Join us for our next free monthly webinar program coming on Wednesday, May 7th at noon. This month we have a great panel lined up to discuss Impact Fees and Other Exactions in Land Use Matters: From Permits to Housing Projects.
Government boards and agencies can impose many types of exactions which are legal if they are authorized by legislation, set forth in bylaws or regulations, properly based, and fairly administered. Some exactions are financial, others require in-kind services, public amenities, affordable units, or utility contributions. All kinds, however, cost money.
On the other hand, permit applicants, developers, builders, property managers, and those who “do business” with the government seem to regard exactions as being a kind of extortion. This webinar will make the distinctions clear between perfectly legal exactions, questionable financial obligations, improper requests, and outright wrongdoing.
Exactions are not to be confused with your father’s typical, traditional bond, insurance, and other surety requirements. Rather they are fees or financial equivalents imposed ostensibly to offset the public impacts of private development. They are a very common tool elsewhere in the United States, but not in Massachusetts.
Learn why that is, what kind are legal here, what the courts have ruled, and how impact fees and other exactions are on the rise. Hear from practitioners in the field who will share their knowledge, experience, and practical tips for you and your clients.
Speakers:
Joe Callanan, Town Solicitor, Town of Brookline
Ethan Dively, Counsel, Harrington Heep LLP
Gregor McGregor, Founding Principal, McGregor Legere & Stevens P.C.
This free program is open to all our members and any of your interested local officials.
Meeting and program materials links are included in your confirmation email after registering and also will be sent via email to all registrants the week of the program.
Please note that if you are viewing this announcement in an email forwarded to you from one of our members, the registration link in the email is personal to the member and will not work for you. Instead, please register by going to the event page on our website.
Lawyers who represent and advise our cities, towns, or other public sector clients encounter complex, multi-disciplinary questions daily, ranging from A (affirmative litigation) to Z (zoning). The breadth and depth of legal competence required of the public sector attorney can be staggering. Similarly, attorneys who represent private clients in their dealings with local government are working in an ever-changing legal framework and are challenged to keep abreast of the rapidly evolving legal landscape. Get the latest essential updates and developments from the legislature, government regulators, and courts. The accelerating rate of change in municipal law makes this Conference indispensable to those who work in and with the public sector. Learn how your counterparts across the Commonwealth are navigating the latest legal challenges in the municipal arena!
Agenda, faculty, and registration information can be found on the MCLE website here.
Join us at Assumption University in Worcester for a two-part seminar preceding our Annual Meeting on June 5 with a special focus on the interaction between changes in federal laws and our roles as municipal counsel in the Commonwealth.
The first panel will focus on the effects of new federal policies on public procurement, grants, and construction projects. We will address compliance with Executive Orders, availability of federal funding, and the impact of tariffs and economic policies on public sector work in the Commonwealth.
The second panel will provide an update on changes in federal law, from Executive Orders to court decisions, impacting municipal law enforcement and its interaction with federal immigration enforcement, diversity, equity and inclusion policies, and education policies.
Our panelists include:
Sam Dinning, Policy & Strategic Initiatives Counsel, City of Boston Law Department
Mina S. Makarious, Partner, Anderson & Kreiger, LLP
Christopher J. Petrini, Founding Principal, Petrini & Associates, P.C.
Batool Raza, General Counsel, Boston Public Health Commission
Bettina Toner, Partner, Krokidas & Bluestein LLP
Steven A. Torres, West Group Law PLLC
Pricing:
The educational program will take place between 2:30 and 5:30, followed by dinner and our Annual Business Meeting.
For more information, please contact Jim Lampke at the MMLA office. Cell: 617-285-4561; www.massmunilaw.org; executivedirector@massmunilaw.org.
Event Co-Sponsored by MMLA:
Join IMLA on Thursday, June 26, 2025, in Providence, Rhode Island, for our Construction Law Program—a must-attend event for municipal attorneys in New England looking to for hot topics in construction law while earning CLE credits.
This full-day program, hosted at the City of Providence Law Department, will feature sessions on key topics (subject to change), including:
Affordable Housing Sustainability and Green Buildings Compliance with Federal Grants for Infrastructure Anatomy of the Life of a Typical Construction Dispute: Advice for Municipal Counsel to Navigate Each Step of the Process Best Practices for Construction Projects: A Providence School Construction Model
Enjoy a continental breakfast, refreshment breaks, lunch, and a closing reception—all included with your registration.
Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with other municipal attorneys focused on construction law and gain valuable insights from great speakers. Secure your spot today!
Register at the IMLA website here.
Save the dates to join us this fall as we return to picturesque western Massachusetts for our Annual Conference on Thursday, October 23rd and Friday, October 24th. We are delighted to host this year's conference in the City of Northampton at the historic Hotel Northampton. Room reservation details and other program information coming soon.
1.781.749.9922executivedirector@massmunilaw.org
Massachusetts Municipal Lawyers Association115 North StreetHingham, MA 02043