News Blog and Resources at Harrington Heep | Municpal Law Firm

Jun 271 min read

Food and Beverages Containing CBD or THC Remain Illegal

On May 29, 2024, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources issued a notice...

School District May Ban Students' Disruptive Clothing

Harrington Heep, LLP

Jun 272 min read

School District May Ban Students' Disruptive Clothing

A middle school student wore a t-shirt that read “there are only two genders.” The principal informed the student that he could not wear...

Harrington Heep, LLP

Jun 271 min read

Rapid Fire Updates - June 2024

Addressing Extreme Heat in Schools The Metropolitan Area Planning Council in conjunction with the Massachusetts Asthma Action Partnership...

Federal Law Raises the Salary Limits for Overtime Eligibility

Harrington Heep, LLP

May 301 min read

Federal Law Raises the Salary Limits for Overtime Eligibility

The U.S. Department of Labor has amended the threshold for exemption from overtime for salaried employees. Effective July 1, 2024, an...

The Latest on Tax Takings and Owners' Right to a Return of Equity

Harrington Heep, LLP

May 302 min read

The Latest on Tax Takings and Owners' Right to a Return of Equity

Most towns are familiar with the tax taking process. However, the process as we know it is under scrutiny by courts and lawmakers...

The Supreme Judicial Court on Police Records and the Public Records Act

Harrington Heep, LLP

May 302 min read

The Supreme Judicial Court on Police Records and the Public Records Act

When and to what extent police investigation records are public records remain difficult questions to resolve. The Supreme Judicial Court...

Harrington Heep, LLP

May 301 min read

Rapid Fire Updates - May 2024

Outdoor Dining and Takeout Alcoholic Drinks Ch. 88 of the Acts of 2024, a supplemental appropriations bill, contains two important...

Harrington Heep, LLP

Apr 181 min read

April 2024 News & Events

No joke, it is April! We expect that you are all immersed in Town Meetings, as are we. As we turn a page in the monthly calendar, another...

The Appeals Court Affirms the Broad, Discretionary Authority of Boards of Health

Harrington Heep, LLP

Apr 182 min read

The Appeals Court Affirms the Broad, Discretionary Authority of Boards of Health

Local boards of health have broad authority under G. L. c. 111, §§ 122-125 to eliminate nuisances within a municipality. In a recent...

The Appeals Court Highlights that a Request for Public Records Must Be Reasonable

Harrington Heep, LLP

Apr 182 min read

The Appeals Court Highlights that a Request for Public Records Must Be Reasonable

As public officials may know, many areas of the Public Records Law are based on “reasonableness.” In a recent Appeals Court case,...

A Reminder that Zoning Bylaws and Ordinances Must be Carefully Written

Harrington Heep, LLP

Apr 181 min read

A Reminder that Zoning Bylaws and Ordinances Must be Carefully Written

A company proposed to reclaim a former gravel pit by filling it with soil and other materials over a 7 to 9 year period. The Pepperell...

Harrington Heep, LLP

Apr 181 min read

Rapid Fire Updates - April 2024

Webinar on Surplus Supply Disposition Practices; Webinar on Community Preservation Act On April 23, 2024, the Office of the Inspector...

Public Officials and Personal Social Media Accounts

Harrington Heep, LLP

Mar 293 min read

Public Officials and Personal Social Media Accounts

In a rare unanimous decision on a matter of substantial public interest, the U.S. Supreme Court pronounced factors to determine when a...

Harrington Heep, LLP

Mar 291 min read

Local Regulation of Tobacco Sales

The state Tobacco Act, G.L. c. 270, § 6, sets the minimum age for the sale of tobacco products at 21. It expressly preempts an...

The Attorney General is Liable for Attorneys’ Fees Under the Public Records Law

Harrington Heep, LLP

Mar 292 min read

The Attorney General is Liable for Attorneys’ Fees Under the Public Records Law

In the course of concluding 4 ½ years of litigation, the Superior Court recently found the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) partially...

Protected Petitioning Activity Can Be a Violation of G.L. c. 93A

Harrington Heep, LLP

Mar 293 min read

Protected Petitioning Activity Can Be a Violation of G.L. c. 93A

While appeals of zoning decisions are classic petitioning activity protected by the state and U.S. constitutions and the Massachusetts...

Harrington Heep, LLP

Mar 291 min read

Rapid Fire Updates - March 2024

DLS Issues Informational Guideline Releases

Harrington Heep, LLP

Feb 161 min read

February 2024 News & Events

It was great to see so many of you at Massachusetts Municipal Association's Annual Conference in January. We hope that you picked up some...

Zoom's "AI Companion" Feature May Create Public Records Subject to Release

Harrington Heep, LLP

Feb 162 min read

Zoom's "AI Companion" Feature May Create Public Records Subject to Release

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, government bodies have seen a rise in virtual meetings through platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams....

Harrington Heep, LLP

Feb 161 min read

Town Meeting - It's the Little Things

The Annual Town Meeting can last for days. Even if the business is accomplished in one day, the long hours can lure attendees into a...

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