Leominster) Chair, Education Committee Representative Marie St. Fleur (D-Boston) Chair, Education Committee Mark McQuillan, Deputy Commissioner Department of Education S. Paul Reville, Executive Director Center for Education Research and Policy, MassINC
Moderator:	Representative Ellen Story (D-Amherst)

Arts/Cultural Tourism

Panelist will discuss ways to enhance the role of cultural tourism in the western Mass. economy.

Panelists:	Charlie McDermott, Deputy Director Massachusetts Cultural Council Ann Hamilton, Director Franklin County Chamber of Commerce Cara Metz, Executive Director Massachusetts Historic Commission Jonathan Hyde, Deputy Director of Domestic Marketing Mass. Office of Travel and Tourism
Moderator:	Representative Shaun Kelly (R-Dalton)

Office of Campaign and Political Finance Seminar on Local Ballot Questions

Michael Sullivan, Director of the Office of Campaign and Political Finance, will hold a seminar on the "do's" and "don't's" of conducting local ballot questions.

Second Session Panels
10:30 am-11:45 pm (choose one)

Environmental Issues

Topics will include environmental issues, especially alternative and renewable fuels and community aggregation.

Panelists:	Representative William Greene (D-Billerica) Chair, Natural Resources Committee Senator Pamela Resor (D-Acton) Chair, Natural Resources Committee Senator Robert O’Leary (D-Barnstable) Chair, Energy Committee Senator Michael Morrissey (D-Quincy) Chair, Government Regulations Committee
Moderator:	Senator Andrea Nuciforo (D-Pittsfield)

Housing & Community Development

Topics that are likely to come up include: the future of Executive Order 418, the prognosis for streamlining the regulatory process for housing and economic development projects, and general questions and concerns regarding affordable housing.

Panelists:	Senator Harriette Chandler (D-Worcester) Chair, Housing Committee Paul Douglas, Executive Director Franklin County Housing & Re-Development Authority Don Bianchi, Housing Director Hilltown Community Development Corp. Fred Habib, Deputy Director Department of Housing and Community Development
Moderator:	Representative John Scibak (D-South Hadley)

Education Financing

Topics will include the future of the School Building Assistance program, possible revisions to the Chapter 70 formula and questions about the Education Reform Act ten years later.

Panelists:	Senator Robert Antonioni (D-Leominster) Chair, Education Committee Representative Marie St. Fleur (D-Boston) Chair, Education Committee Mark McQuillan, Deputy Commissioner Department of Education
Moderator:	Representative Ellen Story (D-Amherst)

Transportation & Construction

Topics will include the status of the new “fix it first” policies and how communities might help make those policies work. Other topics likely to come up include: the small-town road standards and the proposals concerning county roads.

Panelists:	Senator Steve Baddour (D-Methuen) Chair, Transportation Committee Representative Joseph Wagner (D-Chiopee) Chair, Transportation Committee Secretary Dan Grabauskus Executive Office of Transportation and Construction Ross Dindio, Director Mass Highway District 1 Al Stegmann, Director Mass Highway District 2
Moderator:	Representative Stephen Kulik (D-Worthington)

Registration Form
(Please register by March 24th)

If you want to register on-line, please fill out the form below. Don't forget to tell us which panels you want to attend!

See you in March.

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