Local Government Conference

The registration fee is $35.00 per person.

It is requested that, where possible, all payments be made by credit/debit card by using the secure online registration link below.

Register Online 

Notes:

• Please register each attendee separately.
• All online registrations must be completed by Tuesday, September 30, 2025.
• Please be advised that all communications related to the conference will be relayed via email. Postcards and registration forms will no longer be mailed.
• If you requested to be billed using the BILLME code, we will send out an invoice and payment must be brought to conference and presented at registration. Any non registered attendees may pay at the door the day of the conference.
• Please make all checks payable to the SUNY Potsdam College Foundation - with a note for 2025 Local Government Conference.
• Questions or alternate payments requests may be directed to: sunyplgc@yahoo.com

The registration fee is $300 per vendor table.

Register Online 

Notes:

• Please register each vendor attendee separately and select BILLME for all vendor registrations.  Please make all checks payable to the SUNY Potsdam College Foundation - with a note for 2025 Local Government Conference. Vendor checks should be brought to the conference. Please do NOT mail the vendor checks to the College.
• All vendor online registrations must be completed by Tuesday, September 30, 2025.
• Vendor registration includes a vendor table and two chairs. Lunch is provided for up to two participants. Vendors may begin arriving and set up by 7:45 a.m. on Tuesday, October 14th.
• Please be advised that all communications related to the conference will be relayed via email. Postcards and registration forms will no longer be mailed.
• Questions may be directed to: sunyplgc@yahoo.com. 

SUNY Potsdam President, Dr. Suzanne Smith, will provide a greeting at lunch. Christopher Koetzle, from the NYS Association of Towns will be the lunch Keynote Speaker. Community Bank will be providing the bags for this year’s conference.

Sessions 1-3: Land Valuation, 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

This session will explain the 4 methods to value vacant land by using the Allocation, Abstraction, Land Residual and Sales/Market Approach. Definitions will be presented on land size and the classifications necessary to develop consistent land value. Discussion will involve how current sales data can be affected by parcel size, the type of land and location. Developing early and consistent guidelines in land breakdown will help the assessor prepare for their next revaluation.

Presenter: 
John Stack, Assessor for Town of Brighton and Duane, Retired NYS ORTPS in valuation projects

Session 1: Red Flags of Fraud, 8:30 – 10 a.m.

Municipal Fraud does happen. The NYS Comptroller’s Office will provide insight into signs of potential fraud in municipalities and internal controls that should be in place.

Presenter: 
Ingrid Otto, NYS Comptroller’s Office

Session 2: Municipalities and Professional Organizations: What You Need to Know, 10:30 a.m. – Noon

NYAOT Executive Director Chris Koetzle, NYCOM Executive Director Barbara Van Epps and NYGFOA Executive Director Maura Ryan will discuss how the professional associations they lead can help municipalities navigate their daily operations, protect home rule, avoid common pitfalls, and deliver essential services more effectively.

Presenters:

• Chris Koetzle, NYAOT Executive Director
• Barbara Van Epps, NYCOM Executive Director
• Maura Ryan, NYGFOA Executive Director 

Session 3: The Financial Responsibilities of Elected Officials and Municipal Fiscal Officers: What You Need to Know, 1:30 – 3 p.m.

This is for Chief Elected Officials, Governing Board Members, and interested Government Finance Professionals. You will leave with a better understanding of the roles and responsibilities of Elected Officials versus Finance Officers as well as the government finance function, the planning and budgeting process, the numerous financial reports and what those reports indicate about a municipality's financial health, and how to make sound decisions based on a government's financial position. Bring Your Questions!

Panel: 

• John Snow Jr, Town Supervisor-Town of Granby, Oswego County
• Mindy Goddeau, Treasurer-Village of Lake Placid
• Peggy L. Mousaw, Retired Municipal Finance Officer

Session 1: Policies in the Clerk’s Office, 8:30 – 10 a.m.

