Local and State Government Law Section Fall 2024 Meeting

Agenda

Friday October 25, 2024

12:00 p.m. Conference Check-in and CLE Registration

12:30 - 12:40 p.m. Welcome and Introduction - Wayfarer Ballroom

Speakers:

Steven G. Leventhal, Esq., Section Chair, Leventhal, Mullaney & Blinkoff, LLP, Roslyn, NY

Chris G. Trapp, Esq., Program Co-Chair, Greco Trapp, PLLC, Buffalo, NY

12:40 - 1:30 p.m. So What's New at PERB?

This presentation will bring you up to speed on recent developments at the NYS Public Employment Relations Board affecting collective bargaining and day-to-day employment relations in public sector workplaces.

Speaker:

James D. Bilik, Esq., Arbitrator & Mediator, Albany, NY

1.0 MCLE Credit in Areas of Professional Practice

1:30 - 2:20 p.m. FOIL/Open Meetings Law

Speaker:

Kristin O'Neill, Esq., NYS Department of State

1.0 MCLE Credit in Areas of Professional Practice

2:20 - 2:35 p.m. Break

2:35 p.m. - 3:25 p.m. Taxation of Solar and Wind Energy Projects - A Primer for Local Governments

As large-scale renewable energy projects continue to site throughout New York in furtherance of the state's Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act goals, localities are left grappling with how to appropriately tax these entities that severely impact their community. This session will provide an overview of the taxing jurisdiction's authority in the siting process (alternative title: so you've been pre-empted), as well as the taxation options available under Real Property Tax Law section 487 in conjunction with the adoption of the standard appraisal methodology of solar and wind energy projects in 2022. As the default in the law exempts these projects from taxation, a discussion on negotiating Payments in Lieu of Taxes, including working together with other taxing jurisdictions to ensure a mutually agreeable PILOT agreement, will conclude the session. Questions are welcome and encouraged!

Speaker:

Kathleen N. Hodgdon, Esq., Association of Towns of the State of New York, Albany, NY

1.0 MCLE Credit in Areas of Professional Practice

3:25 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. Artificial Intelligence

Speaker:

Professor Catherine M. Sharkey, Esq., NYU Law School, New York, NY

1.0 MCLE Credit in Areas of Professional Practice

4:15 P.M. - 4:25 P.M. Closing Remarks

Speaker: Joseph G. Trapp, Esq., Program Co-Chair

4:45 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Reception - Wayfarer Ballroom

Saturday, October 26, 2024

7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast

8:00 a.m. CLE Sign in and Registration

8:30 a.m. - 8:40 a.m. Welcome and Introduction

Speakers: Steven G. Leventhal, Esq., Section Chair, Roslyn, NY

Chris G. Trapp. Esq., Program Co-Chair, Buffalo, NY

8:40 a.m. - 9:55 a.m. SCOTUS Update

This presentation will provide a brief overview of the Supreme Court and its most recent term, with an emphasis on decisions that affect state and local government operations and liability.

Speaker: Professor Vincent Bonventre, Esq., Albany Law School, Albany, NY

1.5 MCLE Credits in Areas of Professional Practice

9:55 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. Cyber Security

Speakers: Scott M. Lupiani, Esq., The Beckage Firm, Buffalo, NY

Scott Morris, CISM, CISSP, The Beckage Firm, Buffalo, NY

1.0 MCLE Credit in Cybersecurity, Privacy and Data Protection-General

10:45 a.m. - 10:55 a.m. Coffee Break

10:55 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Employment Discrimination

Speakers: Josephine A. Greco, Esq., Greco Trapp, PLLC, Buffalo, NY

Sharon N. Berlin, Esq., Principal Member, Keane & Beane, P.C., Melville, NY

1.0 MCLE Credit in Diversity, Inclusion & Elimination of Bias

11:45 a.m. - 12:35 p.m. EMS in Crisis: Potential Impacts on Local Governments

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is in crisis across New York and maybe in your community. The EMS system has been challenged by a variety of factors in the last five years including COVID, a shortfall in funding, increasing call volume driven by an aging population, volunteers leaving the field and a lack of qualified providers - paid or volunteer. During this presentation, we will discuss the current factors impacting EMS systems and how local governments often get involved in ensuring this vital service is provided. We will review the steps to setting up a special ambulance district, common characteristics of service contracts with EMS agencies, a brief overview of the process of starting a municipal ambulance service and key questions that every municipality should ask their ambulance service.

Speakers: Paul A. Bishop, MPA, Principal, CGR, Rochester, NY

Chris G. Trapp, Esq., Greco Trapp, PLLC, Buffalo, NY

1.0 MCLE Credit in Areas of Professional Practice

12:35 p.m. - 12:40 p.m. Closing Remarks

Speaker: Chris G. Trapp, Esq., Program Co-Chair

Sunday, October 27, 2024

7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast

8:00 a.m. CLE Sign in and Registration

8:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. Executive Committee Meeting (Exclusive to members of the Local and State Government Law Section Executive Committee)

8:30 a.m. - 8:40 a.m. Welcome and Introduction

Speaker: Chris G. Trapp, Esq., Program Co-Chair

8:40 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Diversity

Speakers: Kimberly Wolf Price, Esq., Chief Strategy & Diversity Officer, Bond, Schoeneck & King LLP, Syracuse, NY

Kate I. Reid, Esq., Member, Bond, Schoeneck & King, Syracuse, NY

1.0 MCLE Credit in Diversity, Inclusion & Elimination of Bias

9:30 a.m. - 10:20 a.m. Ethics

Speaker: Professor Richard Briffault, Columbia Law School, New York, NY

1.0 MCLE Credit Ethics and Professionalism

10:20 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Closing Remarks

Speakers: Steven G. Leventhal, Section Chair

Joseph G. Trapp, Program Co-Chair