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March 2025 News & Events
Welcome to the March issue of the Harrington Heep newsletter. Recently, Andrew Bettinelli and Donna Brewer presented before the Citizen...
Harrington Heep, LLP
Mar 311 min read
Certain COVID Rules for Meetings Extended (Again)
Some of the more popular measures first enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, have been extended once again. On March 28, 2025,...
Harrington Heep, LLP
Mar 311 min read
How to Respond When ICE Comes Knocking
Changes to federal immigration enforcement policies highlight the necessity for towns to prepare to respond to federal immigration...
Harrington Heep, LLP
Mar 312 min read
Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Local Government in Important Clean Water Act Case
In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court of the United States has struck down two conditions in San Francisco’s Clean Water Act (CWA)...
Harrington Heep, LLP
Mar 312 min read
Re-Confirmation That Municipal Employers Can be Liable When an Employee Commits an Intentional Tort
The Massachusetts Tort Claims Act does not exempt public employers from liability for negligently hiring, promoting, supervising, and...
Harrington Heep, LLP
Mar 312 min read
Client Alert - 3/28/25 - CERTAIN COVID RULES EXTENDED (AGAIN)
Some of the more popular measures first enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have been extended once again. Today, Governor...
Harrington Heep, LLP
Mar 281 min read
Governor’s Commission Recommends Significant Changes to the Zoning Act
This month, the Unlocking Housing Production Commission issued a lengthy report, entitled Building for Tomorrow , with recommendations...
Harrington Heep, LLP
Feb 281 min read
Regulations for Accessory Dwelling Units are Issued
As our readers are likely aware, Chapter 150 of the Acts of 2024, also known as the Affordable Homes Act , includes provisions to expand...
Harrington Heep, LLP
Feb 282 min read
Special Acts Allow for Digital Posting of Legal Notices in Place of Newspaper Publication
Some statutes require publication of legal notices in a newspaper of general circulation. G.L. c. 40A, § 5 is just one example of many....
Harrington Heep, LLP
Jan 221 min read
Civil Penalties Issued by the Board of Health are Upheld by the SJC
The Supreme Judicial Court has confirmed that local boards of health can administratively enforce violations of 105 CMR 665, the...
Harrington Heep, LLP
Jan 222 min read
EOHLC Guidelines for G.L. c. 40A, § 3A Are Reissued as Emergency Regulations
On January 14, 2025, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) issued emergency regulations to implement the...
Harrington Heep, LLP
Jan 221 min read
Social Security Fairness Act Ends Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset
Municipal employees may, over the course of their working life, transition between jobs in which they contribute into Social Security and...
Harrington Heep, LLP
Jan 221 min read
January 2025 News & Events
Happy New Year to you all. 2025 is already chockful of important municipal law developments, among them success for our labor...
Harrington Heep, LLP
Jan 221 min read
Client Alert - 1/8/25 - SJC Issues Decision in the Milton Case Finding that While Compliance with G.L. c. 40A, § 3A is Required, HLC's Guidelines are Ineffective
Today, January 8, 2025, the Supreme Judicial Court released its long-awaited decision regarding the Attorney General’s enforcement...
Harrington Heep, LLP
Jan 83 min read
Civil Service Reform in the Legislation Expanding Local Economic Development Initiatives
The November newsletter reported on a couple of important changes in An Act Relative to Strengthening Massachusetts Leadership , Ch. 238...
Harrington Heep, LLP
Dec 31, 20241 min read
Increased Access to Liquor Licenses and Expanding Alcohol Offerings at Farmers Markets
You guessed it, another newsletter article on An Act Relative to Strengthening Massachusetts Leadership , Ch. 238 of the Acts of 2024 ....
Harrington Heep, LLP
Dec 31, 20241 min read
State Ethics Commission Considers Impact of Local Discipline on State Penalty
It would seem to be an obvious violation of the Ethics Law, G.L. c. 268A, one worthy of a monetary penalty, for a municipal official to...
Harrington Heep, LLP
Dec 31, 20242 min read
Client Alert - 12/4/24 - Deadline for Obligating ARPA Funds Fast Approaching
As you are undoubtedly aware, ARPA funds must be “obligated” by December 31, 2024. US Treasury regulations define “obligation” to mean...
Harrington Heep, LLP
Dec 4, 20241 min read
Client Alert - 11/27/24 - New Permit Extension and Exemption from Zoning Amendments
An Act Relative to Strengthening Massachusetts Leadership, Ch. 238 of the Acts of 2024 The firm’s November newsletter summarizes new...
Harrington Heep, LLP
Nov 27, 20242 min read
Federal Court Invalidates Rules to Increase Salary Threshold of Exempt Employees
Our May newsletter informed our readers that the U.S. Department of Labor had amended the threshold for exemption from overtime for...
Harrington Heep, LLP
Nov 26, 20241 min read