Municipal Law and Finance

Municipal Law and Finance

June 16, 2020 Article

Preti Flaherty COVID-19 Resources

In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Preti Flaherty's attorneys have maintained a constant stream of the most up-to-date information and resources for our clients, business partners, and others struggling to navigate these complex and often confusing times. On this page, we make those resources available as a convenient, singular destination to help you stay as current and informed as possible. Please check back regularly, as we will be constantly updating this information.

Business Law

3/26 - Funding Programs For Businesses Impacted By COVID-19

5/11 - COVID-19 and Contractual Non-Performance

Construction Law

6/2 - Owner's Guide to Mitigating COVID-19 Risks in the AIA A201-2017 General Conditions

5/7 - Contractor's Guide to Mitigating COVID-19 Risks in the AIA A201-2017 General Conditions

4/1 - Construction Alert: Gov. Baker Clarifies Massachusetts Construction Requirements and Possible Future Impacts for New Hampshire

3/27 - NH Gov. Sununu Issues Stay-At-Home Order - Construction Considered Essential Industry

Employment Law

4/3 - DOL Provides Guidance on Exemption from Paid Leave for Small Businesses

3/26 - COVID-19 and 401(k) Plans—Ability to Suspend Employer Contributions

3/25 - Update on Families First Coronavirus Response Bill—Payroll Taxes and Tax Credits

3/24 - Return to Work Protocol for Workers Following an Absence Due to COVID-19

3/20 - Families First Coronavirus Response Bill

3/18 - Alert: COVID-19 Update for ME and NH Employers

Environment Law

4/15 - EPA Decisions to Delay Field Work at Environmental Clean Up Sites Due to COVID-19 Will Be Made on a Case-by-Case Basis

3/27 - EPA Announces Temporary Relaxation of Certain Environmental Compliance and Monitoring Obligations During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Energy Law

4/6 - FERC responds to COVID-19 pandemic

3/27 - NERC reports US electric sector prepared for pandemic

3/18 - Legal resources regarding coronavirus response

3/12 - Preparing the electric grid for coronavirus

Freedom of Information

4/23 - As More States Release COVID-19 Cases by Town, Maine Says It Could Take 6 Months

4/16 - Maine - Mills Administration Held Secret Meetings on Pandemic with State Lawmakers

3/29 - Maine Cities and Towns Shift to Virtual Meetings to Carry out Public’s Business

3/20 - Maine - Waterville Coronavirus Panel Illegally Met in Secret

Securities Litigation Blog

4/7 - Maine Securities Administrator Warns of COVID-19-Related Fraudulent Investment Schemes

Maine Legislative Alerts

5/14 - Legislative Alert: Lodging Reservations May Begin Immediately for June 1st Stays

5/11 - Legislative Alert: Reopening and Other Updates

4/21 - Legislative Alert: $480 Billion Stimulus Package Passes the U.S. Senate

4/2 - Legislative Alert Essential Business? Essential Activity? Clarification Here.

3/25 - Legislative Alert: State Grants Request for "Essential Business" Status

3/24 - Legislative Alert: Governor Mills' Emergency Order Regarding Essential Businesses and Operations

3/20 - Legislative Alert: State and Federal Resources RE: COVID-19 Response

3/19 - Legislative Alert: Governor's Emergency Bill - LD 2167

3/18 - Legislative Alert: 129th Second Session Adjournment Update

Maine Workers' Compensation

6/16 - Maine Workers' Comp Alert: WCB Transition to In-Person Hearings Likely to Occur No Sooner Than August 2020; Section 312 IME’s Have Resumed

4/14 - Maine Workers' Comp Alert: Areas of Consideration Due to COVID-19

3/30 - Maine Workers' Comp Alert: WCB Announces New Nature and Cause of Injury Codes and FAQ for COVID-19

3/25 - Maine WC Alert: WCB Orders Remote Hearings Unless In-Person Deemed Necessary

3/20 - Update on COVID-19 and Maine Workers' Compensation

Massachusetts Politics Blog

4/29 - Ideal Stimulus Would Lift Economy While Addressing Global Warming

4/11 - Digital Geo-Tracking Might Have Been Silver Bullet Against COVID-19

4/6 - Things Could Be Worse. State's Rainy Day Fund Could Be Puny.

3/19 - Code for Hoarding: 'Unprecedented Volume of Customers' KO's Bottle Bill.

Municipal Law and Finance

5/21 - State Issues COVID-19 Guidance Document for Reopening Public and Community Buildings

4/22 - Municipal Webinar - Workforce Management Strategies and Legal Developments Resulting from the Pandemic

4/21 - Crazy Times, Even in the Municipal Bond Market

4/14 - Maine State Primary Postponed – What to Do About Municipal Meetings and Budgets?

4/3 - Are Stay at Home Orders an Unconstitutional Taking?

3/26 - DOL Publishes Required FFCRA Poster and Guidance

3/18 - Maine Legislature Passes COVID-19 Omnibus Bill re Public Meetings, Finance, and Other Municipal Concerns

3/16 - Municipal COVID-19 Update

Tax Law

4/2 - Preti Flaherty Announces its COVID-19 Financial Relief Evaluation and Selection Tool

3/26 - FAME Maine Seed Tax Credit Program

Firm Highlights

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...