In Scoblink-O’Neill v. Local Finance Board, the Appellate Division recently concluded that the former Mayor of the Borough of Haddon Heights did not violate New Jersey’s Local Government Ethics Law when he facilitated the appointment of his personal attorney as borough counsel. The Facts of the Case Susan Scoblink-O’Neill filed
With the holidays around the corner, festive displays of Christmas trees, colored lights, menorahs, nativities, reindeer, and snowmen will soon be popping up across New Jersey. While private property owners can decorate as they wish, public entities must be mindful of the constitutional separation of church and state. Under the
In New Jersey Natural Gas Company v. Borough of Red Bank, the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court addressed whether the New Jersey Natural Gas Company’s (NJNG) installation of aboveground gas regulators in public sidewalks were subject to the borough’s development regulations. The court ultimately concluded that gas
The Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court recently held that banning digital billboards, while allowing static ones, does not violate the U.S. Constitution. The trial court had previously held that the Franklin Township ordinance violated the First Amendment. The Facts of the Case The dispute in E&J Equities
The U.S. Supreme Court recently agreed to consider a case involving a municipal ordinance authorizing law enforcement to inspect hotel guest registries without obtaining a warrant. The ordinance at issue was passed by the City of Los Angeles; however, more than 70 other states, counties, and cities across the country
The ability to send a text message to summon emergency services could potentially save thousands of lives. However, it is not yet a reality in most parts of the country because enabling text-to-911 requires dispatch centers to overhaul their technology. On the national level, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is
Last month, Gov. Chris Christie signed legislation that will require police vehicles to be equipped with mobile video recording systems. While this new mandate may help greatly in cases of alleged police misconduct, many municipalities are understandably concerned about the potential costs and privacy concerns generated by the new law.
New Jersey municipalities may soon have legal redress when another entity uses its insignia or official seal without authorization. Bipartisan legislation is currently pending that directs the Secretary of State to promulgate rules and regulations governing the use of the seal of a local unit. As highlighted by the bill’s
