Earlier today, MMLA transmitted a letter to the legislature in support of measures contained in each the Senate-engrossed fiscal 2023 state budget bill (S. 2915) and a Senate-engrossed COVID-related emergency extension bill (S.2985) to extend the local option to remotely participation at meetings of public bodies and Town Meetings until December 15, 2023.  The budget bills are currently in conference committee while the stand-alone measure is currently before the House Committee on Ways and Means.  Click here for a copy MMLA’s letter of support.

On May 26, 2022, the New Lawyers Committee of MMLA hosted a webinar panel on municipal land acquisitions and dispositions. This program was geared towards lawyers new to the practice of municipal law; but all were welcome to attend!  Attendees learned from Mina Makarious (Anderson & Kreiger), Jennie Merrill (Miyares & Harrington), and Emily Izzo (DOR’s Bureau of Municipal Finance Law). Topics included Chapter 30B, eminent domain, land restrictions, Article 97, town meeting requirements, purchase and sale agreements, and financing issues. The program was free and open to non-MMLA members who wanted to learn the nuts and bolts of municipal land transactions.

Here are the links to the program materials and the audio and video recordings of the webinar:

Land Acquisition / Disposition:  Taxes and Proceeds

Real Property Procurement: Acquisitions and Dispositions: Basic Overview

Audio Recording

Video Recording

REGISTER NOW – MMLA Webinar –- Wetlands Act 21 Day Deadlines and Annual Business Meeting

Wednesday, June 8, 2022 at 12:30 p.m.
Zoom Webinar

Gregor I. McGregor, Esq. of McGregor Legere & Stevens PC, will review the Oyster Creek and recent Boston Clear Water cases on compliance with the 21-day deadlines in the Wetlands Protection Act. Home Rule bylaw and ordinance jurisdiction over projects in and near wetland resource areas depends on Conservation Commission compliance with 21-day deadlines for commencing public hearings and issuing decisions on Notices of Intent (NOIs). These provisions in the state Wetlands Protection Act are binding on Commissions and failure to meet them is potentially fatal to any decision the Commission may render. This program will address how municipal counsels and their Conservation Commissions can cope with those strict deadlines.

MMLA will hold its Annual Business Meeting immediately following the educational program portion of the webinar. During the meeting, MMLA members will vote on the Nominating Committee’s recommended slate of officers and directors for the July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023 term. Members will also vote on proposed revisions to MMLA Bylaws and conduct any other necessary business. See the links below for the Nominating Committee slate and documents about the proposed Bylaw revisions:

1. Nominating Committee’s slate
2. Clean copy of proposed revised Bylaws
3. Comparison of current and proposed revised Bylaws
4. Summary memo of proposed revisions to Bylaws

Both MMLA members and non-members may attend the educational program portion of the webinar. Please share this information and invite colleagues who may be interested in this topic, including your local conservation commission and team.

There is no charge to attend, but advance registration is required. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. To register, please go to the following link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0ZE36ZpZRbGVPMp-ID3tEg 

Note that you can register to attend the webinar at any time, including after the 12:30 p.m. start time.

The New Lawyers Committee of MMLA will be hosting a webinar panel on municipal land acquisitions and dispositions. This program is geared towards lawyers new to the practice of municipal law; but all are welcome to attend! Come learn from Mina Makarious (Anderson & Kreiger), Jennie Merrill (Miyares & Harrington), and Emily Izzo (DOR’s Bureau of Municipal Finance Law). Topics will include Chapter 30B, eminent domain, land restrictions, Article 97, town meeting requirements, purchase and sale agreements, and financing issues.

The program is free and open to non-MMLA members who want to learn the nuts and bolts of municipal land transactions. Please share this event invite.

What: Municipal Land Acquisitions and Dispositions 101
When: May 26, 2022
Time: 12pm – 2pm
Where: Zoom
Questions: Email Ivria Fried (Miyares and Harrington) at ifried@miyares-harrington.com

Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_MKAh_7y8QDyaVXGHtT7UUg

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

12:00 p.m.

Zoom Webinar

This meeting is the required “reading” of proposed revisions to the Massachusetts Municipal Lawyers Association (MMLA) bylaws. In April 2022, the Executive Board unanimously voted to approve changes to the bylaws that resulted from a comprehensive two-year review process by the MMLA Bylaws Committee. The proposed revisions must first be “read” to the membership at an MMLA meeting before a vote at a second MMLA meeting. In a May 4, 2022 email sent by the listserv, MMLA members received documents showing and explaining the proposed revisions. Members of the MMLA Bylaws Committee will be available at this meeting to address member questions, concerns, or feedback about the proposed revisions.

To attend, you must register through the link below. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing the link to join the webinar.

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_O-i6vou-QZCbuRVE6KCUsQ 

Note that you can register to attend the program at any time, including after the noon start time. Also note a raffle drawing for a $50 Amazon gift card will be held, with the winner to be randomly drawn from those MMLA members who attend (current members of the Executive Board are not eligible).

On February 25, 2022, the Attorney General disapproved two by-law amendments aimed at regulating on-site fossil fuel infrastructure as inconsistent with the preemptive effect of the state building code.  In that letter, Assistant Attorney General Margaret Hurley wrote:

Our review of Articles 25 and 26 from the 2021 Brookline Annual Town Meeting presents
the issue whether a town zoning by-law may regulate buildings based upon whether the building
materials include “On-Site Fossil Fuel Infrastructure” (as defined in the by-law). The statutory
language in the Zoning Act (G.L. c. 40A, § 3, and the broad preemptive scope of both the State
Building Code (“Building Code”) (780 CMR 100.00) and Chapter 164, all dictate the conclusion that
a town zoning by-law cannot regulate building materials or methods of construction. Because the
Brookline proposed by-law amendments conflict with the plain language of the Zoning Act, are
preempted by the Building Code and G.L. c. 164, and present additional state law conflicts as detailed
herein, we must disapprove Articles 25 and 26.

Click here for the full text of the AG’s decision letter.

Wednesday, February 16, 2022
12:00 p.m.
Zoom Webinar

This program will discuss the draft guidelines issued by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) for compliance with requirements under the new section 3A of G.L. c. 40A that MBTA communities allow multi-family housing by right in at least one zoning district.

Panelist for this program will be:

• Donna M. Brewer, Esq., Miyares and Harrington, LLP
• Susan Murphy, Esq., Dain, Torpy, Le Ray, Wiest & Garner, P.C
• Barbara Saint Andre, Esq., Director, Medway Community and Economic Development

Registration for this program is open to both MMLA members and non-members. Please share this information and invite colleagues who may be interested in this topic, including your local government planning team.

Click here for further information and registration link.

This Zoom Webinar is scheduled for Wednesday, January 12th, at 2:00 PM. During this lunch time program, Ralph Sacramone, Executive Director of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission, will address issues related to pop-up beer gardens, and farmer brewers manufacturing and pouring licenses. Other topics to be discussed include alcohol delivery, April 1 status and emergency temporary outdoor seating vs permanent outdoor seating.  For details, visit our Upcoming Events Calendar.