Webinars

Please note that our webinars are for County/Town/State officials only.

UPCOMING WEBINARS

Cybersecurity for Non IT Leaders: NY’s Endpoint Detection Solution for Counties
March 23, 2023 2pm-3pm

In 2022, to help counties strengthen our cybersecurity controls and defenses, New York State began to pay for and offer endpoint detection response (EDR) services at no cost. This year, the state plans to expand this offering through a more robust solution through Crowdstrike. At the same time, the state opened its joint security operations center (JSOC) to help identify, collect, and share cyber threat data for participating state and local government organizations. As of early 2023, more than 40 counties have signed on for the Crowdstrike solution and to participate in the JSOC. This webinar will detail what EDR services do, discuss what New York is making available for counties, review best practices on how to access training and support, and how this partnership is designed to help protect county IT systems. Presenters will also provide an update on the state’s JSOC.

This webinar is part of a cybersecurity webinar series being co-sponsored by NYSAC, the New York Conference of Mayors, the Association of Towns, the New York Municipal Insurance Reciprocal, and the Center for Technology in Government at the University at Albany.

Preparing for the Electric Vehicle Future
April 13, 2023 2pm-3pm

Are you ready for an electric future? With the rise in electric vehicles on the road, there is an increased demand for the build-out of EV charging infrastructure and public charging stations. This creates an opportunity for local governments, cities, counties, and states to demonstrate their commitment to their communities and sustainability efforts. Installing EV chargers also provides a valuable amenity to residents. Join us as we explore the future of EV charging, NY funding opportunities, and creative ways for counties to access help.

Cybersecurity Resiliency and Risk Governance

ARCHIVED WEBINARS

Federal Cybersecurity Agency to Present Webinar for NY Local Governments
February 21, 2023

On Tuesday, February 21st at 2 p.m. the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency will present a webinar specifically for New Yorks counties and local governments. The webinar will provide an overview of the current Cyber Threat Landscape, Cyber Security Awareness and available CISA resources. As the nation’s cyber defense agency, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agenda stands ready to help organizations prepare for, respond to, and mitigate the impact of cyberattacks. When cyber incidents are reported quickly, we can use this information to render assistance and as warning to prevent other organizations and entities from falling victim to a similar attack. CISA’s speaker will also include an overview of CISA’s current Shields Up and Stop Ransomware initiatives.

This webinar is part of a cybersecurity webinar series being co-sponsored by NYSAC, the New York Conference of Mayors, the Association of Towns, the New York Municipal Insurance Reciprocal, and the Center for Technology in Government at the University at Albany.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

How to Modernize Your County's Annual Budget Process
December 15, 2022

Join your fellow NYSAC members as we introduce ClearGov, our new strategic partner, who shares our conviction that stronger counties result in a stronger America. Counties across New York want to modernize their annual budget processes. This means increasing the efficiency of collecting requests, creating budgets, and communicating with internal and external stakeholders. During this webinar we will introduce ClearGov and their powerful, easy-to-use Budget Cycle Management suite.

Webinar Recording

How much cyber risk do you have, and where do you start to better manage those risks
December 20, 2022

We now know that endpoints—servers, workstations and laptops that are connected to the Internet—pose real risks to our local computer systems and servers, but do you know how much risk exists and where to start lowering that risk? This webinar will highlight an assessment that can help your local government exactly where to prioritize your cybersecurity efforts. The panelists will demonstrate how a comprehensive risk assessment can provide a risk score for your endpoints. We will also cover actionable risk plans, an analysis of controls, and cyber hygiene metrics. This workshop is co-sponsored by: NYSAC, the New York Conference of Mayors, the Association of Towns, the New York Municipal Insurance Reciprocal, and the Center for Technology in Government.

Webinar Recording

Cybersecurity Threat Briefing for Local Leaders
December 13, 2022

Join us for a cybersecurity threat briefing from a team of experts who respond after a cyber breach happens. Hailing from US government agencies, law enforcement, and global security firms, Unit 42 security consultants have handled some of the largest data breaches in history. This strategic threat briefing will deliver a view of the threat landscape by a Unit 42 analyst, with access to a depth and breadth of data across all of your connected platforms and services. This workshop is co-sponsored by: NYSAC, the New York Conference of Mayors, the Association of Towns, the New York Municipal Insurance Reciprocal, and the Center for Technology in Government.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

Cybersecurity Resiliency and Risk Governance
November 10, 2022

This webinar will address and review some of the current risks and challenges of cybersecurity. Panelists will provide guidance on how to conduct an effective cybersecurity risk management program and design policies to begin to address those risks. The webinar will present two scenarios on how to conduct a cybersecurity risk assessment. This program is co-sponsored by: NYSAC, the New York Conference of Mayors, the Association of Towns, the New York Municipal Insurance Reciprocal, and the Center for Technology in Government.

Presenter:
Carl Cadregari, CTPRP, CCSFP, CISA
Executive Vice President
FoxPointe Solutions

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint
Handout

Moving Past the Great Resignation: Employer Strategies for the New Normal
November 4, 2022

The Great Resignation / Reset / Reevaluation has upended the labor market with a force not seen in some time. Research shows county government is not immune to these impacts and, in certain areas, is experiencing a more drastic change than other sectors. This presentation will address factors influencing employment trends in local government and what counties can do to attract and retain employees in this ultra-competitive environment.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

Sponsored by:

Protecting New York's Election Systems
October 19, 2022

Since the U.S. Government acknowledged foreign intrusion attempts in 2016 and 2020, election security has been an increasingly hot topic for discussion. In that time, the New York State Board of Elections (NYSBOE) has worked with County Boards of Elections and County IT Directors to identify and remediate security gaps while also establishing a whole-of-government approach to monitoring and responding to security concerns during the election period. NYSBOE will review these activities and how county executive and legislative components can support election security efforts:

Statewide Security Assessment
Cyber Incident Response Procedure
Intrusion Detection/Managed Security Services
Risk Remediation Grants
Security Consulting Services
Cyber Security Regulation
Election Day Operations

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

The 101: Multi-Factor Authentication. Unpacked.
October 6, 2022

Join us for our next Cybersecurity Webinar in the series co-sponsored by NYSAC, the New York Conference of Mayors, the Association of Towns, the New York Municipal Insurance Reciprocal, and the Center for Technology in Government.

A key step to improving your county’s cybersecurity is to strengthen your defenses.

Since multi-factor authentication (MFA) can prevent as much as 80-90% of cyberattacks, it is often one of the first defenses that is recommended, and often required, for all counties to implement. So, what is MFA? Join this discussion to unpack the details of this hot cybersecurity topic, including: - What it is and why it is important to keep your county safe - When and where you should use it to secure access - How you can implement it efficiently and effectively.

Webinar Recording
PowerPoint

ReConnect Program, Round 4, Loan and Grant Opportunities
September 28, 2022

Senator Gillibrand and NYSAC are co-hosting a webinar with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to offer guidance and information on the latest ReConnect, Round 4 grant program. This webinar is intended to highlight this important funding source and assist NYS’s eligible applicants to prepare applications for the Reconnect Program, due on November 2nd.

The ReConnect Program provides loans and grants to cover costs of broadband construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband services. The federal government allocated $1.926 billion in funds through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act which was signed into law late last year. USDA Rural Development recently announced a $401 million investment for high-speed internet access in rural areas through the ReConnect Program. On September 6, 2022, applications will open for a new round of funding. Eligible rural New York communities seeking to narrow the digital divide to consider the ReConnect Program.

Webinar Recording
PowerPoint

Why Cybersecurity Insurance is so Costly and Sometimes Hard to Get
September 7, 2022

From 2020 to present, ransomware increased in frequency and severity, resulting in significant cyber insurance claims. Even if these weren’t local government incidents, insurers have modified their overall cybersecurity underwriting guidelines by raising premiums, lowering or modifying coverage terms, and demanding that insureds attest to risk-reducing solutions and activities. This webinar will explain the trends and forecasts in the cybersecurity insurance marketplace that are driving the price and challenges for local governments.

