The principal expertise of the firm is the practice of public sector law. KP Law represents over one-third of the cities and towns in the Commonwealth as their City Solicitor or Town Counsel. In addition, we provide special counsel services, including serving as labor and employment counsel, to other cities and towns, special districts, housing authorities, municipal light plants, regional transit authorities, and state agencies. The firm’s broad range of practice areas includes labor and employment, contracts, real estate, land use, environmental, town meeting, government information and access, procurement and construction.
KP Law P.C. eUpdates/Resources –
Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 in the Public Sector
We recognize that it can be difficult to keep up with the daily flow of information related to the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak. In an effort to help you track important legal developments, we have created a dedicated “COVID-19 Resources and Updates” page, containing our informational alerts and guidances, and organized by topic for your ease of reference. You can access this page by clicking here. We will continue to e-mail our clients with “real time” alerts concerning major legal developments, such as the passage of new legislation at the state and federal levels, the issuance of executive orders from the Governor, and the issuance of relevant guidance from state or federal agencies. These alerts will also be posted on our COVID-19 Resources and Updates page.
MMA Annual Meeting 2020
KP Law was thrilled to see so many of you in Boston for the MMA Annual Meeting. Thank you for spending some of your time with us!
We enjoyed talking with you about the latest trends in municipal law and how we can provide assistance in these areas. On Friday, Katie Laughman once again presented to a packed room on the topic of marijuana regulation, and Brian Riley and Lauren Goldberg addressed a room full of eager listeners about the elements of alcoholic beverage sales and entertainment licensing. On Saturday, Matt Feher demystified municipal borrowing at one of the Learning Labs, and, Lauren Goldberg outlined trending Open Meeting Law and other transparency-related challenges, including so-called “First Amendment Audits”.
Below please find a pdf copy of each of the eUpdates we prepared for the 2020 MMA Annual Meeting. Note that these and prior year’s eUpdates are found on our eUpdates Resources page. We have also included for your convenience links to the presentations made by Katie, Brian, Matt and Lauren, all as referenced above.
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Criminal History Background Checks for Public School Employment FAQs |
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Criminal Offender Record Information FAQs |
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Entering Private Property to Conduct Inspections |
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Authorizing Home Rule Petitions |
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Guidelines for Initial Handling of Claims or Lawsuits |
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Open Meeting Law – Preparing Your Meeting Notice |
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Participation in Executive Session |
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Tips for Negotiating Municipal Recycling Contracts in a Changing Marketplace |
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Calculation of Majority Votes |
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New Federal Communications Commission Rule Regarding Small Wireless Facilities (5G Technology) |
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Cannabis Control Commission Regulatory Amendments Impacting Municipalities |
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New Central Database of CDL Drivers With Past Drug and Alcohol Testing Violations |
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Reminder – Changes to Federal Overtime Regulations Now in Effect (With Attachment Tests for Determining Exemptions) |
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Reviewing Proposed Amendments to Bylaws and Ordinances |
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MMA 2020 Presentation – Alcohol and Entertainment: Keys to Local Control via Licensing |
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MMA 2020 Presentation – Open Meeting Law: Overview and Practical Considerations for Public Entities |
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MMA 2020 Presentation – Best Practices for Local Control of Marijuana Establishments |
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MMA 2020 Presentation – Become A Better Borrower: Municipal Bond Basics |
KP LAW SECURES RECORD SETTLEMENT OF $22.83 MILLION FOR PLYMOUTH
KP Law attorney Richard Holland, with assistance from Attorney David Doneski, represented the Town of Plymouth in litigation arising from the collapse of the Town’s 4.5 mile sewer force main in 2015 and 2016. Seeking to recover costs incurred to repair the force main and other damages, the Town sued a number of parties, including Veolia Water, CDM Smith Inc., and Stantec Consulting Services, Inc. The Town asserted that the force main had collapsed from internal corrosion, which the Town alleged had been caused by Veolia Water’s failure to maintain the force main and by defects in the design of the force main. The settlement is reported as the largest in Massachusetts in 2019 by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly (link). Click here to read more about this settlement in our most recent eUpdate, which can also be found in the “eUpdates” section of our website.
