Municipal Law

SERVICES TO MUNICIPALITIES

The lawyers of Murray Plumb & Murray are among the state's best-known practitioners in the fields of environmental law, waste management law, and land use regulation. During the last fifteen years, the firm has played a role in many of the most important decisions of the Maine Superior Court and Law Court bearing upon governmental authority and land use regulation. We have represented the municipalities of Cumberland, Hollis, Lewiston, Ogunquit, South Bristol, Wells, Windham, Wiscasset, and York.

Our municipal practice, although limited to a relatively small number of towns, is nevertheless intensive. We are accustomed to spending a large portion of our time responding to opinion requests, defending suits against municipalities, drafting legislation and ordinances, resolving personnel problems and disciplinary matters, and prosecuting land use violation cases. We make this type of work a priority both because we find it intellectually stimulating, and because it allows us to use our skills as lawyers to maintain and improve the quality of local government.

We believe that, by limiting the number of municipalities we represent, we minimize the potential for conflicts of interest and ensure that we gain a thorough understanding of the community's ordinances, internal procedures, and regulatory "style." Such narrow concentration also means that each of our municipalities receive advice promptly, and directly from the most experienced lawyers in the firm rather than from fledgling associates.

We are acutely aware of how burdensome legal fees can become for local municipalities. Hence we endeavor to practice "preventive law" as much as possible. By encouraging our clients to seek our advice promptly, before controversial action is taken, we have been highly successful in preventing the type of well-meaning errors that frequently lead to expensive litigation. Even if a case must be litigated, our long experience in this area renders us unusually efficient, and therefore relatively economical. In addition, we aggressively pursue opportunities to recover legal fees on behalf of our municipalities.

SERVICES TO PRIVATE CITIZENS

Because Murray, Plumb & Murray has represented only a select number of municipalities, it has a unique combination of (1) extensive experience in municipal law, and (2) high availability to private citizens who need representation in disputes with municipalities. Because we are familiar with the inner workings of municipal government, we are able to cut through the bureaucracy and get results quickly.

If you have any of the following problems or concerns, please contact us:  A municipal regulation has had a negative effect on your property (you are the victim of a "taking").

• You need a municipal permit, license, variance, or other approval, and to maximize the probability of obtaining it. 
• You have been denied a municipal permit, license, variance, or approval, and you think the decision was wrong, unfair, or discriminatory. 
• A municipality has accused you of violating a law, ordinance, rule, or regulation, and you need a defense. 
• A municipality is trying to enforce a tax lien against your property. 
• You are trying to get a municipality to take an action that it is required to do, but you are being ignored or put off. 
• You have either been fired from municipal employment, or discriminated against in a hiring or salary issue. 
• You are thinking about buying property from, or signing an agreement with, a municipality, and want to protect yourself. 
• You have been injured by a municipal employee or on municipal property, and want to know how to protect your rights. 
• You are opposed to an action taken by a municipality, and want to appeal that action. 

For these and any other problems relating to municipalities, you would be well advised to contact Murray, Plumb & Murray.

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