Webinar Recording
PowerPoint Slides

Exploring Healthcare Savings Through Medicare Advantage Plans
June 27, 2022

More and more counties are exploring Medicare Advantage plans for the retirees 65 and older that are still on their health insurance program. Last year, Broome County created cooperative purchasing alliance with other counties and municipalities to leverage their purchasing power, reduce costs, increase stability for retiree health coverage. This Webinar will detail how the Broome County Purchasing Alliance has achieved an average annual savings of over 25% for participating counties and local governments, while providing better quality coverage and services for their retirees.

Webinar Recording - Coming Soon!
PDF of PowerPoint
Sample Board Resolution

The ProAct Solution for Employee Prescription Benefits
June 21, 2022

For the past decade NYSAC has been working ProAct to help deliver lower cost prescription drugs to residents through a prescription drug benefit card and to employees of counties and New York companies with self-insured health insurance benefits. ProAct is a New York-based company that is also the nation’s only 100% Employee Owned Pharmacy Benefit Manager. Since 1999 they’ve been invested in helping their clients, including dozens of counties and local governments throughout the state, deliver better prescription coverage at a more competitive price. This webinar will focus on opportunities counties have to save money on their overall health insurance coverage with solutions that tackle the increasing costs of prescription drugs, and ways to contain specialty drug costs.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

Turning to Transmission: How NYS is Planning for the Future of Renewable Energy
June 22, 2022

The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which was signed into law in 2019, included an aggressive mandate for New York State to obtain 70% of the state’s energy from renewable sources by 2030. Much attention has been paid to the wind and solar projects that will need to be built to meet this goal; however, an equally important and often overlooked part of this discussion is how we will transmit the energy from these projects to the grid and dispatch electricity to end customers. New and upgraded transmission systems will be needed to move thousands of megawatts of renewable energy from where it is generated to where it will be consumed. This webinar will provide a primer on the transmission infrastructure investments that are necessary to meet the Climate Act goals so local leaders can prepare for the transmission projects that may be coming to their county.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

Updates on the American Rescue Plan Act ~ A National Perspective
June 23, 2022

Join us for a webinar with our colleagues from the National Association of Counties (NACo). NACo has been a leader on tracking, managing, monitoring, and engaging with our federal government partners on the interim rules, guidance, and reporting requirements of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). NACo will present on the latest from U.S. Treasury and provide county leaders with an overview of the resources NACo has available to assist counties as they continue to implement their ARPA allocations.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

Sponsored by:

County Aging Departments Launching New Programs to Help Older Americans
May 26, 2022

Join us for a presentation from the Association on Aging in New York to learn about new initiatives that can help your county enhance services for Older Americans. Executive Director Becky Preve will join the NYSAC family to provide this critical information for county leaders including a review of the SFY 23 Enacted Budget and the significant investments in aging services.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

Improving School Bus Safety Across New York
March 22, 2022

Families across the state depend on a school bus to safely transport their children to and from school each day. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, students are about 70 times more likely to get to school safely when taking a school bus instead of traveling by car. However, they are still vulnerable to injury. An increasingly high number of motorists—too many—illegally pass stopped school buses, putting our school children at risk.

This webinar is designed to discuss New York State Traffic laws designed to protect students who are getting on and off a school bus. Representatives from the Governor’s Traffic Governor's Traffic Safety Committee and the New York Association of Pupil Transportation will discuss how counties can help promote school budget safety in their communities.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint
Handout 1
Handout 2

Sponsored by the

Updates and Answers on Redistricting and Re-Weighting County Voting Systems
February 8, 2022

With questions still coming in from county planners, legislators, supervisors, attorneys, etc.; we have decided to offer a webinar on how to interpret and implement the new state law requiring that counties follow specific criteria included in the new 2021 law.

This webinar will cover the criteria and rules and answer any outstanding questions counties may have as they continue to plan for redistricting or re-weighting their voting system.

This program will be presented by:

Jeffrey M. Wice
Adjunct Professor & Senior Fellow
NY Census & Redistricting Institute
New York Law School

Gerald Benjamin
Professor Emeritus
The Benjamin Center, SUNY New Paltz

Joshua Simons
Senior Research Associate
The Benjamin Center, SUNY New Paltz

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

NYSAC Orientation for Newly Elected and Appointed County Officials,
MODULE 5 of 5, Role of Clerks of Leg Boards/NYSAC Programs
February 3, 2022

Role of County Clerks of Legislative Board:
The Clerk of a Legislative Board provides many vital services and resources for county officials. The President of the Clerks of the Legislative Boards Association will give a brief overview of all services and responsibilities of a Clerk of a County Board.

NYSAC Programs, Services, and Education & Training:
The NYSAC staff will provide a comprehensive overview of all services that the association provides its membership including:

a)           NYSAC’s Mission Statement/Services
b)           Staff Introductions
c)           Education & Training Programs
d)           Communications Tools
e)           Legislative Advocacy
f)            NYSAC Programs and Services

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

NYSAC Orientation for Newly Elected and Appointed County Officials
MODULE 4 of 5, Adopting Local Laws/Open Government Laws
January 27, 2022

The powers granted to local legislators under the state’s municipal home rule law, the county law, and other relevant statutes will be addressed. The presentation will focus on the procedures and requirements that must be followed by county legislative bodies to enact local laws.

The requirements of the state open meeting laws and other relevant statutes will be detailed in this program. The responsibilities and legal requirements of county elected and appointed officials to “govern in the sunshine” will be discussed.

Webinar Recording
PDF of the PowerPoint

NYSAC Orientation for Newly Elected and Appointed County Officials
MODULE 3 of 5, Ethics in Government
January 20, 2022, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

An overview of codes of conduct and other related legal requirements of county elected and appointed officials under state and local ethics laws, policies, and procedures. A discussion of proper ethical conduct by county officials, above and beyond legal requirements, will be included to give county officials a better understanding of what is meant by the term “Good Government Ethics”

Webinar Recording

NYSAC Orientation for Newly Elected and Appointed County Officials
MODULE 1 of 5, County Government Structure in NYS
January 6, 2022

The structure of county government in New York State is laid out by the State Constitution and statutes adopted by the state legislature. Foundations of county government in state law will be discussed and the various forms of county organization will be highlighted including:
a)           County Government Structure
b)           State legislative Process and Timeline. How it impacts counties.
c)           How a Bill Becomes a Law
d)           Major Policy Issues Affecting Counties/NYSAC Advocacy
e)           Tools for Staying Informed

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint
NYSAC Legislative Program
NYSAC Communications Program

NYSAC Orientation for Newly Elected and Appointed County Officials
MODULE 2 of 5, Introduction to County Budget and Finance
January 13, 2022

This session will feature an introduction to county budget and financial management. The presentation will include a discussion on how counties raise funds, prepare a budget and provide financial management and oversight of taxpayer dollars. The relationship between the State budget and its effect on county budgets will be detailed.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

Free Technical Assistance to Help Municipalities Protect their Public Drinking Water Sources

December 16, 2021

Earlier this year, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Department of Health (DOH), in collaboration with the Departments of Agriculture and Markets (AGM) and State (DOS), announced the new Drinking Water Source Protection Program (DWSP2) to assist municipalities with proactively protecting their drinking water sources. The State is seeking communities to work with a technical assistance (TA) provider free of charge to develop and initiate implementation of a drinking water source protection program. TA providers will help municipalities develop community specific DWSP2 plans that they can implement by exploring and ultimately accessing numerous resources available to protect their source of public drinking water. DWSP2 is open to all community public water supplies in New York State. Selected municipalities must be prepared to work with a TA provider throughout the DWSP2 process and to implement their programs. To apply, visit the Drinking Water Source Protection Program (DWSP2) website and complete an electronic application. For questions, email the DWSP2 Team at source.water@dec.ny.gov or register to attend NYSAC’s upcoming DWSP2 webinar on Thursday, December 16th at 2pm.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint Presentation

Sponsored by:

FEMA Reimbursement- The Process for Obtaining Federal Aid for COVID Expenses
December 15, 2021

On March 20, 2020, the President declared a Major Disaster Declaration for New York, DR-4480, related to the COVID-19 pandemic response, making federal funding available to local governments and eligible private non-profit organizations in all counties. This webinar will provide a brief overview of FEMA Public Assistance reimbursement guidance, with a focus on common pitfalls or concerns identified by NYSAC members, and will provide an opportunity for open discussion with the IEM team.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint Presentation

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Foundations of County Government
December 13, 2021

This webinar will detail the historic and legal foundations of county governments in New York State. During this session, participants will learn about the structures of county governments in New York and their authority, duties and responsibilities under state law. This session will provide county officials with a working knowledge of state government, the state legislative process and a fuller understanding of how it ultimately affects the everyday operations of county government. (County Government Institute Core Requirement 4 credits).

