Please join the CSTCA on Thursday, May 23 at the Chateau in Westboro for its May Dinner meeting.  This month’s topic is “Election Law for Local Counsel–What you need to know on Election Day.”  Our distinguished panelists will provide an overview of legal issues that may arise in connection with elections, including pre-election preparations, election day legal issues and post election issues.  In addition to the formal legal requirements, our panelists will give nuts and bolts practical advise as well as how to avoid common mistakes involving elections.  Our panelists for this program are:  Michelle K. Tassinari, Esq., former legal counsel in the Sec. of State’s election office and Lauren F. Goldberg, Esq. current legal counsel in the Sec. of State’s election office.  The program is dedicated to the memory of William McDermott, the foremost authority on Massachusetts election law, and a past CSTCA presenter.

The program will be at the Chateu in Westboro and will begin at 6:30.  Dinner is a buffet and is $45.00 for members and $55.00 for non members.  The cost includes the educational materials.

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Please join us on April 30th from 4 p.m-7 p.m. at the MBA’s seminar on How to Succeed in Adjudicatory Proceedings and Administrative Appeals.  CSTCA is cosponsoring this seminar with the MBA’s Public Law Committee.  The seminar will cover an update from DALA, thorny evidentiary issues, what administrative law judges look for at a hearing and a view from the bench.  The distinguished panelists include the Honorable Linda Giles, the Honorable James Rooney, Robert Quinan, Jr., Esq. from the Attorney General’s Office and Robert Munnelly, Jr., Esq. from Murtha Cullina.  CSTCA is proud to partner with the MBA for this fine event.  For more information, please click on the link above, or visit the MBA website.  Massbar.org

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Please join the CSTCA for its April Dinner Meeting.  Our topic this month is “Protecting the Public Owner:  Alternative Delivery Systems, Essential Contractual Protections and What’s Next  The Proposals of the Construction Reform Working Group and Their Likely Impacts on the Public Owner.”   Our distinguished panelists will discuss construction law issues as they relate to the public owner.  Panelists include Chris Petrini, Town counsel of Framingham, Heather White, Assistant Town Counsel from Framingham, Brian O’Donnell from the Inspector General’s Office and Angela Atchue of the City of Boston.  The program begins at 3:00 and concludes at 6:00.  The seminar will be immediately followed by our Annual Meeting to elect next year’s CSTCA’s officers and Executive Board as well as vote on bylaw changes.

The meeting will be held at Sal’s Restaurant in Lawrence.

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The Attorney General’s Office Municipal Law Unit (“MLU”) announces that accessing, reading, reviewing, and printing MLU decisions is now easier than ever. Beginning in the Fall of 2012, the MLU posted all of its decisions on the MLY’s website.  The Decision look-up feature may be found at http://www.mlu.ago.state.ma.us.  To view an MLU decision on the list, click on “Date of Decision.”  To view a different year’s list of MLU Decisions, click on that year.  You can also search for a decision by date, town, selected topic, word or phrase by clicking on “Search MLU Decisions.”

For more information on the MLU decision look-up or any MLU related questions, please contact the MLU at 508-792-7600.

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The CSTCA is proud to sponsor MCLE’s annual Municipal Law Conference to be held this year on March 13, 2013 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.  The conference will include updates on the new Open Meeting Law from the Attorney General’s Director of Open Government; an update from the new Supervisor of Public Records, Shawn Williams, on the Public Records Law; an update on State Ethics Law, collective bargaining, procurement and insurance coverage of municipal attorneys–and much more.  For a complete list of presenters and topics, please go to mcle.org.

The keynote speaker for this year’s conference is Hon. John Greaney (ret.)  former associate justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.  Judge Greaney will be speaking on Appellate Advocacy for Municipal Lawyers.

The fee for the conference for CSTCA members is $245.00 and all others $275.  We hope to see you there for this important conference.

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Please join us for our monthly dinner meeting on Thursday, March 14th.  Our dinner seminar will feature Deidre Roney, Esq., General Counsel to the State Ethics Commission.  Attorney Roney will present an update on Ethics Law, Regulations as well as recent cases.  The Program will take place at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester.  The reception begins at 6:00 p.m. with a buffet dinner to follow at 6:30.  The meeting fee is $45.00 for members and $55.00 for non-members.

For reservations please contact Executive Director Jim Lampke at 781-749-9922.

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The CSTCA will hold its January dinner meeting on January 24, 2012.  Our topic this month is “The New Uniform Trust Code and How it Impacts Municipalities.”  CSTCA Executive Board member Irene Schall will review the new Trust Code and how municipalities are subject to and impacted by these changes.  The dinner meeting will be held from 6:00-9:00 p.m. at the Stoneforge Tavern in Raynham.  Please contact CSTCA Executive Director James Lampke for reservations at jimbosail@msn.com.

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CSTCA is happy to announce that its  Winter Municipal Law Quarterly is now available to its members.   The Quarterly  is an invaluable tool for practitioners to keep current on the latest developments in municipal law.   You can access the Quarterly by logging into this website and accessing the “Newsletter” tab under the members section. If you are not yet a member of CSTCA and would like to join, please visit our membership page to find out how to join and enjoy the benefits of membership.  If you’re interested in contributing to the  Quarterly please contact Stacey Bloom at staceygene@gmail.com.

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Please join CSTCA for its December dinner meeting on Wednesday, December 5th.  This month’s meeting will focus on the  legal and regulatory issues surrounding the siting and regulation of sober houses and group homes.   Our distinguished panel review governing principles under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing Act and other federal and state statutes applicable to these facilities.  Panelists will review the   governing legal principles, or “hard stops,” that cities and towns must abide by in their permitting and regulatory processes as well as the “opportunities” for municipalities in guiding the siting and regulation of these facilities will also be discussed, including the development of a proactive check list to assist in siting decisions and outlining areas of flexibility Continue reading »

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The Office of Bar Counsel has an opening for an Assistant Bar Counsel.  The deadline for submissions is December 7, 2012.  For more information please contact the BBO at mass.gov/obcbbo.

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