As we approach the New Year, we will be reviewing the major public law issues that impacted public entities in New Jersey. In the area of public employment law, 2016 saw a number of legal developments, including new laws and precedential court decisions. DOL Overtime Law: A federal judge is
The New Jersey Department of Community Affair’s Division of Local Government Services (DLGS) recently published a Local Finance Notice regarding several new laws that impact local government and/or school procurement. Covered topics include bidder ownership disclosure, competitive contracting, contracts for asphalt work, claimant certification for utility bills, federal military equipment
Gov. Chris Christie recently signed a bill into law that will make it easier and cheaper for New Jersey municipalities to process electronic payments. The bill, Assembly Bill No. 3851, authorizes certain local units to adopt policies for the payment of certain claims through the use of standard electronic funds
The Supreme Court of New Jersey recently granted certification in Paff v. Galloway Twp. The case involves a key interpretation of the state’s Open Public Records Act (OPRA). In April, the Appellate Division concluded that municipalities do not have to create records when responding to an OPRA request. The appeals
The New Jersey Assembly is currently considering legislation that would impose new obligations on municipalities that grant long-term tax exemptions. Under the proposed bill, cities and towns would be required to share funds collected under payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreements with school districts. As we have previously discussed on the Scarinci Hollenbeck
New Jersey municipalities that are considering holding a public referendum to exceed either the two percent levy cap or the zero percent appropriation cap should be mindful of approaching deadlines. In a recent notice, the Division of Local Government Services (DLGS) provided guidance for scheduling elections and managing the New
In a recent decision, the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court held that the plaintiff was not required to provide an affidavit of merit in order to sustain a malicious use of process action because it is an intentional tort requiring proof of malice and not a deviation
The New Jersey Senate recently advanced legislation that would make it easier to consolidate fire districts. The Assembly approved the measure this summer. Under Assembly Bill No. 3006, New Jersey municipalities would be authorized to consolidate fire districts if the commissioners of each of the fire districts within each municipality
