Skip to Content

Blog Category: Municipal Government

Tax Court Upholds Non-Residential Development Fee on Property Subject to Long-Term Tax Exemption Law

Feb 9, 2022 | Written by: Tara A. St. Angelo, Esq. |

Pursuant to New Jersey state law (N.J.S.A. 40:55D-8.1 et seq.) and municipal ordinances, non-residential developers are required to contribute to a municipality’s affordable housing trust fund as a...

Recent Amendments to Daniel’s Law Ease Municipal Concerns Regarding OPRA Compliance

Feb 4, 2022 | Written by: Tara A. St. Angelo, Esq. and Noel A Lesica, Esq. |

The tragic murder of Judge Esther Salas’s son, Daniel – killed solely because he was the child of a federal judge – will not soon be forgotten.  In response to that horrific and senseless...

Your Rights as a Dog Owner Are Not as Private as You Might Think

Sep 30, 2021 | Written by: Tracy B. Bussel, Esq. & Jacob A. Papay, Jr., Esq. |

You may have heard the term “OPRA” before and wondered what it means. And no, it has no significance to Oprah Winfrey.  OPRA stands for the Open Public Records Act.  It is a law that permits the...

Substantial Compliance for Notices of Tort Claims Means Just That

Jul 30, 2021 | Written by: Jacob A. Papay, Jr., Esq. |

According to the NJ Tort Claims Act (NJTCA), a public entity is only liable for claims of negligence under the terms and conditions of the Act, NJSA 59:1-1, et seq. 

NJ Extends Utility Shutoff Moratorium Through End of Year

Jun 11, 2021 | Written by: Matthew P. Lyons, Esq. |

On June 4, 2021, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation (A5820) ending the COVID-19 state of emergency in 30 days, but extending certain emergency orders until December 31, 2021.

The Impact of Daniel’s Law on Local Municipalities

Mar 5, 2021 | Written by: Matthew P. Lyons, Esq. |

In November 2020, the State of New Jersey enacted Daniel’s Law, which aims to provide privacy protection to those who protect all of us (judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers).

“Outdoor Dining Expansion” Bill Becomes Law

Feb 25, 2021 | Written by: Matthew P. Lyons, Esq. |

On Feb. 5, 2021, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed the “Outdoor Dining Expansion” bill into law.  The fast-tracked legislation, which skipped committee votes, allows restaurants, bars,...

Municipal Websites Should Comply with the ADA

Jan 13, 2020 | Written by: Tara A. St. Angelo, Esq. |

Lawsuits alleging that websites violate provisions of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) have spiked in recent years.  One review of federal lawsuits estimates that over 2,000 lawsuits alleging...

Exhaustion of Remedies No Longer Required in Constitutional Takings Cases

Jul 12, 2019 | Written by: Leslie A. Parikh, Esq. |

In Knick v. Township of Scott, Pa. (No. 17-647), decided June 21, 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court overruled the longstanding precedent set forth in Williamson County v. Hamilton Bank (1985), which...

Tax Court Rules that Unmanaged Forest Land Does Not Qualify for Farmland Assessment

Apr 3, 2019 | Written by: Tara A. St. Angelo, Esq. |

The Tax Court held in Hertz v. Borough of Lincoln Park, Docket No. 009897-2017 (Jan. 8, 2019) that unmanaged forest land does not qualify for farmland assessment.  Pursuant to the Farmland Assessment...