The peers of our retired partner, J. Raymond Miyares, have recognized Ray’s impressive and lengthy service in the field of municipal law by awarding him the 2022 President’s Award of the Massachusetts Municipal Lawyers Association. The award is bestowed upon a municipal attorney whose overall service and career has contributed significantly to the betterment of local government, municipal law, or the MMLA. There is no one more deserving than Ray to earn this award. We congrat

“The best test takers are not necessarily the best police sergeants.” With that opening line, a Superior Court judge ruled that the multiple-choice police sergeant’s promotional examination, administered for decades by the Commonwealth’s Human Resource Division (HRD), discriminated against minority police officers. Candidates for promotion take the exam and then are ranked with a total score: 80% is derived from the examination results and 20% is derived from the candidates’

On November 17, 2022, Governor Baker signed Chapter 274 of the Acts of 2022, An Act Preserving Open Space in the Commonwealth. The Act amends G.L. c.3, by adding a new section, 5A, governing the change of use or disposition of Article 97 land in the Commonwealth. Article 97 of the Massachusetts constitution applies to land taken or acquired for conservation and other natural resource purposes. A two-thirds vote of the Legislature is required before the Commonwealth or its pol

Release by DHCD of Section 3A Compliance Model The Department of Housing and Community Development has released the model for demonstrating compliance with the MBTA Communities program under G.L. c. 40, § 3A. The model is a tool to address compliance, evaluate existing zoning districts, and plan new or amended zoning districts.