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint Presentation

Cannabis and Public Safety: Considerations for County Leaders

November 29, 2021

As the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) continues its work to create a legal adult-use cannabis industry in New York State, public safety concerns are top of mind for many county leaders and their communities. This webinar will explore the impact of legalization on impaired driving and community safety. Join us on Monday, November 29th at 10am to hear New York State’ Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) Coordinator Renée Borden and former Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff and Detective Nick Morrow discuss how state and local governments can prepare to protect public safety amid a regulated cannabis industry.

Sponsored by:

Backup to Recovery: A Critical Cybersecurity Tool When Ransomware Impacts Counties
November 3, 2021

Ransomware ranks among the fastest-growing cybersecurity threats facing today’s governments. Ransomware is often designed to spread across a network and can quickly paralyze an entire organization. It is a growing threat, generating billions of dollars in payments to cybercriminals and inflicting significant damage and expenses for businesses and governmental organizations. State and local agencies are particularly vulnerable to ransomware because, having smaller budgets and workforces than their federal peers, they are perceived as “soft” targets. Join us for this webinar to learn what ransomware preparedness look like. This webinar will walk through what to look for in a backup and recovery solution and how to build an effective ransomware remediation plan to ensure your agency can quickly respond to a cyberattack without paying any ransom.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint Presentation
Zero Trust Data Security Best Practices (White Paper)

The ETS Sponsorship Program, Operation Green Light and Supporting our Veterans

November 4, 2021

Join us for a presentation from Ret. General Mike Eastman and his team at the ETS Sponsorship Program as they highlight innovative opportunities for counties to help support veterans as they return home from active-duty service. NYSAC’s Operation Green Light is a collaboration between the NYSAC, NYSCEA, the NYS County Veteran Service Officers' Association, and the 62 counties of New York State. Its mission is to show support for veterans of all military conflicts, with a special emphasis on the veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as raise awareness about the challenges faced by many veterans and the resources that are available at the county, state, and federal level to assist veterans and their families. The ETS Sponsorship program centers on a personal relationship between the service member, who is leaving the military, and a sponsor, who is trained and VA-certified, and perhaps equally important, empathetic, and dedicated to helping the service members and family members. We hope that you will join us for an in-depth discussion on veteran services, and how counties across New York State can work to support our heroes as they return home from the front lines of duty.

Webinar Recording

PDF of PowerPoint Slides
Video Info for Veterans Onward

EPR for Solar Panels in New York
September 27, 2021

In this info session cosponsored by Niagara County and the New York State Association of Counties, policy experts from Niagara County, Washington State, solar panel recycler ERI, and PSI discuss the growing interest in solar panel EPR legislation and how New York counties, New York State, and other governments throughout the country can craft similar legislation.

Webinar Recording

Planning for Safe School Re-Openings: Screening Testing 101
August 3, 2021

To support the safe reopening of schools this fall, the American Rescue Plan includes $10 billion for states to establish screening testing programs in K-12 schools. This type of widespread testing can be a valuable tool to identify asymptomatic students, teachers, and staff with COVID-19 in areas with moderate to high levels of community transmission. This webinar will explain how pooled testing can be used as a screening testing strategy in schools and share how counties can take advantage of the ELC Reopening Schools awards available through New York State.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint Slides

The ABCs of PFAS: What County Officials Need to Know
July 13, 2021

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of man-made chemicals that have been widely used in consumer and industrial products since the 1960s and are now known to have dangerous health effects. Despite recent efforts to ban PFAS in food packaging, firefighting foam, cosmetics, and other products where they are commonly used, these chemicals can still be found in soil, surface water, groundwater, and public water supplies across New York State. As owners, users, and regulators of water resources and protectors of public health, counties will play a critical role in addressing concerns with PFAS exposure in their communities. This webinar will bring county leaders up to speed on what New York State is doing to regulate these “forever chemicals” and what resources and technologies are available to remove them from our environment and drinking water.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

Sponsored by:

Leveraging Federal Funding Streams to Aid Government Economic Recovery and Financial Resiliency
June 15, 2021

KPMG will discuss the various Federal funding streams that have come about to aid the economic recovery related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The presentation will discuss allowable uses for the funds and considerations that each county should take when spending funds and how to properly document spending to be defensible under audit.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

Introduction of the NACo High Performance Leadership Academy
June 29, 2021

The NACo High Performance Leadership Academy (HPLA) is an innovative, completely online, mostly self-paced 12-week program created to equip frontline county government professionals with practical leadership skills to deliver results for counties and communities. With a robust curriculum developed by the Professional Development Academy in partnership with Fortune 1000 executives, public sector leaders, world-renowned academics and thought leaders, including General Colin Powell and Dr. Marshall Goldsmith, the Academy was designed specifically for the unique challenges and opportunities of serving in county government. Join us for this webinar on how the National Association of Counties (www.naco.org/skills) has been delivering this program for the last several years, attracting officials from nearly two-thirds of all counties in the United States use it for leadership development.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

The American Jobs Plan: What does it really do for State and Local government?
April 13, 2021

We will explore areas of funding local governments can expect to benefit from should congress pass the American Jobs Plan, as well as the likelihood of passage.

We will specifically explore:
• Member Designated Projects (earmarks)
• Project and entity eligibility and criteria
• How to be successful and winning a Member Designated Project

Panelists include:
• Congressman Tim Bishop, ret. (D-NY), former Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment
• Steve Stallmer, former House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Staffer for Congressman Jack Quinn (R-NY) and Chris Gibson (R-NY)
• Brett Heimov, former House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Staffer for Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)

• Anthony Pugliese, former Senior Advisor to the White House for the Department of Transportation

Sponsored by:

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

Coronavirus Relief Funds - Federal Stimulus Aid to Counties to Date
April 16, 2021

Last year a small number of counties received CRF dollars in the early days of the pandemic, these counties received direct federal assistance if they had a population of 500,000 or more. Over $8 billion dollars in federal CRF assistance was provided to New York State, New York City and the more populous counties. While the use of CRF dollars is more restrictive than the soon to be released American Rescue Plan funds just signed into law, we believe much of the process for receiving, tracking, documenting uses and accounting for these federal stimulus dollars will not change from what Treasury has already established. New Treasury guidance will outline in greater detail the use of funds under the American Rescue Plan but there is likely to be overlap with some of the already approved uses under the CRF that will be discussed during the webinar. Please join NYSAC and 3 counties that received CRF dollars and learn about how these counties utilized these funds, their experience in dealing with federal officials, the process for certifying receipt and drawing down the funds, the structures they put in place to account for and document the use of funds, and how they determined best uses of these resources. (1 CPE Credit from OSC)

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

Sponsored by:

Healthcare Mega Trends and Their Effect on Your Budget
April 19, 2021

Healthcare costs continue to be a major driver in county spending plans. While making health insurance less complicated is a growing challenge, there are some ways to reduce costs. This webinar is designed to help county finance leaders better understand where healthcare trends are heading, so that you can anticipate changes in the marketplace. Whether you are buying first dollar coverage or self-insurance for your employee health care you will want to hear about stop-loss captives, changes in the broker community, and Medicare carve outs. The presentation will include practical guidance that counties can deploy to better control costs and evaluate future liabilities. (1 CPE Credit from OSC)

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

Outsourcing Leave of Absence Administration
April 22, 2021

Managing the many leaves of absences provisions in state and federal statute can be a burden for some personnel departments. That’s why some companies have developed solutions designed to help larger employers manage those leave programs. Join us for a webinar designed to discuss how one such group that has a track record working with hospitals and large municipalities on a leave of absence administration program, and they want to offer this budget-neutral program to counties that opt-in to the New York Paid Family Leave program. The program includes the administration of
• New York Paid Family Leave (NY PFL)
• FMLA and statutory equivalents
• Employer leave and/or paid time off (PTO) policies
• Collectively bargained leaves

This program offers counties compliance with the more than 500 federal, state and local leave laws with an integrated, dedicated, "one-stop shopping" experience for personnel officers and claimants, plus a robust, real-time dashboard and reporting to keep HR and managers/supervisors in touch in a HIPAA-compliant way. Join us to learn more about this program.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint
Handout Document
Sponsored by:

Cash Management
April 26, 2021

Looking ahead: As a result of the ARP funding, Federal resources will need to be strategically managed and prudently invested over the next several years. NYSAC partner three+one has been helping more than 20 counties manage finances in the wake of COVID-19 and has in place solutions to help counties maximize federal funding in ways never before achievable. Join us as we discuss these financial changes for the future. (1 CPE Credit from OSC)

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

Countering Vaccine Skepticism and Building Confidence
April 27, 2021

Ending the COVID-19 pandemic relies on vaccinating enough of the population to reach herd immunity and limit the spread of the virus. However, many New Yorkers are hesitant or even reluctant to get the vaccine for various reasons. In this webinar, we will hear from national experts about strategies and messaging that county leaders and local health officials can use to reassure the public of the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine and encourage everyone eligible to get vaccinated.

