Gadsden City Council members Cynthia Toles, Deverick Williams, and Thomas Worthy have earned the professional designation of Advanced Certified Municipal Official. Councilman Worthy also earned the designation of 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. The individual must then complete an additional 40 hours of training to receive an advanced certification. Council members Toles, Williams, and Worthy are members of the 21st graduating class of Advanced Certified Municipal Officials and were recognized for their accomplishments during graduation ceremonies held in Prattville, AL, on October 3, 2019.
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 council members 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, Council Members Toles, Williams, and Worthy 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.
“All CMO graduates spend many hours over several years attending day-long workshops and lectures on the finer points of municipal government,” said Ken Smith, Executive Director of the League of Municipalities. “Earning the Advanced CMO designation is a significant achievement, and I commend our graduates for their dedication and motivation to become 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.
