Potholes & Politics: Local Maine Issues from A to Z

• Property Tax Talk – Part II

  Send us a textOn this edition of the podcast, Rebecca Lambert and Amanda Campbell are joined by Kathleen Billings, Stonington’s renowned town manager, a dedicated member of MMA’s Legislative Policy Committee, and one of three municipal appointees serving on the Real Estate Property Tax Relief Tax Force. Kathleen brings a strong coastal community perspective to the discussion.  From the rise in second-home ownership and the dwindling availability of year-round housing, to inflationary pressures driving up the cost of providing essential public services and the ongoing struggle to recruit and retain public safety personnel and other municipal employees, Kathleen is on the front lines of it all.  Motivated to find thoughtful solutions, Kathleen would “rather try to do something and fail, than nothing at all.” 

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• MMA’s One-Stop Shop for HR Information

  Send us a textThis week, Rebecca Lambert and Amanda Campbell are joined by Janet Kelle, MMA’s Human Resources Director.  With more than 30 years of HR experience, most recently with Husson University, Janet quickly made her presence known at MMA.  In this edition, Rebecca, Amanda and Janet dive into the wide range of human resource services available to MMA member municipalities.  These include succession planning, employee handbook reviews, and compliance guidance, as well as a variety of fee-based services, such as recruitment assistance, background checks and budget consultation.  Janet also highlights the many resources available on the MMA website, which she describes as a “one stop shop for all things HR.” Municipal officials will have an opportunity to meet Janet at the MMA Annual Convention on October 8 & 9 in Bangor.  Be sure to stop in to say hello and participate in an opportunity to win a prize.  

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• Property Tax Study Talk

  Send us a textThis week Carollynn Lear, Bangor City Manager joins Rebecca Lambert and Amanda Campbell to discuss the first meeting of the Legislature's newly established Real Estate Property Tax Relief Tax Force.  Of the task force’s 13 voting members, Carollynn was appointed by Governor Mills to represent the interests of larger communities.  Having served as the deputy commissioner for the New Hampshire Department of Revenue, she brings to the table an in-depth knowledge of the issues associated with the over-reliance on the property taxpayers to fund a variety of government programs and services.  To learn what Carollynn hopes to accomplish over the course of the study, please click here.  Listeners interested in receiving task force updates are encouraged to subscribe to MMA’s opt-in study summary email list by emailing Laura Ellis at [email protected] or visiting the Maine State Legislature’s website here for the official task force interested parties email list.  

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• MMA’s 89th Annual Convention – From Partnership to Progress

  Send us a textOn October 8-9, 2025, Maine’s municipal leaders will gather at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor for MMA’s Annual Convention.  This year’s theme, From Partnership to Progress, highlights how collaboration can lead to the implementation of successful and sustainable solutions.  This week, Rebecca Lambert and Amanda Campbell are joined by Peter Osborne, MMA  Education Services Director to discuss the planning that goes behind the convention.  They are also joined by Shiloh LaFreniere, Jay Town Manager and MMA Executive Committee member, who discusses how the Planning for Tomorrow Together session dovetails with the convention theme. Municipal officials looking to reconnect with peers, engage with vendors, and explore a wide range of topics that impact the delivery of municipal services, are encouraged to visit MMA’s website here.  

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• AI Leveling the Municipal Playing Field

  Send us a textIn this edition of MMA’s Potholes & Politics hosts Rebecca Lambert and Amanda Campbell are joined by Audra Caler, Camden Town Manager; Kyle Hadyniak, Gray IT & Communications Director; Brian McDonald, MMA IT Director, and Anthony Wilson, Winthrop Town Manager to discuss how AI can support municipal work and services.  The key takeaway from this session is that with practice, policies and responsible use, AI can level the playing field among municipalities by providing access to cost effective professional resources.  

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