Mayor Shirley Franklin was among nearly 2,200 officials to attend the Annual Convention of the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) in Savannah June 22-26.
The convention included one day of training, followed by three days of policy committee meetings, the election of the new officers and numerous sessions on topics affecting municipal government. Mayor Franklin officially passed the mantle of leadership to Jay Powell, mayor of Camilla, Georgia.
“My experiences, as I've traveled across the state, have been rich and revealing, as well as inspiring,” said Mayor Franklin. “The spirit of commitment and sacrifice for the public good reigns over characterizations some might suggest to the contrary. And the landscape is replete with individual accomplishments as well as efforts to find solutions to the issues of the day.”
The Annual Convention gives city officials the opportunity to hear from state leaders and local government experts on issues affecting cities. It also allows city leaders from around the state the chance to network with each other and learn about innovative programs.
“We spend a lot of time in sessions, but one of the most valuable experiences is talking to other city officials,” said Mayor Franklin. “Georgia is one of the most innovative states when it comes to local government leadership and the GMA Convention provides an opportunity to share experiences and valuable information.”
Topics discussed at the meeting included proposed tax reform legislation, redevelopment tools, illegal immigration initiatives and maintaining municipal infrastructure.
Based in Atlanta, GMA is a voluntary, non-profit organization that provides legislative advocacy, educational, employee benefit and technical assistance services to its 501 member cities.
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For more information about this and services of the City of Atlanta visit our website at www.atlantaga.gov or watch City Channel 26.