Webinar Recording

Sponsored by:

Albany Update
May 3, 2021

Representatives from NYSAC will provide an update of the State budget, legislative priorities and other issues and concerns impacting counties. (1 CPE Credit from OSC)

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

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The Legalities of Purchasing and Competitive Bidding
May 6, 2021

The Office of the State Comptroller’s Legal Division will discuss legal requirements for competitive bidding, including statutory amendments to the General Municipal Law Section 103 and various exceptions to the bidding requirements. (1 CPE Credit from OSC)

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

Sponsored by:

Accounting and Reporting Update
May 10, 2021

GASB Statement 84 changes how local governments account for fiduciary activities. This webinar will provide guidance on identifying fiduciary activities for accounting and financial reporting purposes and how local governments and school districts will need to account for and report these activities in the Annual Update Document (AUD) and the ST-3. In addition, GASB Statement 87 changes how local governments classify and account for leases. This webinar will discuss the specific changes and what local governments and school districts should be doing now to prepare. (1 CPE Credit from OSC)

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

Sponsored by:

What's New in Banking and Merchant Services
May 12, 2021

As municipalities navigate this rapidly changing environment, it is important to understand and anticipate how these challenges could impact your treasury and budget operations, and the flow of your cash management. In addition, the demand from residents for more ways than ever before to pay for services, fees, and taxes. Join us for this webinar to learn more about what’s new in banking and how merchant services can help you to meet this demand by offering a variety of solutions to best fit your unique local needs. (1 CPE Credit from OSC)

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

New York State and Local Retirement Systems Update
May 17, 2021

A representative from the State Comptroller's Office will provide an update on the New York State and Local Retirement System, including overview of members, retirees and participating employers, fund value, employer contribution rates, and new Retirement Online services for employers and members. This session also will provide an overview of the employer reporting and billing processes and planned upgrades in the future. (1 CPE Credit from OSC)

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

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New York State Legalized Cannabis: Now What?
May 17, 2021

In March, New York State lawmakers moved to legalize adult-use cannabis, the most widely used illegal drug in the United States. Moving cannabis out of the unregulated black market will have public health, public safety, criminal justice, and economic implications for which counties will want to prepare. This webinar will provide county leaders with an overview of New York State’s plan for the logistics of adult-use cannabis in New York State and begin to discuss how it will impact local governments.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

Sponsored by:

NYS CDBG CARES Act Funding Opportunities
May 18, 2021

NYS Homes & Community Renewal (HCR) is pleased to announce the opening of the 2020 NYS Community Development Block Grant Program CARES Act application in response to COVID-19.

CDBG-CV CARES Act Application materials are available now. Applications for CARES Act projects will be accepted on a rolling basis until August 27, 2021 or funds are exhausted.

Join NYS Homes & Community Renewal staff to learn about CDBG funding available through the CARES Act. Assistance for communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic is available in this funding opportunity and all Counties in NYS are eligible to apply for this funding.
OCR program staff will conduct a webinar presentation at 10:00am on May 18, 2021 to provide instructions and guidance for preparing successful CDBG CARES Act applications. The session will cover program updates, requirements and tips for successful applications. Staff will conduct a Q&A session following the presentation. Follow the link below to register.

Webinar Recording
PDF of Powerpoint

Fraud Protection and Detection
May 19, 2021

This session will identify steps local officials can take to help detect and prevent fraud and abuse. Participants will learn about the fraud triangle, common red flags and organizational vulnerabilities, and how to minimize risks. (1 CPE Credit from OSC)

Webinar Recording
PDF of the PowerPoint

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The American Rescue Plan
May 24, 2021

President Biden recently signed the American Rescue Plan which includes provisions to provide direct federal assistance to counties to stamp out the pandemic once and for all and to begin the long process of restoring and rebuilding the economy. Please join us to hear about what the bill does and Treasury guidance on how counties can use these funds. (1 CPE Credit from OSC)

Webinar Recording
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County Revenue During COVID
May 26, 2021

Staff will provide an overview of how key county revenue sources were impacted through a full year of COVID. A special emphasis will be placed on the pandemic's impact on sales tax caused by economic and density restrictions deemed essential to stop the spread of the virus. (1 CPE Credit from OSC)

Webinar Recording
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State and Federal Funding: Financing and Resources for Municipalities through the Office of Community Renewal
March 12, 2021

Are you interested in bringing grant dollars home to your community? This session will cover all aspects of the grant process -- from applying for funds to program administration. In addition to reviewing the steps to consider when planning for community development needs, the speakers will also discuss pre-application homework, funding source requirements, as well as reporting requirements. Funding sources to be discussed will include CDBG, HOME, Main Street and available State resources through NYS Office of Community Renewal. Want to learn about the A to Z of applying for grants? This is the session for you!

Webinar Recording
PDF of Slides

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FEMA Disaster Assistance Grants – How to Maximize Federal Funding
February 5, 2021

Join us for a webinar with state partners from the Division of Budget and the state Department of Homeland Security on FEMA disaster assistance grants and how counties can maximize federal resources that are available. This webinar will cover eligibility requirements, approved use of federal funds, force account labor and equipment, contracts, and the process for submitting FEMA reimbursement requests.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

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Ethics
January 27

This session will provide an overview of the codes of conduct and legal requirements of county elected and appointed officials under state and local ethics laws, policies and procedures. The session will describe state and local laws governing gifts and inducements, conflicts of interest, financial disclosure requirements, operations of county ethics boards and other areas relating to integrity in government. This session is one of the core course requirements of the County Government Institute (4 credits awarded). Presented by Ethics expert Steve Leventhal, Esq.

Webinar Recording

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New York State Budget Review
January 26, 2021

The Governor has repeatedly announced that the State is facing a $15 billion shortfall for SFY 21, which grows exponentially in out-years. With that in mind, this workshop will review the Governor’s proposed SFY 22 Executive Budget, examine the budget proposal impact to county governments and offer a reaction from a panel of county leaders to the Governor’s proposal.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

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Foundations of County Government
January 25, 2021

NYS GIS and Spatial Data Sharing to Benefit Counties
January 21, 2021

The NYS Office of Information Technology Services GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Program Office will be presenting an informative webinar to highlight what they do in producing high quality spatial framework data for New York State (aerial imagery, elevation, address points, streets, civil boundaries, and parcels) and how Counties and the State can cooperate to our mutual benefit with more spatial data sharing. This is particularly important when it comes to open GIS tax parcel data, as counties own and maintain the parcel data, while the State collects and assembles a standardized parcel dataset which we share as widely as each county allows us to. NYS GIS will be sharing with NYSAC members, important information about the need for more open parcel data sharing and County-and-State cooperation in that effort.

Webinar Recording
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Better Understanding Your Counties Financial Position in 2021
January 14, 2021

COVID-19 has left its mark in 2020, and its impact on your county’s liquidity position is likely to last past 2020. New data opportunities allow your county to explore how to best maximize the value of taxpayer dollars after the COIVD-19 pandemic using liquidity analysis. This webinar will focus on how counties can get a clear picture of your cash liquidity needs, and how to use this data to create concise reports for internal stakeholders, external stakeholders, and financial firms. This webinar will also feature a New York County Treasurer who will share how their liquidity needs have shifted and how they are using liquidity data.

