Surveys that the MMA uses to update information for the forthcoming edition of the Massachusetts Municipal Directory were mailed to every city and town clerk on May 5.

Each clerk was sent a copy of the directory listing for his or her community and was asked to update the information, including the dates for annual town meetings and elections in spring 2006.

Any clerks who have not yet returned their survey are asked to do so as soon as possible. Clerks in towns holding elections this month are asked to return the surveys as soon as possible once election results are in.

For the second year in a row, Gardner was the first community to return the completed survey, arriving by fax less than 20 hours after the surveys were mailed.

The annual directory includes listings of local officials and contact information for the state’s 351 municipalities as well as regional school, state government and federal listings. The 2005-06 edition will be published this summer.

Contact: MMA Associate Editor Mitch Evich