Attorney Brian Maser successfully defends the Reading Municipal Light Department
Attorney Brian Maser successfully defended the Reading Municipal Light Department in an important case at arbitration relating to the Department’s decision to bypass a first class lineworker for promotion to the position of Leader Lineworker in favor of a first class lineworker with less seniority. After a two day hearing and the submission of post-hearing briefs, Arbitrator Betty E. Waxman, Esq. found that the Department did not violate the contract when it appointed the junior lineworker following an assessment process that included a written test, a practical test, a Department interview, and peer review. While the Union attempted to show that the Department had historically appointed the senior lineworker to the position of Leader due to their seniority and without an assessment, Arbitrator Waxman found that the plain language of the contract provided the Department with the discretion not only to develop an assessment process for lineworkers, but the Department also had the discretion to promote without regard to seniority, so long as the Department’s promotional decision was not exercised in a manner that was arbitrary, capricious, or an abuse of discretion. At arbitration the grievant presented various excuses for his poor performance in the written and practical tests, all of which the arbitrator found to be not credible in light of the testimony offered by the Department’s witnesses and evidence offered at the arbitration, as a whole. We are pleased to have secured this result for the Department as it confirms the Department’s discretionary authority to promote without regard to seniority and upholds and enforces the Department’s management right to develop and administer an assessment to determine qualifications for promotion.
MMA Annual Meeting 2019
KP Law was thrilled to see so many of you in Boston for the MMA Annual Meeting. We enjoyed talking with you about the latest trends in municipal law and how can provide assistance in these areas. Katie Laughman once again presented to a packed room on the topic of non-medical marijuana, while Lauren Goldberg addressed the process for charter adoption and amendment and the continuing challenges imposed by the Open Meeting Law. We were thrilled to sponsor WEMO and honored to listen to Senate President Karen Spilka talk about her goals for the upcoming session. It was also our pleasure to sponsor former Patriot Matt Light at the MMA Friday night dinner. The reception was once again well attended and lots of fun. It was terrific to see so many of you at the Members Breakfast on Saturday, a KP tradition for decades.
Below please find a pdf copy of each of the eUpdates we prepared for the 2019 MMA Annual Meeting. Note that prior year’s eUpdates are found on our eUpdates Resources page.
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An Act Protecting Youth from the Health Risks of Tobacco and Nicotine Addiction |
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Firearms Licensing Update: Red Flag Law |
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New Municipal Bond Continuing Disclosure Rules Adopted |
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SJC Upholds Broad Termination for Convenience Clause in Public Contracts |
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Osha Standards: Applicability to Public Sector Employment |
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Public Records Law Update |
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Public Records Law – Best Practices |
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New Law Taxing and Regulating Short-Term Rentals |
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Short-Term Rental Law – Key Provisions |
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Open Meeting Law Update |
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Emergency Powers of Municipalities |
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Sample Notice – Pregnant Workers Fairness Act |
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The Open Meeting Law and Social Media — Potential Pitfalls |
KP Law Managing Attorney Lauren F. Goldberg
Included by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly
Among its 2018 Top Women of Law!
KP Law is pleased to report that Managing Attorney Lauren F. Goldberg has been recognized by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly as one of its 2018 Top Women of Law. Lawyers Weekly describes the Top Women of Law event as follows, “The Top Women of Law event celebrates outstanding achievements made by exceptional women lawyers. Each year Lawyers Weekly honors women attorneys who have made tremendous professional strides and demonstrated great accomplishments in the legal field, which includes: pro bono, social justice, advocacy and business. The awards highlight women who are pioneers, educators, trailblazers, and role models.” Lauren will join the other honorees at a reception on Thursday, October 18 from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM at the Marriott Copley Place Hotel. More information about the honorees and the event can be found here. The Firm congratulates Lauren for this special recognition.