Webinar Recording
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Protecting Children's Mental Health During the Pandemic
January 8, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting lockdown have taken a toll on the mental health of people across the state, including children. Attend this webinar to hear from the New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA) about how the pandemic has affected school-aged children and how counties and schools can help to take care of kids’ mental health during this difficult time. Presented by the NYS School Boards Association and NYS Association of Counties.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint Slides

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Procurement Cards: Streamlining Purchasing and Generating Revenue
December 17

Did you know that you can generate revenue from the routine purchasing being made by your county or town? That’s right, you can. It’s called a procurement card program. And in 2020, counties across the state generated $250,000 and one county earned over $120,000. As counties pass their 2021 budgets with a considerable amount of fiscal uncertainty, it would be nice to have a program that generates revenue on existing activities, like paying bills and making routine purchases. Join us for a webinar program on the NYSAC Procurement Card, a program being used by an increasing number of counties each year.

Webinar Recording
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A New Model for Community Solar: Solstice’s Municipal Partnership Program
December 14

What if you could help your residents to tap into renewable energy from nearby solar projects and save 10% on their electricity bill every month, while you collect donations at the same time? With Solstice’s community solar program, households can subscribe to nearby shared solar farms and get clean energy credits without any hassle, extra costs, or installations on their property. Solstice is a mission-driven company that is partnering with local governments to bring affordable solar to every American household. Attend this webinar to learn how your county can help residents to receive guaranteed savings with community solar while helping to build a more sustainable electricity grid for New York State.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

County Communications and Media Relations
December 10

Though the media landscape continues to evolve at an increasingly rapid pace, the need for continuous and consistent communication remains paramount. This webinar will provide an overview and best practices for both tradition media relations and the social media platforms that help county leaders connect with residents and businesses in their communities. We will also discuss tips for message development and how to respond to reporter questions.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

County COVID-19 Testing Through the Second Wave
December 8, 10am

As communities across New York State are seeing a spike in positive COVID-19 cases, more residents are trying to get tested. They may be having symptoms of the novel coronavirus, trying to get out of quarantine, returning home from the college or from traveling, going back to the office, allowing their kids to go to school, or keeping their businesses open. Unfortunately, COVID-19 tests are not widely available everywhere in the state. This webinar will provide an update of the testing challenges and opportunities that counties are facing as the state undergoes a 2nd wave of resurging COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations across the state.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint (Please contact jstanziano@nysac.org if you would like a pdf of the slides)

Investing in Today's Green Infrastructure to Power Tomorrow's Future
December 1

Counties across the state have been helping to build out an infrastructure of charging stations that will support the increasing numbers of electric cars on the road. Join us for a timely presentation from ChargePoint – an electric vehicle charging company that has been working with many counties on developing this infrastructure. Whether you're just getting started or want to grow the number of electric vehicle charging stations in your county, ChargePoint is the only EV charging company with the proven solutions and expertise you need to pilot, optimize, and scale your charging assets. Learn how their experience can save your county time and money from your first plug-in to your millionth charge.

PDF of PowerPoint
Recording of Webinar

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Planning for Effective Vaccine Distribution:The Federal, State, and Local Role
November 19, 10am

COVID-19 vaccine candidates have shown great promise and could be approved by the federal government before the end of the year. After a vaccine is approved and manufactured, federal, state, and local government will need to work together to get the shots delivered, stored, and administered to those who will receive it first. Attend this webinar to learn about the federal and state plans for vaccine distribution and administration and the important role counties will play in supporting the mass vaccination effort.

Webinar Recording
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Pension Credit Training for Elected County Officials
November 5

Locally elected and appointed officials do not have set work day schedules, so in order to receive pension credits they must complete a Record of Activities (ROA) to submit to the State Comptroller’s Office. During this webinar, a representative of the comptroller’s office will review what is required of employers, elected officials and appointed officials. The Regulation requires a Standard Work Day and Reporting Resolution for Elected and Appointed Officials; we cover how to complete this document and why. This webinar will address the requirements for meeting NYCRR (Regulation) 315.4, and how to use a local official’s ROA to report and adjust service credit.

Alternatives to Administering County Leave Benefits
September 3

Jurisdictional leave laws—FMLA and its statutory equivalents—present unique challenges to municipalities and personnel directors. The typical municipal worker has more than 500 legal reasons to leave their job for up to 12 weeks each year without penalty. Worse, this time can be taken in as little as 15-minute increments. Given the volume and complexity of employee leaves amidst the ever-changing regulatory landscape, administering these benefits in-house can be risky, inefficient and expensive for employers.

Many large employers are now working with a company called AbSolve, which has developed a unique leave of absence outsourcing solution for large, complex employers with diverse and/or remote workforces. In this webinar, learn about the latest trends and best practices in leave of absence administration and how AbSolve can help your County comply with the laws and save time, money and headaches when it comes to providing these benefits to your employees.

For more information, contact:

Shep Sepaniak | Managing Partner
AbSolved
e: shep@absencesolved.com
m: (973) 960-0484
w: www.absencesolved.com

NYSAC On-Demand Training

August 20

Last year NYSAC created a new On-Demand Training Program to assist our membership with meeting the wide-ranging training needs of county government. NYSAC’s on-demand training can be used as an in-person, private training session for your county staff from the convenience of your county offices, home or via an online webinar portal or live online video presentation or recorded sessions. This year, our training partners have added a number of helpful or required COVID-19 related training programs that can help your employees as we all embark on a new normal way of doing the public’s business.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

Protect Employees with Automated COVID-19 Employee/Visitor Questionnaire
August 10

ActionTrac, a San Diego based software company, will review their COVID-19 Employee Questionaire Solution that in effect can serve as a perimeter defense for your organization.

Areas to be covered include:
1. Why automation in your COVID Questionnaire system is important for getting to 100% response rate.
2. Being able to cover all audience needs including visitors and employees with one system.
3. Compliance logging and using workflow to get key reports like history and non-respondents to the right people.
4. The importance of flexibility in the design components of your Questionnaire.
5. Configuring your Questionnaire for language needs and other requirements.

ActionTrac, a partner with ADP for over three years, was a very early entrant in the COVID Questionnaire solution market. NYSAC uses the ActionTrac system as do many other New York based organizations.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

An Update for Counties on the 2020 Census
August 6, 10am

New York counties have historically played an active role in encouraging residents to respond to the US Census. The census helps determine how federal funds are distributed to states and localities. It helps our communities determine where to build everything from schools to supermarkets, and from homes to hospitals. Census data informs how legislative lines are drawn and the number of seats we have in Congress. This year’s census is behind schedule because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but we still need to make sure every New Yorker is counted in our communities. This webinar will provide an update on the 2020 Census and what counties can do to make sure all residents are counted.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

Reopening for Business as (Ab)Normal
July 30

As county's look to reopen their offices to employee, citizens and vendors there will be new policies in place to help ensure a sustainable reopening. While the Governor has clearly defined the policies in the attached document it seems that having a system in place to ensure compliance is left to local governments. Join us for this webinar that will address how counties are establishing and defining new ways of planning, managing and monitoring employee and workforce readiness; facilities preparedness; and emergency management response. This session will also include new technology solutions that can help counties monitor return-to-work readiness, securely survey and assess employee health, and coordinate facilities and employee shift scheduling.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

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Educating our Youngest Population: How Counties Are Responding to E.I. and Special Education Pre-K Services During COVID-19
July 28

Join us for a webinar exploring county ingenuity in responding to and educating our youngest population through early intervention and special needs pre-k services during the COVID-19 pandemic. We will be joined by county and state experts in program delivery to discuss how counties are adapting to a remote learning environment and what the future holds for congregate based services.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

Using Data to Foster Economic Development
July 23

Now that economic activities have been restarted in communities across the state, it is more important than ever for local leaders to understand and foster a resilient business environment. This webinar will discuss how states, counties and cities are sharing data with one another in order to understand the current and future state of the economy. With federal economic data lagging by as much as two years, local governments must identify and use other sources of data that can help them make more informed decisions now to protect and promote the health of their economies.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

Revenue Forecasting and Cash Flow Management
July 21

The global outbreak of COVID-19 has created an unprecedented slowdown in revenue-generating activities that fund government capital and operational costs. While many governments are enacting economic stimulus measures, a true picture of revenues is still difficult to obtain. Responding to this complex crisis requires a multi-faceted approach, including the ability to quickly integrate data sources, make accurate, multi-level forecasts, look at historic cash flow trends, and provide insights for leaders.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

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The Power of New Building Air Filtration Systems That Can Protect Against Covid 19
July 17

Heating and Ventilation ducts remain a top concern for building administrators in the public and private sector. From shopping mall requirements to nursing homes and hospitals to government buildings, the mechanics of air filtration capacity differ. Yet the air we breathe is important to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This webinar will discuss recent trends in building engineering and filter technology featuring new filters acting as a first line of defense removing 100% of the COVID-19 virus.

