EPISODE · Mar 17, 2026 · 30 MIN
Inside the Network Supporting Massachusetts’ Small Town Leaders
from The 351 · host Adam Chapdelaine, John Ouellette, Ryan McLane, Denise Dembkoski
The majority of Massachusetts cities and towns have fewer than 12,000 residents — but they’re still responsible for delivering the same services as larger communities. Ryan McLane of Carlisle and Denise Dembkoski of Stow, leaders of Small Town Administrators of Massachusetts (STAM), talk about what it really takes to run a small town. From staffing challenges and tight budgets to navigating volunteer boards and complex governance structures, they unpack the unique challenges — and surprising advantages — of municipal leadership in smaller communities. They’ll also share how STAM helps town administrators learn from one another, and builds a pipeline of future municipal leaders to drive meaningful progress. For Further Reading: Learn more about STAM: https://www.mma.org/members/managers/small-town-administrators-of-massachusetts/ To learn more about the MMA: www.mma.org
What this episode covers
The majority of Massachusetts cities and towns have fewer than 12,000 residents — but they’re still responsible for delivering the same services as larger communities. Ryan McLane of Carlisle and Denise Dembkoski of Stow, leaders of Small Town Administrators of Massachusetts (STAM), talk about what it really takes to run a small town. From staffing challenges and tight budgets to navigating volunteer boards and complex governance structures, they unpack the unique challenges — and surprising advantages — of municipal leadership in smaller communities. They’ll also share how STAM helps town administrators learn from one another, and builds a pipeline of future municipal leaders to drive meaningful progress.
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Inside the Network Supporting Massachusetts’ Small Town Leaders
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