Municipalities & Authorities

Municipal law

Members of Knox McLaughlin Gornall & Sennett, P.C. have extensive experience working with cities, townships, boroughs, and public authorities and understand the special issues you face. We pool our vast breadth of knowledge to produce favorable and cost-effective results for our clients.

Our attorneys keep current on various developments and trends affecting your interests and have practical, hands-on experience in the full range of relevant legal disciplines. We cover all of your legal needs in areas such as:

Governmental Practice

  • Counsel on all matters of municipal liability and immunity
  • Provide counsel on parliamentary procedures for public meetings
  • Draft and resolve matters involving municipal procurement, including public bidding issues
  • Counsel on housing and urban development issues
  • Advise on general aviation legal matters and public utility law
  • Counsel regarding eminent domain matters
  • Provide general counsel to water and sewer authorities
  • Advise on compliance with the Municipality Authorities Act, Sunshine Act, Public Official and Employees Ethics Act, and Right-To-Know Law
  • Provide counsel on port-related matters

Public Finance & Bonds

  • Serve as bond and underwriters' counsel
  • Secure required approvals under the Local Government Unit Debt Act
  • Document finance transaction for general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, tax and revenue anticipation notes, specialized facilities bonds, and industrial development bonds
  • Provide opinions regarding the validity, security, tax-exempt, and tax credit status of bonds, notes, and leases
  • Assist in reviewing official statements to enable compliance with federal securities disclosure laws
  • Monitor arbitrage regulations
  • Advise public bodies on federal tax compliance issues

Real Estate

  • Act as solicitor for governing bodies and zoning hearing boards in connection with variance requests, subdivision applications, and rezoning petitions
  • Represent public bodies in buying, selling, or developing potentially contaminated property
  • Negotiate and prepare leases and other administrative contracts
  • Eminent domain proceedings

Environmental Law

  • Sewage facilities planning and permitting - Act 537 compliance
  • Stormwater permitting
  • Recycling
  • Water supply

Labor & Employment

  • Negotiate collective bargaining agreements
  • Provide guidance on bargaining unit issues and all union-related issues
  • Represent in grievance processing, labor arbitration, and all matters before the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board
  • Advise and counsel on all aspects of employment law
  • Representation in EEOC and PHRC discrimination claims, unemployment compensation and OSHA matters, and before other administrative agencies
  • Prepare employment-related documents and agreements
  • Train and update management and supervisors on critical workplace issues

Workers' Compensation

  • Defense of work injury claims
  • Counsel on loss control and prevention

Litigation

  • Defend liability, civil rights, discrimination, employee benefit, and whistle blower claims
  • Defend and prosecute contract claims
  • Provide representation in alternative dispute resolution, including arbitration and mediation
  • Counsel on debarment of public contractors

Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights

  • Obtaining relief from stay regarding outstanding taxes and debts
  • Collect outstanding taxes and debts
  • Consult on collection practices

Contact: Timothy M. Sennett
814-923-4895 • Send an email