Our presenter will be Vincent Lobdell, President and CEO of Healthway Family of Brands.

Webinar Recording
PDF of Powerpoint

Sponsored by: _

Finding Savings in 2021 Budgets
July 16, 10am

The COVID-19 Pandemic has upended the economy and generated unprecedented revenue losses for the state and counties. The state budget shortfall has triggered significant state funding cuts of at least 20 percent and revenue losses continue to mount for counties, while many program costs are increasing in response to fighting the pandemic. This webinar will highlight actions counties are taking now to adjust to the economic downturn and state funding cuts, and also what counties are considering for 2021 budgets and beyond.

Webinar Recording
PDF of Powerpoint

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Understanding State Law Reforms: What Does the 50-a Repeal Mean for Your County Government?
July 15, 10am

Recent events prompted the New York State Legislature to repeal Section 50-a of the New York State Civil Rights Law and amend portions of the Freedom of Information Law (Public Officers Law Sections 86, 87, and 89). Enacted in 1976, Civil Rights Law 50-a prohibited the disclosure of police officer, fire fighter, and correction officer disciplinary records without either the express written consent of the officer/fire fighter or a court order. Led by Attorney Martin Mack, This program highlights these changes and provides guidance for responding to FOIL requests for information previously shielded from disclosure while still protecting the privacy, safety, and security of public employees.

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Contact Tracing Technologies That Can Help Counties Slow the Spread of Covid-19
July 14

Despite New York State’s success with flattening the COVID-19 curve, we are not out of the woods yet. Testing and tracing are critical for counties to identify potential hot spots and slow the spread of the disease. A number of new contact tracing technologies offer solutions that can help counties track people who could have been exposed to individuals who have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. This webinar addresses some existing technology solutions and how they can assist counties with timely public health insights.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

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New York State and Local Retirement Systems Update (Virtual Finance School Series #5 of 5)
July 8, 10am

Please join Colleen Gardner, Executive Deputy Comptroller, Division of Retirement Service of OSC for a presentation on the NYS and Local Retirement System.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

Sponsored by:

Accessing Federal Funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency
June 30

Accessing Federal Funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency
Is your county applying for federal reimbursement from the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA)? Join us for a webinar designed to provide counties
with expert guidance on the eligibility standards for applicants under a FEMA
disaster grant and what types of activities are reimbursable under the state’s current
emergency declaration. We encourage anyone that is seeking best practices
for accessing reimbursement from FEMA for COVID-19 response activities to register.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

Webinar Sponsored by

NYSAC End of Session Legislative Recap
June 29

This year proved to be a challenging legislative session for state lawmakers in Albany as the country combatted the COVID-19 pandemic. For the most part, legislative activity has concluded for the year. Before heading back to the districts to continue constituent services and run for re-election, lawmakers in Albany passed a series of legislation to address the COVID-19 pandemic and recent outbreak and demand for criminal justice reforms. NYSAC staff will provide a recap of legislative activity and the impact this legislation has on county government operations.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

Webinar Sponsored by

Ethics
June 25, 2pm (Virtual Finance School Series #4 of 5)

Webinar Recording
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Webinar Sponsored by

Support for Farmers & Food Systems During Covid 19
June 25

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every sector of New York State’s economy, including the agriculture industry. Unlike many industries that were doing well before the virus, New York State’s farmers were already experiencing challenges related to unfavorable weather patterns, a trade war, and plummeting commodity prices. Supporting our local agricultural producers is now more critical than ever. Attend this webinar to hear from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets about resources available to help struggling farmers and prevent the public health crisis from being a food crisis.

Webinar Sponsored by

Internal Controls: Keeping Data Safe During Covid
(Virtual Finance School Series #3 of 5)
June 23

As COVID-19 continues to change the way we live and work. Key employees have been working from home and County departments have been operating with limited staff and with this comes the alteration of key policies and procedures within IT, Finance and Operational departments to accommodate furloughs and emergency needs. Employees are taking home County laptops and remotely accessing critical County systems, segregation of duties and internal control systems have been altered, and County data and funds are as vulnerable as ever. This new normal will require Counties to reassess their internal control and IT systems to ensure employee and constituent funds and data are safe during these trying times. Join experts Carl Cadregari and Keeley Hines of the Bonadio Group, for a presentation on practical ways the County and its employees can keep County funds and data safe while working from home.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

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Albany Update (Virtual Finance School Series #2 of 5)
June 18

Representatives from NYSAC and OSC will provide an update of the State budget, legislative priorities and other issues and concerns impacting counties. Presenters from OSC and NYSAC. (1 CPE)

Webinar Recording
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Webinar Sponsored by

June 16
GASB and Accounting Update
Join us as an accounting expert provides an overview of emerging accounting and financial reporting issues related including GASB updates that will impact NYS county finances. Accounting experts from the Bonadio Group.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

June 12
Small - Local - Diverse: Business Recovery Initiatives Post-Covid 19

NYSAC is pioneering an initiative that will help Counties leverage their existing recurring resources, (annual procurement spending) to support and financially engage their small, local and diverse businesses (MWBEs) supporting and helping sustain the communities they serve. By focusing economic opportunity and shifting the resulting economic benefit to the marginalized businesses and their host communities, this NYSAC-led initiative will enable Counties to proactively jumpstart small local and diverse businesses and facilitate a strong post COVID-19 recovery.

NYSAC has partnered with VeraCloud Technologies to bring this capability to member Counties. VeraCloud enables Counties to extend the reach and benefit of their procurement opportunities and focus procurement spending on the small local and diverse MWBE businesses within their jurisdictions. This shift of economic opportunity and benefit inspires, activates, and sustains MWBE's and small local business with annual County opportunity/spending, establishing many "first time” public contracts with their small local and diverse businesses. This initiative supports County business, enables new hiring within small local and MWBE businesses, supports diverse and local supply chains, and returns tax dollars to the communities from which they are collected helping revitalize neighborhoods, support families and create the much needed jobs critical to support recoveries within communities most impacted by COVID-19.

The procurement dollars focused through the NYSAC/VeraCloud initiative ultimately have a compounding effect helping preserve and rejuvenate small local diverse businesses, the communities in which they are located, and the diverse and local people they employ and sustain. In this COVID-19 recovery environment this is a high-impact grass roots initiative to help Counties focus their spending into small local diverse businesses, driving sustainable economic benefit and a much needed social impact to the communities and constituents most negatively affected by this pandemic.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

June 11
Responding to Our Older Americans: Aging Services During Covid-19
Join us for a webinar showcasing innovative strategies to serve our older Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. We will also discuss reforms to federal and state programs allowing for flexibility of service delivery at the local level. NYSAC will be joined by the Commissioner of the NYS Office for the Aging, the Executive Director of Association on Aging in NY, representing county AAA’s.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

Tuesday, June 9, 10am
How to Safely Re-Open Your County Offices

NYSAC offers a timely training webinar on best practice labor considerations for employees returning to work during the COVID 19 crisis. The pandemic is already being fought in the field by our county employees that were deemed essential. Most of the county workforce was required to work from home until the health crisis became more manageable. It is anticipated that those county employees sent home will soon be allowed to return to office work in some regions of the State. To protect the health of those returning to work as well as the residents that will be entering county facilitates, it is essential to follow best practice labor law policies during the continued COVID crisis. This webinar will be presented by Karlee S. Bolaños Esq. of Bolaños Lowe, PLLC. The training will include topics to help your county develop guidelines for safe employee return and safe work practices going forward.

