Municipal law, which governs the operation of cities and towns and regulates the delivery of essential services, is the body of law that has the most immediate impact on everyday citizens. By controlling police, fire departments, public schools and garbage pickup, municipal law significantly affects a community’s quality of life. Municipal law is also the place where theoretical Constitutional protections are put to the test, as zoning decisions clash with private property rights, parking restrictions aid or impede commerce, and elections preserve or subvert democratic rule. Municipal lawyers at this firm have more than 65 years of combined experience in municipal law. They represent local governing bodies and individual citizens in cases related to:
- Boundary changes
- Building and construction
- Economic development
- Elected officials
- Elections
- Eminent domain
- Employment law, including union and nonunion public employees
- Environmental law
- Ethics
- Financial affairs
- Freedom of Information Act
- Governing bodies
- Land use, annexation, zoning and condemnation
- Legal issues incidental to managing city services
- Litigation
- Municipal court prosecution and operations
- Open meeting and records laws compliance
- Ordinance drafting
- Utilities and water
- Litigation on behalf of local government
Too often, economic development that would benefit an overwhelming majority is hindered by a small, non-representative group. Red tape on the state or federal level can also stymie progress. When a city ordinance, practice or development stirs up conflict with state and federal agencies, community groups or individual residents, this firm provides robust representation to protect the interests of the city in service of the people it represents.
Counseling city officers and elected officials on compliance issues
Newly elected officials often need to be educated on the differences between standard operating procedures in the public and private sectors. This can also be true for veteran city managers. firm has the knowledge, experience and resources to inform responsible officers about the requirements of open meeting and open records law, the code of ethics and numerous other problems frequently faced by local entities. They can even assist in drafting ordinances to avoid conflict with existing precedent.