Town and Village Clerks are responsible for maintaining specific policies in their office, a responsibility that’s often overlooked with our busy schedules. To help clarify what’s essential and what’s simply recommended, NYAOT’s Chief Counsel, Lori Mithen-DeMassi, will guide us through the latest requirements and best practices. Don’t miss this always-informative session with Lori. Come prepared with your questions and leave with confidence that your office is fully compliant and well-organized.

Presenter: 
Lori Mithen-DeMassi, Chief Counsel, NY Associations of Towns

Session 2. Cybersecurity Made Simple for Government Leaders, 10:30 a.m. - Noon

Cut through the jargon and learn the must-have steps to protect your community’s data. Cyberattacks on municipalities are on the rise—but protecting your town doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. In this practical, non-technical session, CST Group, Inc. CEO & Founder Lisa Brown breaks down the five essential cybersecurity protocols every NY local government should have in place. You’ll learn how to reduce risk, ask the right questions of your IT team, and implement smart, budget-friendly practices that protect public data and services. Leave with a clear roadmap and simple tools you can use right away.

Presenter: 
Lisa A Brown, CEO & Founder, CST Group Inc.

Session 3. Navigating AI: The Do’s, Don’ts, and Must-Knows for Local, 1:30 – 3 p.m.

AI is everywhere—but what does it actually mean for local government? In this insightful and approachable session, tech expert and municipal advocate Lisa Brown demystifies artificial intelligence and shows clerks how to harness its power without falling into common traps. You’ll discover where AI tools can save you time and improve service delivery, where caution is critical, and what policies every municipality should consider before diving in. From document drafting to fraud detection, we’ll explore real-world use cases, ethical boundaries, and simple steps to ensure responsible AI adoption in your office.

Whether you’re curious, cautious, or already experimenting, this session will equip you with the clarity and confidence to lead your municipality through the evolving AI landscape.

Presenter: 
Lisa A Brown, CEO & Founder, CST Group, Inc.

Session 1: Short Term Rental Regulation, 8:30 – 10 a.m.

Short-term rentals have been around for years, but the availability of online booking sites and the growth of local management companies has had dramatic effects on neighborhoods big and small across the state (and around the world). A number of cities, towns, and villages in New York have come up with a variety of means to permit or restrict short-term rentals consistent with the character of the respective communities. This session looks at the problems short-term rentals posed for several of those municipalities and summarizes the regulations with which they responded to the challenge.

Presenters: 
New York State Department of State

Session 2: SEQR -State Environmental Quality Review Act Basics, 10:30 a.m. - Noon

This introduction to the State Environmental Quality Review Act includes an overview of the environmental assessment form (EAF), Type I, Type II, and Unlisted actions and the sequence of making a positive or negative declaration on a project’s potential to have an adverse impact on the environment. The relationship between the administration of local regulations and SEQR will also be discussed.

Presenters: 
New York State Department of State

Session 3: Local Land Use Hot Topics, 1:30 – 3 p.m.

This session will address the latest land use issues that are happening in the North Country. Topics to be reviewed include the new DEC wetland regulations; data centers; utility variances; existing mapping tools and a review of a use variance that was granted after all 4 legal tests were met. Come with specific questions or examples of creative land use solutions.

Presenters: 

• Preston Santimaw, Planner 1, St. Lawrence County Planning Office
• Jason Pfotenhauer, Director, St. Lawrence County Planning Office

Session 1: Municipal Water/Wastewater Infrastructure, 8:30 – 10 a.m.

“Project Planning, Funding and Implementation” - 2.0 hrs.

Presenters: 
Carrie Tuttle, PHD, Chief Operating Officer, and Mark Hall, Board Director, DANC

Session 2: NYS Municipal Water/Wastewater Infrastructure Funding Opportunities, 1:30 – 3 p.m.

1.5 hrs

Presenters: 
NYS Homes/Community Renewal, Department of State, Health/Environmental Conservation, Environmental Facilities Corporations and Department of Agriculture Rural Development.

Session 3: Geographic Information System (GIS) and the Modern Operator, 10:30 a.m. - Noon

1.5 hrs.

Presenter: 
Thomas C. Haynes, PE, Director of Engineering, DANC 1.5 hrs.