Sponsored by

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

May 28, 10am
Understanding Federal Stimulus Action in Washington

As Congress wraps up work on a series of federal stimulus legislation, join us as we discuss how these proposals have impacted county operations in New York State. Your association has been working aggressively, around the clock with the National Association of Counties (NACo) on ensuring federal legislation in Washington helps counties combat the COVID-19 pandemic. This webinar will review legislation passed by congress, specifically the CARES Act 2.0. and the impact on county governments.

PDF of PowerPoint
Webinar Recording

May 21, 10am
Internal Controls – Keeping County Data and Funds Safe During Covid

As COVID-19 continues to change the way we live and work. Key employees have been working from home and County departments have been operating with limited staff and with this comes the alteration of key policies and procedures within IT, Finance and Operational departments to accommodate furloughs and emergency needs. Employees are taking home County laptops and remotely accessing critical County systems, segregation of duties and internal control systems have been altered, and County data and funds are as vulnerable as ever. This new normal will require Counties to reassess their internal control and IT systems to ensure employee and constituent funds and data are safe during these trying times. Join experts Carl Cadregari and Keeley Hines of the Bonadio Group, for a presentation on practical ways the County and its employees can keep County funds and data safe while working from home.

May 21, 3pm
Slowing the Spread of COVID-19, Part 2 of 3: Contact Tracing 101
While the term “contact tracing” may be new to the general public, it is a core disease control measure that local and state health departments have used for decades. Scaling up and training a large contact tracer workforce will be essential to safely reopening regional economies across the state amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Attend this webinar to learn how contact tracing works and why it is one of the best tools we have to contain emerging outbreaks.

PDF of PowerPoint
Webinar Recording

May 22, 10am
Slowing the Spread of COVID-19: Part 3 of 3, Diagnostic Testing 101
COVID-19 testing has come a long way since the first confirmed case in New York State. The rapid developments in testing have caused confusion around the different types of tests being offered and who is eligible to receive them. Attend this webinar to hear from local public health officials about how diagnostic testing works in counties across the state and why expanding our testing capacity is critical to state and local efforts to slow the spread of disease.

PDF of PowerPoint
Webinar Recording

May 19, 10am
Ethics Compliance in the Time of Covid

This session will provide an overview of the codes of conduct and legal requirements of county elected and appointed officials under state and local ethics laws, policies and procedures. The session will describe state and local laws governing gifts and inducements, conflicts of interest, financial disclosure requirements, operations of county ethics boards and other areas relating to integrity in government. This session is one of the core course requirements of the County Government Institute (4 credits awarded).

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

May 19^th,2pm
Slowing the Spread of COVID-19, Part 1 of 3: Examining Wastewater to Detect Community Spread of COVID-19

A series of setbacks in COVID-19 testing has made it difficult to keep up with the virus’ spread and inspired some researchers to look to wastewater to measure how prevalent the virus is in our communities. The SARS2 Early Warning Wastewater Surveillance Platform is a collaboration between scientists from Syracuse University, SUNY ESF, and SUNY Upstate. The platform utilizes the level of SARS-CoV-2 RNA found in wastewater to estimate transmission trends in real time, provide instant feedback on social distancing and other interventions, predict hospitalizations from COVID-19, and give confidence in the absence of transmission for areas with zero cases. This webinar will present the laboratory methods and trends from the first two weeks of the platform operations, with plans for continuation and scale and future modeling of the pandemic.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

Understanding Covid 19 Relief Programs: Weathering the Financial Challenges
May 14, 2020

COVID-19 has had a pervasive impact across our society and our economy. The human toll of the virus is widely measured and reported. The financial impact on employers is less clear. The federal government has rolled out a number of programs to help employers weather the financial challenges of government-mandated closures, social distancing, employee illness, and other challenges associated with the COVID-19 disruption.

This session will highlight specific elements of the COVID-19 disruption and related federal aid programs that county governments should be aware of in terms of the impact on employers and the potential reaction that might be appropriate for consideration at the County level. The Bonadio Group will give an overview of a number of federal programs and issues that are important to local governments.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

County Budgeting Issues During Covid 19
April 24, 2020

These are challenging times for every county department, but perhaps none more than the county budget offices who are working to amend the 2020 budget based on plummeting sales tax revenues, and the unpredictability of a state budget proposal that allows for the state to cut reimbursements to counties three times this year, based on state revenue losses. At the same time, counties are paying for a variety of new and unexpected expenses to help stem the spread of the coronavirus. This webinar addresses a series of questions that counties are grappling with during this local response to the global pandemic.

New York State Open Government Law Changes During Covid 19
April 21, 2020

Join the NYS Committee on Open Government staff as they discuss and answer questions concerning the New York State open government laws during the pendency of the Governor’s Executive Order 202 series and related PAUSE program. Shoshanah Bewlay and Kristin O'Neill from the Committee on Open Government present this timely topic for government officials.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

NYSAC State Fiscal Year 2021 Budget Briefing
Join the NYSAC Legislative Team as they present an overview of key county issues from Governor Cuomo's SFY 2021 Executive Budget.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

Following Best Practices in Labor Law During the Coronavirus
March 26

Counties are on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is requiring change in the way that all of our county employees are working. While winning this fight is the most important goal, following best practice labor law policies during this process is essential to protect both your employees and the county itself.

On Thursday, March 26th at 3 p.m. , NYSAC hosted a webinar on the best practice labor considerations during the COVID-19 crisis. The webinar included the following topics: Governor’s Executive Orders Overview, New York Paid Sick Leave Bill, and Federal Emergency Paid Sick leave/FMLA Expansion. This webinar will be presented by Karlee S. Bolaños Esq. of Bolaños Lowe, PLLC.

PDF of PowerPoint
Webinar Recording
FORM: Request for COVID-19 Quarantine DB/PFL – Self (Form SCOVID19)
FORM: NY PFL
POSTER: FFCRA
Q&A Answers that were not answered live
Application for Emergency Paid Sickleave

Additional Documents from the Webinar:

NY COVID leave forms
U.S. Department of Labor has provided employers covered by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act’s paid sick leave and expanded Family and Medical Leave provisions with the required notice to post. Employers must post the notice in a conspicuous place on its premises. The notice provides an explanation of employee rights to both paid sick leave and expanded Family and Medical Leave under the Act. THE POSTING IS ATTACHED. Employers may also satisfy the notice requirements of the Act by emailing or direct mailing the notice to employees, or posting the notice on an employee information internal or external website. If you handle notice in that manner, you need to make sure the posting is available to new hires. Most employers find it easier to post the notices. Since the Act’s requirements only apply to current employees, the notice does not have to be shared with laid-off individuals or prospective employees.

Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) published its first round of implementation guidance pursuant to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The initial WHD guidance is available in three-parts: Fact Sheet for Employees, Fact Sheet for Employers, and Questions and Answers. Here are the links to USDOL’s 3 part guidance:
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-employee-paid-leave
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-employer-paid-leave
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-questions

I attached the NYSPFL application forms (self and child), but the links are here as well:
http://docs.paidfamilyleave.ny.gov/content/main/forms/PFLDocs/scovid19.pdf
http://docs.paidfamilyleave.ny.gov/content/main/forms/PFLDocs/scovid19.pdf

There is also a helpful FAQ posted on the State’s COVID-19 webpages.

Here is a link to more NYSPFL (COVID-19) employer resources: https://paidfamilyleave.ny.gov/employer-responsibilities-and-resources

Finally, legal alerts that Bill Lowe and Karlee Bolanos are available at www.bolanoslowe.com

Effectively Communicating with Your Community Through Facebook Live and Virtual Town Hall Meetings on Covid-19

March 20

The New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) hosted a webinar designed to help counties conduct Facebook Live Town Halls to communicate with residents during the ongoing COVID-19 emergency response activities.

The Webinar, Best Practices for Conducting a Facebook Live Town Halls, was held at 2 p.m. Friday, March 20, 2020.
Jon Summers, president of Summers Strategies, provided an overview how to promote, set up, and conduct a Facebook Live Town Hall, equipment basics, messaging, and how to integrate the event across multiple social media platforms.
Joining Jon was a county communication professional who has deployed a Facebook Live Town Hall to connect county leaders and health department officials with residents to discuss ways to combat COVID-19.

