The City of Revere received the Distinguished Budgeting Award from the GFOA for the first time in its history for its FY2015 budget, one of only 17 Massachusetts municipalities to receive the award for that fiscal year. Mayor Rizzo noted, "This major milestone for the City of Revere would not have been reached without [our analyst]'s help. The Collins Center staff has a deep understanding and background in municipal government management best practices and brings this practical experience to every discussion." The financial team and GAP continue to work together to raise the bar and plan to submit the budget annually to the GFOA for review.

Revere's Mayor Dan Rizzo acknowledged the achievements that GAP has helped the City accomplish, commenting "[GAP] has allowed me to create a framework for monitoring the performance of our City's major departments, using data to identify opportunities for improvement to services. This positive experience in working with the Collins Center ... has now led to several other projects including the creation of an expanded Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), and a comprehensive strategic plan for the Police Department. "

This work exemplifies both the Government Analytics Program's approach of using a team of government data experts working directly with a portfolio of clients to provide on-the-ground support on all aspects of data and analysis to governments and government departments and its mission to strengthen government's use of data, measures, and goals, to make it a permanent feature of management practices.

 

For additional information on GAP or to view project ideas, please visit www.umb.edu/cpm/gap or email collins.center@umb.edu.

The Center recruitment practice is now approaching the completion of fifty recruitments for leadership positions in the Massachusetts municipal environment. Recently, the Center completed recruitments for Mashpee Town Manager, Holliston Town Administrator, Brewster Town Administrator, Chelsea City Manager, Southbridge City Manager, Executive Director of the Martha's Vineyard Commission, and Executive Director of the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission.

 

Currently, the Center is conducting recruitments for Town Administrators in Fairhaven, Yarmouth, and Canton, County Administrator for Barnstable County, Administrative Coordinator for Erving, and Executive Director for the Worcester Regional Transit Authority. A comprehensive listing of all Collins Center recruitments is posted on the Center's web site.

 

The Center has completed a Needs Assessment for the Old Colony Library Network (OCLN) which serves 26 libraries south of Boston. OCLN provides cataloging, acquisition, and related services to its member libraries and is a self-governing nonprofit entity. The Needs Assessment addressed satisfaction levels, governance and the acquisition of electronic materials.

Transactions between local governments and the Collins Center are exempt from the provisions of the Chapter 30B of the General Laws because the University of Massachusetts is an instrumentality of the Commonwealth. Municipalities may simply negotiate a scope of services and a price with the Collins Center, saving both time and money. Similarly, Massachusetts state agencies may enter into Interagency Service Agreements with the Collins Center. For further information, please contact Stephen McGoldrick at stephen.mcgoldrick@umb.edu.