We are pleased to announce that
Christopher J. Pollart
has joined KP Law as a Shareholder
and
Karla J. Doukas
has joined KP Law as a Member
Changes in Massachusetts Marijuana Law
In January, 2018, we updated our Guide to the Revised Law Legalizing Recreation Use of Marijuana. Knowing that communities throughout the state are likely to be addressing this issue in the months to come, we have linked that document here for your use.
Revised January 2018
Presentation by Attorney Katherine D. Laughman “Marijuana Update and Local Responses”
On January 19, 2018, Attorney Katherine D. Laughman presented at the Massachusetts Municipal Association Annual Meeting in Boston. Attorney Laughman was a member of the panel entitled, Marijuana Law: The Way Forward for Municipalities. Also speaking on the panel, which was moderated by Attorney John Goldrosen, were Cannabis Control Commissioner Katharine Doyle and Chief of the Attorney General’s Central Massachusetts Division Margaret Hurley. Attorney Laughman, presenting to a capacity crowd, provided a comprehensive overview of recent developments in the law governing adult use and medical marijuana, focusing on issues facing municipalities as they consider local regulation of these new uses. Her power point can be found here, and the firm’s most recent guidance can be found here.
KP Law is pleased to report that Attorneys Jonathan M. Silverstein and Michele E. Randazzo, Members at the firm, and Attorneys Deborah I. Ecker and Janet Hetherwick Pumphrey, Counsel at the firm, were named as Super Lawyers for 2017. The designation is bestowed after a rigorous selection process, including independent research and peer nomination and evaluations. The final published list represents no more than 5 percent of the lawyers in the state of Massachusetts.
New – Amendments to Attorney General’s
Open Meeting Law Regulations
On October 16, 2017, we forwarded an eUpdate to our clients entitled, “Important Changes to the Open Meeting Law Regulations,” summarizing the recent amendments to the Attorney General’s Open Meeting Law Regulations. That document can be found at the link below.
Important Changes to the Open Meeting Law Regulations
Public Records Guidelines
As of July 1, 2017, the new Public Records Law requires Records Access Officers (RAOs) to prepare and post guidelines to assist persons seeking public records. If your community has not yet done so, the RAO should prepare and post such guidelines as soon as possible. The guidelines must be posted to the municipal website (assuming that the municipality has a website) and at municipal offices.
We have prepared sample guidelines RAOs may wish to use as an aid in preparing appropriate guidelines for their communities.
SAMPLE – Guidelines for Public Records Requests – PDF version
SAMPLE – Guidelines for Public Records Requests – Word Document version
The firm’s Public Record Law Resource Page can be found here, or for assistance from a member of the firm’s Government Information and Access Group, contact us at 617.556.0007.
Lawyer’s Have Heart!
KP Law sponsored a team in the annual Lawyers Have Heart road race on May 31, a 5K which raised funds for the American Heart Association. Timothy Zessin, with a time of 22:14, led a contingent of nine KP runners along the course, which wound its way along the Innovation District waterfront. The event raised over $297,000 to benefit the American Heart Association. This was the 10th anniversary of the LHH race, and KP Law has sponsored a team in the event every year.
KP Law is pleased to report that Attorneys Jonathan M. Silverstein and Deborah I. Ecker were named as Super Lawyers for 2016. The designation is bestowed after a rigorous selection process, including independent research, peer nomination and peer evaluations. The final published list represents no more than 5 percent of the of the lawyers in the state of Massachusetts. This is the second time Attorney Silverstein, a Shareholder at the firm and a member of the Manager Committee, has been so recognized. He was also previously selected as a Rising Star. Attorney Ecker joined the firm as Counsel in 2014, and has greatly contributed to our insurance defense and litigation practice areas.
KP Law congratulates Attorney Janelle M. Austin, a Senior Associate at the firm, on again being named a Rising Star for 2016. The Rising Star selection process mirrors the Super Lawyer selection process, and is for lawyers who are under a particular age or in practice for 10 years or less.
Congratulations Jonathan, Deborah and Janelle on this special achievement!
Want to know more about our eUpdates and how you can get on our distribution list, or about any of our other value-added services? Contact our Managing Attorney Lauren Goldberg at 617-556-0007.