PDF of the PowerPoint
Recording of the Webinar

Medicaid Proposals: Federal and State Updates

February 19, 2020

FEDERAL PERSPECTIVE: Federal update will discuss the Trump Administration plan on Medicaid. Amidst attempts to cut federal funding for the program in recent years, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) released the Medicaid Fiscal Accountability rule, a federal regulation that would make technical changes to Medicaid’s supplemental payments and state financing structure. In FY 2018, supplemental funding sources such as IGTs and CPEs, made up 37.5 percent of all Medicaid spending. If enacted, the proposed rule could impact how states and counties finance their non-federal share of the Medicaid program.

STATE PERSPECTIVE: New York State Proposes to realign the local Medicaid cap. Learn the latest on the state’s proposal to redesign Medicaid through the Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT) and proposals that will affect the New York Medicaid cap for county governments and New York City.

PDF of PowerPoint
Recording of the webinar

How to Access State Census Funding for Counties and Local Nonprofits

February 5, 2020

In December, the State announced funding allocations for counties that create complete count committees and develop plans to work with local nonprofit agencies to promote the completion of census questionnaires.
Webinar for State leaders to explain how counties can apply for and receive the funding that was announced in December. They will also discuss how the local nonprofit agencies can be approved by the state to work within county plans and be eligible for funding.

Managing Disasters at the County Level: Resources for Flood Preparedness and Response

PFAS & Your Local Landfill: Managing Risk and Preparing for Regulations

New Opportunities for Commercial Clean Energy Financing for Counties

Hot Topics in Public Sector Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining

Countdown to the 2020 Census Count

Food Waste Diversion Legislation

Countywide Support for EMS Systems

NYS Bans Single-Use Plastic Bags. Now What?

Preparing for Implementation: What the Election Law Reforms Mean For Your County

Implementing the NYS Sexual Harassment Law

The Dairy Crisis and its Impact on NY Farmers

Managing Disasters at the County Level: Resources for Flood Preparedness and Response
December 18, 2019

Flooding has had a profound impact on communities across New York State. According to Rebuild By Design, every county in the state has experienced a federal or state disaster declaration for flooding in the past ten years, and more than half experienced five or more events. Fortunately, state resources are available to assist county leaders and homeowners in responding to and recovering from significant flood events.

This webinar hosted Jefferson County Chairman Scott Gray, and the Governor’s Director of Emergency Management Michael Kopy and Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs Molly Reilly to discuss state funding and other resources available to prepare communities for the next storm and rebuild in the aftermath.

Sponsored by

PDF of PowerPoint Presentation
Webinar Recording

PFAS & Your Local Landfill: Managing Risk and Preparing for Regulations

Nov 14, 2019

In recent years, there has been a new focus on groundwater contamination and the threat unregulated contaminants pose to the safety of our drinking water. New York State is now in the process of adopting the nation’s most stringent drinking water standards for an emerging family of contaminants, known collectively as PFAS, that has been found in the public water supply throughout New York State. These “forever chemicals” bioaccumulate in humans and have been linked to several types of cancer and other debilitating diseases. While PFOA and long-chain PFAS chemicals are no longer found in new U.S. products, they are still found in landfills around the country, creating an ongoing threat of contamination into the environment through landfill leakage. As public interest in PFAS continues to rise, we can expect to see new monitoring requirements and legislation in order to safeguard our communities, as well as increased litigation.

PDF of PowerPoint Presentation
Webinar Recording

New Opportunities for Commercial Clean Energy Financing for Counties

Oct. 2, 2019

The Energize NY Open C-PACE program enables counties to offer the benefit of commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing to support environmentally positive economic development in your communities.

Open C-PACE provides long-term, competitive financing that facilitates energy efficiency or renewable energy improvements for commercial and multi-family properties. These improvements help reduce operating costs and environmental impact, making the local building stock more economically competitive and attractive.

A lack of accessible financing is often a barrier to making clean energy upgrades, however with Open C-PACE property owners benefit from competitive rates from approved capital providers and terms that can match the life of the improvements, generally 20-30 years. These factors make Open C-PACE a unique tool for building owners, whether they need to upgrade outdated building equipment or want to include deep energy retrofits as part of a property’s redevelopment.

This webinar was provided by the Energy Improvement Corporation, an independent not-for-profit established under Section 402 of the New York Not-for-Profit law and a local public benefit corporation established under Article 5-L of the New York General Municipal Law.

Hot Topics in Public Sector Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining

September 23, 2019
Join labor law experts from Roemer Wallens Gold & Mineaux LLP as they discuss collective bargaining issues including: regional wage/salary trends, health insurance, cancer screening leave, paid family leave, and veterans’ benefits. This webinar also addresses issues likely to come up in the CBA process such as- voting leave, medical marijuana, drug testing, body cameras, and the effect of Taylor Law amendments on union and non-union employees.

PDF of PowerPoint Presentations
Webinar Recording

Countdown to the 2020 Census Count

August 12, 2019

Complete count committees across the state are meeting and making plans to put together an infrastructure that will work to ensure every New Yorker gets counted in the 2020 Census. From appealing the Local Updates to Census Addresses (LUCA) to complete count committees, many counties and local governments are partnering with community agencies to educate and inform the public about the importance of being counted.

Food Waste Diversion Legislation

June 18, 2019

Food waste is a global problem with far-reaching impacts on food security, resource conservation, and climate change. Roughly one third of the food produced for human consumption worldwide — approximately 1.3 billion tons — gets thrown out every year.

The 2019-20 NYS Budget includes legislation to address this problem by requiring the largest generators of food scraps to donate their excess food and recycle food scraps.

This NYSAC webinar breaks down the legislation and shares resources for counties that are interested in being part of the solution. Listen to learn how New York’s counties are helping to divert food from landfills and incinerators and what changes your county’s supermarkets, universities, hotels, and other designated food scraps generators will be preparing for in the lead up to January 1, 2022.

PDF of PowerPoint Presentation
Webinar Recording

Countywide Support for EMS Systems

June 10, 2019

Local Emergency Medical Services (EMS) organizations are having a harder time staying operational, particularly in more rural parts of the state. This webinar will discuss how one county is working to develop countywide cost-effective EMS system that is responsive to consumer needs. This system is designed to help equalize the cost among all residents of the County for the delivery of this service, while giving it greater stability and accountability through a better governance structure.

PDF of PowerPoint Presentation
Webinar Recording

NYS Bans Single-Use Plastic Bags. Now What?

May 8, 2019

In March 2020, New York will become the second state - behind California - to implement a ban on single-use plastic bags. Counties will also have the option to opt-in to a $0.05 fee on paper bags. What does this mean for your county? Listen to the webinar recording (below) to learn more about the legislation and how stakeholders across the state are preparing for its implementation.

Presenters:

Hon. Tracey Bartels, Ulster County Legislature
Hon. Jen Metzger, Member, NYS Senate, 42nd District
Hon. Kara Hahn, Suffolk County Legislature
Jane McLaughlin, Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
Mona Golub, Price Chopper
Jason Wadsworth, Wegmans

PDF of PowerPoint Presentation
Recording of Webinar

Sponsored by

Preparing for Implementation: What the Election Law Reforms Mean For Your County

April 2019

This webinar examined the election law reforms that were passed during the 2019 NYS legislative session. Presenters covered the perspective from the state board of elections and local boards of elections as implementation of the reforms gets underway. Topics included electronic poll books, early voting, the revised political calendar and an overview of the election laws that have been passed by the legislature.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint

Sponsored by

Implementing the NYS Sexual Harassment Law

October 30, 2018

A webinar training on the on the recently adopted regulations that formed the New York State’s Department of Labor (“DOL”) model sexual harassment prevention documents for all employers.
This complex change in the law required all employers, including county governments, to update and create new sexual harassment policies and procedures. Our labor experts will walk you through the changes in the State law and what you will need to know as employers, employees and as county government leaders.

Webinar Recording
PDF of PowerPoint Presentation

The Dairy Crisis and its Impact on NY Farmers

April 11, 2018

NYSAC’s Standing Committee on Agriculture and Rural Affairs provides an overview of the crisis gripping New York State’s dairy farmers. The overabundance of milk, flagging demand, dramatically lower prices, higher operating costs, and unfavorable weather conditions have negatively impacted the economic viability for dairy farmers across the state.

This online video presentation addresses the dairy crisis from four critical perspectives: the USDA, a financial lender, a processor, and a farmer.

PDF of PowerPoint Presentation
View Recording of Webinar