The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records issued an alert concerning anonymous Right to Know Law requests generated by an online service called FOIA Buddy after receiving reports from “numerous” agencies.
On its website, FOIA Buddy describes itself as a “comprehensive resource” that simplifies the process of requesting public information from the agencies by which
The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (Authority) recently announced the award of $204 million for 52 broadband development projects throughout Pennsylvania. The grants are funded through the United States Treasury (Treasury) under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), which authorized the use of funds for broadband infrastructure projects targeted at unserved or underserved households
The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority is currently accepting applications for the multipurpose community facilities program. Funded through the federal capital projects fund established under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the facilities program will distribute up to $45 million in competitive grants to community anchor institutions and local governments to ensure reliable and affordable broadband
On April 24, 2024 the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) announced it is accepting applications from eligible non-profits for funding to enhance physical and cybersecurity at organizations that may be at risk for terrorist or extremist attacks. Organizations may apply for up to $150,000 per location, at a maximum of three locations. Each location must
The U.S. Department of Transportation recently announced the availability of billions of dollars in grant funds for infrastructure and transportation projects, including over $700 million allocated to the Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program. This program offers funding for highway, bridge and tunnel projects that provide or increase access to agricultural, commercial, energy or transportation facilities
In its recent decision, Appeal of Best Homes DDJ, LLC, 239-40 C.D. 2020 (Dec. 23, 2021), the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court considered, among other issues, whether MS4 fees imposed by the City of Chester Stormwater Authority constituted an impermissible tax. The case involved a challenge by certain rate/fee-payers that the Authority’s “fees” were actually “taxes”
Timothy Horstmann, member of McNees Wallace & Nurick’s Public Finance and Government Services Group, will be discussing the importance of the archival and long-time preservation of electronic documents for Pennsylvania municipalities and townships in an upcoming webinar.
The panel of thought leaders will share tips for how to become PDF/A compliant at little to no cost, important because a Pennsylvania State Archives and Local Government Records Committee policy allows municipalities to maintain electronic records so long as specific requirements are met.
Continue Reading McNees Attorney Providing Key Tips, Resources for Townships’ Preservation of E-Documents
Public sector employers of all sizes have been asking whether they must comply with OSHA’s recent Emergency Temporary Standard (“ETS”). The short in Pennsylvania is no – the ETS does not apply to state and local government employers in those states, such as Pennsylvania, that do not have State Plans (that is, an OSHA-approved plan by which a state assumes responsibility for occupational health and safety standards).
Continue Reading PA State and Local Government Employers Escape OSHA’s Vax or Test Rule
With the effective date of recent amendments to Pennsylvania’s open meetings law, commonly known as the Sunshine Act, rapidly approaching on August 29, 2021, Pennsylvania public agencies, including but not limited to School Boards, Counties, Townships, Boroughs, Cities, and the Governing Bodies of community colleges, must be prepared to ensure they are in compliance with Act 65’s changes.
As background, on June 30, 2021, Governor Wolf signed into law as Act 65 of 2021 Senate Bill 554, which amends the Sunshine Act to mandate that a public agency’s agenda include all issues where a deliberation is expected, even if there is no anticipated vote on the issue. Furthermore, Act 65 requires that this agenda must be available to the public at least 24 hours prior to the public meeting, with few exceptions.
Continue Reading Compliance with the Sunshine Act Amendments: What Pennsylvania Public Agencies Need to Know
A recent decision from the Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Appeals Board (the “Board”), if affirmed, would have dramatic consequences for private, nonprofit colleges and universities that rely on bonds issued by public entities to finance their construction projects. The decision, In Re: Grievance filed by International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local No. 98, Docket No. PWAB-1G-2018, was recently appealed to the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court.
In the case, the Board determined that the Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Act (the “Prevailing Wage Act”), applies to construction projects at Ursinus College (the “College”), a private, nonprofit college, because the projects were financed by bonds issued by the Montgomery County Higher Education and Health Authority (the “Authority”), a municipal authority and public instrumentality of the County of Montgomery organized under the Pennsylvania Municipality Authorities Act (the “Authorities Act”).
Continue Reading Private College and University Construction Projects Financed by Bonds Are Subject to Prevailing Wage Act, Appeals Board Finds