By Staff
Melissa Cason, Franklin County Times
VINA – Vina mayor D.W. Franklin recently earned the professional designation of Advanced Certified Municipal Official.
Franklin completed 40 credit hours of training conducted or endorsed by the Alabama League of Municipalities to receive this designation.
He was recognized for his accomplishment at the graduation ceremonies held in Montgomery in August.
He was part of the ninth graduating class of Advanced Certified Municipal Officials.
The training program for elected municipal officials began in 1994 by the Alabama League of Municipalities, under the direction of their executive committee. Until then, there was no formal training for municipal officials.
Franklin is the only representative from Vina to participate in the training offered to municipal officials, Town Clerk Sue Raper said.
Franklin said the plaque he received for his accomplishment represents about four years of work and training.
"The citizen's of Vina should be extremely proud of Mayor Franklin for his achievements by completing this elected official's training program," Executive Director of the League of Municipalities, Perry Roquemore said. "He spent many hours during the last several years attending day-long workshops and lectures on the finer points of municipal government."
Roquemore added that Franklin should be commended for his motivation to become a better municipal official and his attendance during the sessions.
Franklin has served as Vina's mayor since October 1999.