II. Conference Connections
Important Conference Sessions: COVID-19
To help your Annual Conference planning, the following is a rundown of sessions that will provide you with a recovery roadmap from the COVID-19 pandemic for many different aspects that impact municipal government.
These sessions include:
Tuesday, Nov. 16
10:30-11:45 a.m.
Economic Recovery Post COVID (Room 412). A continuation of a discussion from the 2020 Virtual Conference between the major business groups who represent the interests of Main Street and multi-national business alike and local elected officials. The focus will be on the state’s economic recovery, from small-town Main Street to our urban business centers.
NJ Department of Human Services & Your Community (Room 312). Leaders from the NJ Department of Human Services, the state’s largest agency, will provide information on social services and healthcare supports, including child care, health insurance, addiction and mental health care, food assistance, and more. These services have been critical as New Jerseyans face economic and health hardships brought on by COVID.
1:30-245 p.m.
DLGS Director’s Update (Room 302). Division of Local Government Services Director Jacquelyn Suarez will provide an update on the response to COVID-19, Tropical Storm Ida, and the outlook on changes for 2022.
3:30-4:45 p.m.
Labor Law (Hall A). 2022: What’s on the horizon in public sector labor/employment law? Post-COVID reasonable accommodations; record-keeping and administration of leave time. Legalized recreational cannabis in the workplace: lessons learned and cautionary tales. The New Jersey Wage Theft Act – miscalculations and lack of payment. Payroll records as evidence, retention issues/obligations, and legal presumptions.
Wednesday, Nov. 17
9:00-10:15 a.m.
Affordable Housing Update (Rooms 201-202). Over 300 municipalities are in the process of implementing settlements and looking ahead to the expiration of the current round and what lays ahead. This session will discuss the impact of the COVID19 pandemic on settlement agreements, any recent development in the Courts and the prospects for much needed legislative reform.
10:45-12:00 noon
Cyber Security & Technology After COVID (Room 404). The pandemic forced municipalities to pivot many of their operations in response to social distancing. New technology provided solutions to continue operations during a public health crisis, and these new ways of providing services are likely here to stay. What will continuing these services look like in a post-pandemic world? This session will also discuss the ever-evolving issue of cybersecurity.
The Impacts of COVID-19 on Social Services (Room 307). An overview of how some public assistance programs have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and what that means for the populations we serve.
1:30- 2:45 p.m.
Communicating With Residents During COVID (Room 412). Ensuring that you reach all residents with your messages can be difficult in a typical year. The struggle of successfully breaking through communication barriers and reaching a multigenerational audience was amplified over the pandemic. Many municipalities were able to not only utilize social media successfully, but also developed print and digital educational campaigns, and found innovative ways to continue communicating about changes in residential services, public meetings, COVID issues, and public health campaigns while developing innovative ways to continue communications. This panel will discuss their experiences and share some of the communications tools and campaigns they developed.
Pandemic! How Municipalities Survive Pre, During, and Post (Room 308). A discussion of recent events in regards to COVID-19, providing important factors to consider during the planning and operating a municipality before, during, and after a global pandemic. We have all lived through it; now let’s put the play-by-play book together.
3:30-4:45 p.m.
The DCA, the Inspectors, & Changes to Come in 2022 (Room 317). An explanation of the relationship between the DCA and the local inspectors as it relates to the enforcement of The Code given the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thursday, Nov. 18
1:30-2:45 p.m.
Effects of COVID on the Office Market & Appeals (Room 412). A discussion focusing on the effects of COVID-19 on the commercial office market and the perceived impact on tax appeals.
New Jersey Tourism in the Wake of COVID-19 (Room 301). NJ Tourism Recovery Panel presented by board members of the New Jersey Tourism Industry Association. This panel will address various recovery efforts and long-term strategies relating to funding, destination marketing, and planning. It will highlight recent legislation, industry protocols, and responses related to tourism and economic development that will raise awareness to your community leadership.
For more information on these and other sessions, visit the 106th Annual Conference Homepage.
League Event Tickets Now Available
Don’t miss your opportunity to reunite with your peers and network with potential partners in local governing at the League’s events. Seating is limited, so please sign up today. Each year, many delegates are turned away, do not be disappointed by waiting until the last minute.
TICKET FORM: To order tickets, please download, read, and return the official form.
- All tickets will be mailed on October 31.
- All ticketed League events require a Conference badge, which is a separate fee from the event ticket. Visit the registration page for a conference badge.
- There are no refunds for event tickets. If an event is canceled by NJLM, registration fees for that event will be refunded in full. Modification of events will not be cause for refunds.
Annual Mayor's Box Luncheon
Wednesday, November 17, 12 noon-1:45 p.m., Sheraton Hotel, Crown Ballroom, Cost: $25 per person.
Note: The Mayor's Box Luncheon tickets are limited to the mayor and two guests of the mayor's choosing. The mayor's and guests' names should be on one form.
Women in Municipal Government Networking & Award Event
Wednesday, November 17, 5:15 p.m. Sheraton Hotel, Pearl Ballroom, Cost: $30 per person. The Suffragists will be honored and Lifetime Achievement Awards will be presented to Retired Newark Council President Mildred Crump and Senator Loretta Weinberg.
League Delegates Luncheon
Thursday, November 18, 12 noon-1:30 p.m., Sheraton Hotel, Crown Ballroom, Cost: $40 per person.
Download the Conference App
Maximize your time at the 106th Annual League Conference with the NJLM 2021 mobile app. Easily view the Schedule, Speakers, Photo Gallery, Instant Alerts, and more! You can even create personalized lists to target your particular interests.
Download the NJLM 2021 Conference app. This link will automatically detect your phone type and take you to the right place to download on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Or, visit your app store and search by keyword: Apple users (iPhone, iTouch, iPad) users search “2021 NJLM Annual Conference”; Android users search “NJLM”.
For App directions, visit app section of the 2021 NJLM Conference site.
Reserve Your Hotel Room
Reserve your hotel room today. Call A.C. Central Reservations at 866-643-0044 to book housing for the Annual League Conference. Please specify that you are a League Conference delegate and they will assist you.
View the Housing Map & Rates (PDF) for prices and cancellation dates.
Advance Registration Pricing In Place
Online registration for the 106th Annual League Conference is now open. Government and Non-Government registrations are all paperless and processed online.
Through November 12, Advance pricing will be in place, $70 government/nonprofit; $150 non-government. Purchase Orders for advance pricing will be accepted through Friday, October 29.
For more information, visit www.njlm.org/registration.
Conference Mask & Vaccination Policies
The League has announced mask requirements and vaccination or negative COVID test protocols for the in-person event. Download the full announcement for more information (PDF).
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