Elected Officials Academy
Elective Topics and Courses

MML Elective Courses will enhance your leadership capability, knowledge and expertise in local government. These courses are offered in the evening and on weekends at different locations throughout the state year-round. The courses within these topics are likely to vary in response to changing local government needs. The credits available for each class are equal to the number of hours of the class, for example, three-hour classes receive three credits.

Please note: Many MML courses qualify as electives, and those which do will have Elected Officials Academy credits indicated in the brochures. The Municipal League offers more than 80 workshops and seminars a year, most of which will be eligible for Elected Officials Academy credit. Not all of them are described here. If there is a particular area in which you would like to concentrate, please call the League’s Education Services for assistance in identifying courses which would be of interest.

Some of the topics and course titles which will be offered over the coming year are listed on the coming pages. Watch the web site (education calendar) and the Michigan Municipal Review each month for descriptions of the courses.

Over 80 courses are presented each year. This list does not include all of them. If you see a need for a course not listed, please call the MML Education Services at (734) 669-6310.

These are courses within the general curriculum. Any of the following classes may be offered as part of an Advanced Elective Weekender.

Legal Framework of Government

• Open Meetings Act - (3 hours)

• Municipal Liability - (3 hours)

• Parliamentary Procedures - (3 hours)

• Annexation/Land Transfer Issues: - (6 hours)

• Legislative Issues/Lobbying Skills - (3 hours)

• Home Rule Cities Act - (6 hours)

• Village Issues - (3 or 6 hours)

Leadership Roles and Responsibilities

• Ethics - (3 hours)

• Board Governance - (3, 6 or 9 hours)

• Essential Skills for Elected Officials - (3 or 6 hours)

• Goal Setting and Strategic Planning - (3 or 6 hours)

• Decision Making - (3 hours)

• Working with Boards and Commissions - (3 hours)

Financial Management

• Developing Financial Policies for Local Government - (6 hours)

• Understanding the Audit/Budget Process - (6 hours each)

• Municipal Finance for Elected Local Officials - (3 or 6 hours)

Planning and Zoning
A number of courses will be held across the state on the various issues related to planning and zoning basic planning, zoning board of appeals, the master plan, site plan review, capital improvements, and other current issues. (3 hours/3 credits per course.)

• Community Relations

• Communication Skills - (3 or 6 hours)

• Public Service Principles - (3 or 6 hours)

• Understanding the Upset Citizen - (3 or 6 hours)

• Media Relations - (3 or 6 hours)

• Dealing with Negativity - (3 or 6 hours)

Current Issues
Throughout the year, different issues arise which have a profound effect on municipal operations.

Economic Development

• A Primer on Economic Development - (3 or 6 hours)

• Creating the Future Downtown - (3 or 6 hours)

Personnel Issues

• Introduction to Labor Relations - (3 hours)

• General Personnel Principles - (3 or 6 hours)

• Sexual Harassment - (3 hours)

Professional/Personal Development

• Management Styles - (3 hours)

• Gaining, Maintaining and Regaining Professional Perspective - (6 hours)

• Essential Skills for Public Officials - (6 hours)

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Contact: Colleen Layton, Director, Information & Policy Resesarch
Phone: 734.669.6320 or E-mail: clayton@mml.org