PA Act 172: A (Tax) Break for Volunteer Firefighters With Act 172, municipalities have another tool to recognize the critical service of volunteer firefighters and emergency responders. In a nutshell, Act 172 allows municipalities to give certain tax breaks to volunteers in acknowledgment of their service – specifically, from municipal earned income and real estate…
Siana Law is a proud sponsor of the Wheels of Justice Bicycle Riding Team who completed their ride on the 30th Anniversary of the Tour de Shore setting fundraising records. The Tour De Shore celebrates its 30th Anniversary of the 65 mile bicycle ride from the Irish Pub in Philadelphia to the Irish Pub in…
In participation with the Chester County Bar Association’s Chester County IL Diverse Law Student Program, Siana Law is pleased to welcome Mr. Alex Kungu to the Firm this month. About Alex Originally from Boston, Alex grew up playing and watching a lot of basketball. Before entering middle school, he became fascinated with the law when his mother…
Assessing liability for a municipality under the Real Property Exception of the Tort Claims Act (TCA) can sometimes be as clear as mud. In the recent past, a municipality could reasonably figure out if they would be faced with liability for real estate under their care, custody or control. If an injury was not caused…
If your municipality’s contract with its Police Association expires at the end of the year, it is time to plan your approach to collective bargaining. The relationship between your municipality and its police association is governed by the Policemen and Firemen Collective Bargaining Act, commonly referred to as “Act 111.” Act 111 governs the…
With medical marijuana now the law in Pennsylvania, is your township or borough ready? If not, it’s high time that you sharpen your pencils and crack open your Zoning Ordinance. The Medical Marijuana Act was approved by the Legislature in April of 2016, and the Commonwealth’s issuance of the first round of licenses is just…
The State of Pennsylvania recently released the updated bidding thresholds for contracts/purchases for 2017 which include: Contracts/purchases under $10,700 do not require quotes or a formal bid process (with a few exceptions); Contracts/purchases between $10,700 and $19,699 require the municipality to obtain three (3) telephone or written quotes; and Contracts/purchases of $19,700 and greater require…
Siana Law is proud to honor Allan B. Greenwood, Esq., a Partner of the firm for thirteen years, for reaching a milestone achievement as a 50-year member of the Chester County Bar Association. Allan first became a member of the Chester County Bar Association in 1966 and served as President of the Association in 1988. After…
As discussed in Michael G. Crotty’s previous article, Right to Know Clearinghouses for Personal Information No More: Supreme Court Declares Constitutional Right to Informational Privacy for School Teachers, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court recently handed down a landmark decision in Pennsylvania State Education Association v. Commonwealth et al. concerning public school teachers’ constitutional right to informational…
On October 18, 2016, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court handed down a landmark decision in Pennsylvania State Education Association v. Commonwealth et al. – extending a constitutional right of informational privacy to public school employees with respect to their home addresses. As a result of the Court’s ruling, school districts are prohibited from releasing the home…