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April 2025 News & Events
Harrington Heep is pleased to welcome the Town of Mansfield to the municipalities for which we serve as Town Counsel.
Harrington Heep, LLP
Apr 301 min read


Sober Home Living Arrangment Not Protected by Dover Amendment
Our readers will no doubt be familiar with G.L. c. 40A, § 3, also known as the Dover Amendment, because of its protections for...
Harrington Heep, LLP
Apr 302 min read


The Text of a Bylaw/Ordinance Itself Does Not Determine What is a Discretionary Function
Towns are exempt from liability under the Massachusetts Tort Claims Act (MTCA) for claims based upon performance of “discretionary...
Harrington Heep, LLP
Apr 301 min read


State Ethics Commission Cracks Down on Coaches Promoting Private Sports Camps
On April 30, the State Ethics Commission ordered a Medfield High School’s Head Football Coach to pay a $16,000 civil penalty for...
Harrington Heep, LLP
Apr 302 min read


March 2025 News & Events
Welcome to the March issue of the Harrington Heep newsletter. Recently, Andrew Bettinelli and Donna Brewer presented before the Citizen...
Harrington Heep, LLP
Mar 311 min read


Certain COVID Rules for Meetings Extended (Again)
Some of the more popular measures first enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, have been extended once again. On March 28, 2025,...
Harrington Heep, LLP
Mar 311 min read


How to Respond When ICE Comes Knocking
Changes to federal immigration enforcement policies highlight the necessity for towns to prepare to respond to federal immigration...
Harrington Heep, LLP
Mar 312 min read


Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Local Government in Important Clean Water Act Case
In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court of the United States has struck down two conditions in San Francisco’s Clean Water Act (CWA)...
Harrington Heep, LLP
Mar 312 min read


Re-Confirmation That Municipal Employers Can be Liable When an Employee Commits an Intentional Tort
The Massachusetts Tort Claims Act does not exempt public employers from liability for negligently hiring, promoting, supervising, and...
Harrington Heep, LLP
Mar 312 min read


Client Alert - 3/28/25 - CERTAIN COVID RULES EXTENDED (AGAIN)
Some of the more popular measures first enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have been extended once again. Today, Governor...
Harrington Heep, LLP
Mar 281 min read


Governor’s Commission Recommends Significant Changes to the Zoning Act
This month, the Unlocking Housing Production Commission issued a lengthy report, entitled Building for Tomorrow , Â with recommendations...
Harrington Heep, LLP
Feb 281 min read


Regulations for Accessory Dwelling Units are Issued
As our readers are likely aware, Chapter 150 of the Acts of 2024, also known as the Affordable Homes Act , includes provisions to expand...
Harrington Heep, LLP
Feb 282 min read


Special Acts Allow for Digital Posting of Legal Notices in Place of Newspaper Publication
Some statutes require publication of legal notices in a newspaper of general circulation. G.L. c. 40A, § 5 is just one example of many....
Harrington Heep, LLP
Jan 221 min read


Civil Penalties Issued by the Board of Health are Upheld by the SJC
The Supreme Judicial Court has confirmed that local boards of health can administratively enforce violations of 105 CMR 665, the...
Harrington Heep, LLP
Jan 222 min read


EOHLC Guidelines for G.L. c. 40A, § 3A Are Reissued as Emergency Regulations
On January 14, 2025, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) issued emergency regulations  to implement the...
Harrington Heep, LLP
Jan 221 min read


Social Security Fairness Act Ends Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset
Municipal employees may, over the course of their working life, transition between jobs in which they contribute into Social Security and...
Harrington Heep, LLP
Jan 221 min read


January 2025 News & Events
Happy New Year to you all. 2025 is already chockful of important municipal law developments, among them success for our labor...
Harrington Heep, LLP
Jan 221 min read


Client Alert - 1/8/25 - SJC Issues Decision in the Milton Case Finding that While Compliance with G.L. c. 40A, § 3A is Required, HLC's Guidelines are Ineffective
Today, January 8, 2025, the Supreme Judicial Court released its long-awaited decision regarding the Attorney General’s enforcement...
Harrington Heep, LLP
Jan 83 min read


Civil Service Reform in the Legislation Expanding Local Economic Development Initiatives
The November newsletter  reported on a couple of important changes in An Act Relative to Strengthening Massachusetts Leadership , Ch. 238...
Harrington Heep, LLP
Dec 31, 20241 min read


Increased Access to Liquor Licenses and Expanding Alcohol Offerings at Farmers Markets
You guessed it, another newsletter article on An Act Relative to Strengthening Massachusetts Leadership , Ch. 238 of the Acts of 2024 ....
Harrington Heep, LLP
Dec 31, 20241 min read