In March 2014, the NJ Supreme Court directed the NJ Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) to adopt rules and regulations for municipalities to address their obligations for the period 1999-2024. Rules and regulations were proposed and on October 20, 2014 COAH met to consider these for adoption. The deadline for adoption as required by the Court was October 22, 2014, but COAH was deadlocked 3-3 on the adoption of the rules and regulations and with a tie vote, the adoption failed. Without the rules and regulations being adopted, the matter of figuring out municipal affordable housing obligations could return to court. New Jersey Future, a non-profit organization which focuses on housing policy for New Jersey, is convening an Affordable Housing Roundtable on November 13, 2014 to discuss the direction or lack of direction that the state is providing for affordable housing. Edwin W. Schmierer, Esq., a firm Director, has been invited to participate in the roundtable. Mr. Schmierer and the firm represent approximately thirty-five municipalities (governing bodies, land use boards, special counsel for affordable housing) throughout the state and have been providing advice and direction in the area of affordable housing even befor the adoption of the NJ Fair Housing Act of 1985. It is hoped that from the roundtable discussions public policy relating to the delivery of affordable housing can be formulated and shared with the NJ State Legislature in an attempt to clarify and move forward on the municipal constitutional obligation to provide for the development of affordable housing.
UrbanPromise Trenton is a non-profit, “for promise” organization providing free After School drop-in and Summer Camp programs to the youth of Trenton. UrbanPromise Trenton equips participants with the skills necessary for academic achievement, spiritual growth, life management, and Christian leadership. UrbanPromise Trenton also employs Trenton teens in their StreetLeader program where teens are mentors and leaders to the younger children in the programs.
Mr. Hammett joined Mason Griffin & Pierson P.C. in 2018 and practices in the field of Trusts and Estates; Real Estate; Business Law; and Chancery Court Practice.
To learn more about UrbanPromise Trenton, please visit www.urbanpromisetrenton.org.
We are pleased to announce that firm attorney Anthony R. Todaro has been appointed as Planning Board attorney in the Borough of High Bridge (Hunterdon County).
We are pleased to announce that firm attorney Anthony R. Todaro has been appointed as Zoning Board attorney in Hamilton Township (Mercer County).
The mission of the Hunterdon Land Trust is to preserve the integrity of the rural landscapes in the Hunterdon County region by protecting/enhancing natural resources and the cultural landscape of the historic Dvoor Farm for public enjoyment and education. The Land Trust has helped protect more than 10,280 acres of farmland and open space and owns and manages nature preserves throughout Hunterdon County.
To learn more about HLT, visit:
www.hunterdonlandtrust.org
Trishka Waterbury Cecil, Of Counsel with the Firm, has completed her annual Year-End Law Review for 2020 (a/k/a the “Big Book”) which is now available for members on the New Jersey Institute of Local Government Attorneys (NJILGA) website: https://www.njilga.org/. At a webinar presented on November 19, 2020 at the New Jersey State League of Municipalities Virtual Conference, Trishka (NJILGA Past President) and Steve Goodell (Treasurer), highlighted and discussed selected local government cases from the past year and entertained questions and comments from attendees.
Sharon Dragan, a Director with the Firm, has recently been elected to serve as Secretary for the NJ Institute of Local Government Attorneys in 2021. For more information about the NJILGA, see
https://www.njilga.org/about-us/who-are-we.html.
Click Link Here to read important information regarding the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.