SUMMERDALE - Councilmembers Mary Carolyn McDaniel and Cheryl Stewart of the Town of Summerdale have earned the professional designation of Certified Municipal Official and Advanced Certified Municipal Official. In order to achieve this high honor, a municipal official must first complete 40 credit hours of training conducted or endorsed by the Alabama League of Municipalities to receive the designation of Certified Municipal Official and complete an additional 40 hours of training to receive an advanced certification. McDaniel and Stewart are members of the 25th graduating class of Municipal Officials.

The training program for elected municipal officials was created in 1994 by the Alabama League of Municipalities, under the direction of its Executive Committee, to complete the cycle of training for municipal officials and employees. Until that time, no formal training had been offered for elected officials. The Executive Committee instituted a series of one-day continuing education programs designed for mayors and councilmembers who voluntarily wished to receive formal training in municipal government. In 1998, the Executive Committee approved a series of training courses to be applied toward advanced certification. These courses were designed to carry the designation of Certified Municipal Official one step further by offering additional training for elected officials.

Because of their attendance at statewide and regional educational conferences, McDaniel and Stewart have received formal classroom training in subjects such as council meeting procedures, parliamentary procedure, the Open Meetings Act, public records, ordinance drafting, conflicts of interest, the State Ethics Law, duties of the mayor and council, tort liability, the competitive bid law, zoning and planning, annexation, municipal regulatory powers, municipal revenues and expenditures, personnel actions and leadership development.

“Alabama’s municipalities are the foundation of our state’s economy,” said ALM Executive Director Greg Cochran. “Vibrant communities depend on knowledgeable, engaged leadership which is exactly what this program encourages through training on the finer points of municipal government. Earning the Certified Municipal Official designation further showcases the commitment of community leaders to better informed, more effective municipal officials.”

The Alabama League of Municipalities was organized in 1935 and has since served as the recognized voice of the cities and towns in Alabama. Through the years, the organization has steadily grown and now serves more than 440 municipalities. This voluntary membership program brings officials of cities and towns together in fellowship of public service – which strengthens and guides local government in a progressive, responsible fashion. The primary purpose of the League is to promote understanding of municipal government and administration in Alabama and thereby advance the welfare of the people of this state.