the municipal secretary desktop reference manual - Southwestern ...

G. MUNICIPAL TRAINING PROGRAM
If municipal employees are to be viewed as important and highly valued assets and
investments, the adoption of a formal training program is one way to preserve and further
improve the quality of these assets and investments. The adoption of a training program should
not take place in a void. The program needs to be part and parcel of the municipality's personnel
system. In particular, training should be a means to address issues raised as a result of an
employee=s performance evaluation.
Inasmuch as the principal or initial benefactors of a formally adopted municipal training
program is the jurisdiction itself, costs associated with training should be borne by the local
governmental unit. Since it is considered a municipal expenditure, training costs should be
budgeted items in each departmental fiscal program, with appropriate budgetary controls,
established by the manager or secretary.
Given the “people orientation” of training activities, it seems most logical that potential
participants in municipal training activities should be involved in the development and
monitoring of the program. The participation element suggests a need to devise an
administrative arrangement whereby employees or their representatives participate in the
decision making process involving the training program.
Thus, selective training is an essential element for everyone on a municipality=s payroll
because it provides the opportunity for employees to stay abreast of new ideas, techniques and
mandates. As local government operations evolve and become more complex and demanding,
training often provides networks for informal consultation and assistance.
All employees should be made aware of the elected official’s commitment to employee
training through inclusive language in job descriptions, and line item amounts for training in
annual budgets.
Except for police personnel and for employees involved with various environmental
protection programs, there are no state or national mandates in the municipal training area.
However, various professional associations and programmatic groups have accreditation
program requirements or training guides and suggestions which merit consideration in
developing training activities.
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