Past Events and Presentations

Most Recent Presentation Download

CT-N Recording of 2026 COST Town Meeting
H2M Architects & Engineers "Solving small-town challenges with smart solutions" presentation
Renew Approach Video:

Past Presentation Downloads

Climate Resiliency Planning Challenges Presentation
Sewer System Capacity Panel Presentation
Secretary of the State Presentation

COST's Legislative Wrap-Up 2025

COST's Legislative Wrap-Up provided attendees with information on legislation affecting municipalities, including an analysis of the state budget's education and special education funding by Lisa Hammersley, Executive Director of the CT School & State Projects. Download the presentation and video.

COST's Fall Conference 2024

This year's Fall Conference was packed with great presentations on a wide range of issues, including housing and land use, affordable housing proposals, DEEP's MS4 Stormwater Program, Cybersecurity Awareness, CT's Array RX program, and Mentally Healthy Workplaces! A video of the conference is now available at this link, courtesy of CT-N. Interested in obtaining copies of the presentations? Contact Betsy Gara at [email protected].

COST's Legislative Wrap-Up 2024

COST held a webinar featuring CT Mirror's Keith Phaneuf and COST Executive Director Betsy Gara to discuss state budget issues, municipal aid, and a rundown of the major bills affecting small towns that passed and the bills that didn't pass. 

Download the Video Recording and the Legislative Wrap-Up. A complete Summary of New Laws, including effective dates, will be made available later this month. 

Cyber Threat Prevention, Protection, Response & Recovery

This webinar provided attendees with information from Apex Technology Group about services available to municipalities to help protect against cyber threats, including some free services: Malicious Domain Blocking & Response; Incident Response Team & Training; Cyber Hygiene Scanning; and CIS Secure Suite Membership.

COST's Workshop for Newly Elected Municipal Officials (01/09/24)

COST's Key Issues Conference (10/19/23)

  • PFAS Contamination & Remediation - Patricia Boye-Williams, Esq., Murtha Cullina LLP

  • PFAS Contamination & Remediation - Ray Frigon, Dept. of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP)

  • PFAS Challenges from an Environmental Professional's Perspective - Brent Henebry, LEP, Fuss & O'Neill

  • MS4 Stormwater Compliance - Chris Stone, PE and Nicole Kibbe, DEEP

  • Confronting Climate Change Impacts - David Murphy, PE, Resilient Land and Water, LLC/CIRCA

  • Housing & Land Use Update - Ken Slater, Esq. and Rich Roberts, Esq., Halloran Sage - No Presentation - had to be there in person!

  • Mapping Opportunities for COST Savings & Resilience: Solar & Storage for Affordable Housing - Bryan Garcia, President & CEO, CT Green Bank

Connecticut's Enhanced 911 Communication System Webinar (3/23/23)

Division of Statewide Emergency Telecommunications Website

Breaking Down the Budget: Lisa Hammersly and Keith Phaneuf (2/13/23)

  • Passcode: VYY6kf3?

2023 Connecticut Town Meeting (1/11/23)

Planning & Development Conference (11/17/22, Aqua Turf) 

Lessons Learned Panel

State & Local Infrastructure Resources Panel

Towns and cities are facing a number of challenges in addressing planning and economic development issues to create more vibrant, sustainable communities. This conference shared information about new laws, initiatives, and funding opportunities to assist your community.

Energy & Environment Conference (6/8/22, Aqua Turf)

Presentations:

Modernizing the Budget Process for Smaller Municipalities  (4/14/22, Webinar)

This informative live webinar explored the benefits of modernizing the municipal budget processes using cloud-based solutions. 

2022 Connecticut Town Meeting (2/8/22)

Municipal Transportation Project Development Webinar (1/26/22)

Presentation  |  This webinar shared the ins and outs of the development of municipal transportation projects. Deputy Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto from the Connecticut Department of Transportation provided an overview of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and explained what Connecticut can expect from the nearly $1 trillion in transportation, water, broadband, and power infrastructure investments. John Guszkowski from Tyche Planning & Policy Group and Jamil Miranda from M&J Engineering shared their insight on effectively moving projects from concept to construction while making the most of your infrastructure dollars.

Emergency Management Webinar for Municipal Officials (1/19/22)

This webinar was designed to assist newly elected and returning municipal leaders in addressing emergency management and storm response issues to protect your communities. The following topics were covered by experts from the Departments of Emergency Services & Public Protection (DESPP) and Emergency Management & Homeland Security (DEMHS):

  • Emergency Management - Your Legal Role & Responsibilities

  • State/Local Coordination

  • School Security

  • The Make Safe Protocol - Storm Response Communications & Coordination

  • Post-Disaster Requirements and Expectations

  • Multi-Year Training & Exercise Program (MYTEP)

Cybersecurity: What Towns Need to Know (11/18/21)

This webinar covered the following issues:

  • Public Entity Cyber Overview

  • Cyber Legal Environment: Regulation, Legal Exposure and Compliance

  • Cyber Insurance Market Overview

2021 Legislative Wrap-Up (6/17/21)

Tips for Preparing Your Affordable Housing Plans (5/18/21)

Municipal Healthcare and Benefit Packages (1/26/20)

Technology Solutions for Towns (11/5/20)

Special Session - Zoning, Land Use & Housing Issues  (7/14/20)

Stormwater Management Workshop (10/22/19)

2019 Legislative Wrap-Up (6/12/19)

2019 Connecticut Town Meeting (1/16/19)

Environmental & Land Use Presentations (10/23/18)

Crash Course in Economic Development & Planning (3/2/18)