News Blog and Resources at Harrington Heep | Municpal Law Firm

Mar 29, 20232 min read

CLIENT ALERT March 30, 2023 CERTAIN COVID RULES EXTENDED

With the end of the pandemic, municipalities have been anxious to have certain COVID practices that made governmental operations and...

Incivility in Public Discourse Cannot Be Banned

Miyares and Harrington, LLP

Mar 20, 20233 min read

Incivility in Public Discourse Cannot Be Banned

On March 7, 2023, the Supreme Judicial Court unanimously ruled that “civility restraints on the content of speech at a public comment...

The "Strong" Fire Chief Statute Does Not Confer Lifetime Tenure

Miyares and Harrington, LLP

Mar 20, 20233 min read

The "Strong" Fire Chief Statute Does Not Confer Lifetime Tenure

Many towns have accepted the provisions of G.L. c. 48, § 42, commonly referred to as the “strong” fire chief statute, in contrast to the...

ChatGPT and AI; Is Municipal Government Ready?

Miyares and Harrington, LLP

Mar 20, 20231 min read

ChatGPT and AI; Is Municipal Government Ready?

The latest buzz has been about the growth of AI, of which the one most commonly referred to is ChatGPT. What are the drawbacks of using...

Miyares and Harrington, LLP

Mar 20, 20231 min read

Rapid Fire Updates - March 2023

Outdoor Dining and Alcohol Service Coming to an End Under Section 15 of Chapter 42 of the Acts of 2022, municipalities are allowed to...

Miyares and Harrington, LLP

Jan 18, 20232 min read

January 2023 News & Events

Happy New Year! The Massachusetts Municipal Association’s Annual Meeting and Trade Show returns on January 20-21, 2023, as an in-person...

Miyares and Harrington, LLP

Jan 18, 20231 min read

Town Election Season and Voting by Mail

Early voting can impose an administrative burden on city and town clerks, particularly for smaller municipalities. Remember that pursuant...

Secretary of the Commonwealth Updates the Guide to the Massachusetts Public Records Law

Miyares and Harrington, LLP

Jan 18, 20231 min read

Secretary of the Commonwealth Updates the Guide to the Massachusetts Public Records Law

In December, the Secretary of the Commonwealth updated the Guide to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, tightening the requirements for...

Miyares and Harrington, LLP

Jan 18, 20232 min read

Final Regulations for the Stretch Code and the Opt-In Specialized Code are Adopted

On December 9, 2022, the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) filed its final regulations for the Stretch Code, 225 CMR 22.00 and 225...

Miyares and Harrington, LLP

Dec 22, 20221 min read

December 2022 News & Events

We are pleased to announce that Ivria G. Fried has been elevated to the partnership effective January 1, 2023. Ivria joined Miyares and...

DEP Set to Adopt New Regulations Impacting Septic Systems and Water Management Act Registrations

Miyares and Harrington, LLP

Dec 22, 20223 min read

DEP Set to Adopt New Regulations Impacting Septic Systems and Water Management Act Registrations

We are closely monitoring two sets of regulatory amendments proposed by the Department of Environmental Protection (the “Department”)....

AG Treatment of Zoning Bylaws of Solar Energy and Battery Storage Systems Since Tracer Lane

Miyares and Harrington, LLP

Dec 22, 20223 min read

AG Treatment of Zoning Bylaws of Solar Energy and Battery Storage Systems Since Tracer Lane

We summarized in our June newsletter the SJC’s decision in Tracer Lane II Realty, LLC v. Waltham, 489 Mass. 775 (2022), which dealt with...

SJC Guidance on the Requirement for a Surety Bond in Appeals of Land Use Decisions

Miyares and Harrington, LLP

Dec 22, 20221 min read

SJC Guidance on the Requirement for a Surety Bond in Appeals of Land Use Decisions

In 2020, G.L. c. 40A, § 17 was amended to provide that a plaintiff appealing the grant of a special permit, variance, or site plan could...

Miyares and Harrington, LLP

Nov 29, 20221 min read

November 2022 News & Events

The peers of our retired partner, J. Raymond Miyares, have recognized Ray’s impressive and lengthy service in the field of municipal law...

Full Stop on HRD Promotional Examinations

Miyares and Harrington, LLP

Nov 29, 20222 min read

Full Stop on HRD Promotional Examinations

“The best test takers are not necessarily the best police sergeants.” With that opening line, a Superior Court judge ruled that the...

New Rules to Change the Use or Dispose of Article 97 Land

Miyares and Harrington, LLP

Nov 29, 20224 min read

New Rules to Change the Use or Dispose of Article 97 Land

On November 17, 2022, Governor Baker signed Chapter 274 of the Acts of 2022, An Act Preserving Open Space in the Commonwealth. The Act...

Miyares and Harrington, LLP

Nov 29, 20221 min read

Rapid Fire Updates - November 2022

Release by DHCD of Section 3A Compliance Model The Department of Housing and Community Development has released the model for...

Miyares and Harrington, LLP

Oct 27, 20221 min read

October 2022 News & Events

October is replete with firm news, none of it scary. First, we congratulate and honor our founding father and mentor to us all, J....

Miyares and Harrington, LLP

Oct 27, 20221 min read

Here Be Dragons?

The meaning of the word “agriculture” has long been fertile ground for litigation and, in the recent case of Fleming v. Town of Oxford...

Miyares and Harrington, LLP

Oct 27, 20222 min read

Communication Conundrum

In a recent Department of Labor Relations (DLR) decision, In re: Town of Chelmsford et al., MUP-7227 (consolidated with two other...

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