Municipal Law

At every level of government, citizens expect openness and responsiveness. Government officials should demand no less from their counsel. Members of our firm have served this role throughout our history. We have great respect for the importance of group process and decision making. It is important to understand the varied view points of many constituents, to listen astutely and to provide support for the leaders who make and implement decisions.We advise our municipal clients on every aspect of governance, from meeting procedure to employment issues to planning and development. Examples of our recent projects include the following:

  • use of e-mail for Freedom of Information Law requests,

  • proper process for accommodating a disabled village resident under the New York Human Rights Law and Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act,

  • formation of an EMS department,

  • review and analysis of documents from the Tompkins County Council of Governments on the proposed healthcare consortium,

  • employee grievance under a collective bargaining agreement with the Civil Service Employees Association,

  • investigation of practices in a highway department,

  • revision of code enforcement law and the development of subdivision regulations,

  • dedication of subdivision roads and stormwater infrastructure, including drafting development and maintenance agreements related to such transfers,

  • review and analysis of various municipal law questions including permissible uses of executive session, public finance question related to purchase of snow plow, increase of dog licensing fees, water district rules and requirements, creation of staggered term and filing vacancy in the office of town justice, and public bidding requirements for municipal service providers,

  • drafting agreement for shared use of fire department equipment by highway department,

  • review and guidance related to aquifer study conducted jointly with United States Geological Survey, Tompkins County and local municipality, and

  • creation of special land use districts