Municipal Law and Finance

Municipal Law and Finance

Events

Langsdorf and Schutz Present on Open Meetings and Public Comments for NEFAC

February 10, 2023

In an instructional video for the New England First Amendment Coalition, Preti Flaherty attorneys Steve Langsdorf and Sig Schutz present on state open meeting laws and public commentary. The video addresses common challenges to the public’s right to speak at open meetings and help clarify when and how government officials can restrict the speech of those in attendance.

Founded in 2006, NEFAC is New England’s leading provider of First Amendment and open government educational programming and services. Their mission is to defend, promote, and expand public access to government and the work it does. Its membership includes lawyers, journalists, historians, librarians, and academicians, as well as private citizens and organizations whose core beliefs include the principles of the First Amendment.

Resources

Firm Highlights

Publication

Maine Law Amended to Require More Details When Public Employees Disciplined

Governor Mills recently signed a bill amending the public disclosure requirements for public employees who have been disciplined. Although widely reported as applying to police misconduct, the law applies to all government employees. The...

Publication

Maine Legislature (Again) Changes Process for Selling Tax-Acquired Properties (LD 2262)

On April 16, 2024, the Governor signed LD 2262, “An Act to Amend the Process for the Sale of Foreclosed Properties Due to Nonpayment of Taxes.”  In June 2023, in response to the United...

Publication

Supreme Court Rules Certain Impact Fees Unconstitutional

A recent Supreme Court ruling in  Sheetz v. County of El Dorado  makes it clear that impact fees adopted by a legislative body may work as an unconstitutional taking of property. The Issue: This...

Publication

Municipal Update: Effect of Recent Supreme Court Decision on Sale of Tax Foreclosed Properties

Yesterday, the United States Supreme Court issued its opinion in  Tyler v. Hennepin County, Minnesota  (598 U.S. _____ (2023)). The Supreme Court held that Hennepin County had violated the Fifth Amendment’s takings clause by...

Publication

Municipal Update: Maine Legislature Acts to Clarify Sales of Tax-Acquired Properties

Early this week, in response to the  United States Supreme Court’s recent decision in  Tyler v. Hennepin County, Minnesota  (598 U.S. (2023)) , the Maine Legislature passed emergency legislation establishing a new process for...