The Alna select board members, Ed Pentaleri, Steven Graham, and Coreysha Stone, all completed professional training recently, related to their municipal responsibilities.

Both Graham and Stone completed the four-hour Maine Municipal Association Elected Officials training on Wednesday, April 26. The training, as described by MMA, is a perfect opportunity for elected officials to take advantage of the expertise MMA has to offer, and provides a better understanding of the role of public officials and builds awareness of ever-changing local government responsibilities and issues.

The workshop is recommended for newly elected and veteran officials-councilors and selectpersons, and is a wonderful opportunity to learn key points about the various positions while networking with officials from around the state. This workshop also qualifies for the Maine Freedom Of Access Act training, which is mandated for all elected officials within 120 days of taking oath. 

According to select board member Stone, "I was excited to have the opportunity to participate in this training within the first 31 days of taking office; it feels important to ensure that I am starting on the right foot and representing the town of Alna well."

Second select board member Graham said, “As the complexity of helping to run a town in Maine has become more clear in the first month of my service, it was very helpful to have the benefit of the training and the counsel of seasoned MMA staff.”

Pentaleri participated in a full-day workshop sponsored by Maine Department of Transportation’s Local Roads Center. Held at the Winslow town office, the “Maintaining Gravel Roads” workshop was the first of seven such workshops scheduled to be held around the state over the next couple of months.

Pentaleri shared of his experience, "Maintenance of the Town’s roads is among the most important responsibilities that members of the Select Board have, both as a matter of public safety and because of the significant costs that can result from failing to do so effectively. Following a pandemic-induced hiatus, these classes filled to capacity very quickly with a wide range of attendees, from municipal officers to roads committee members, road commissioners and road crews from across the State. This class was a very good use of my time that I am confident will help us to make the most effective use of Alna’s tax dollars."