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Posts for Paul Sullivan

Please Stop: Handling Public Requests

October 15, 2019  by  Paul Sullivan
Category:  Public Records Act

Municipal employees sometimes must deal with a variety of requests, and some can be quite challenging. This article looks at what local governments can and cannot broadly do in terms of responding to large public records requests and complaints.  

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Warning: Summer Heat, Enclosed Pets, and Animal Fighting

August 1, 2019  by  Paul Sullivan
Category:  Animal Control

With its long days and hot temperatures, summer is a great time to remember that pets should not be left unattended in enclosed vehicles. This blog post also reviews 2019 legislation prohibiting animal fighting.

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Pop Quiz: Family Leave and Sick Leave Edition

January 14, 2019  by  Paul Sullivan
Category:  Leave Policies

Take a short quiz to test your understanding of the Paid Family Leave and Sick Leave for employees.

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Oh Boy! A Gift!

November 26, 2018  by  Paul Sullivan
Category:  Ethics and Conflicts of Interest

With the holidays just around the corner, Legal Consultant Paul Sullivan explores the rules surrounding municipal gift "giving" and "receiving." 

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An Inquiry Response Sampler

October 25, 2018  by  Paul Sullivan
Category:  Governance

This blog post is a grab bag of questions posed to MRSC's consultants through our Ask MRSC service. Covering broad but common local government concerns, the questions (and answers) should interest all our readers.

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Action Outside a Public Meeting, What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

July 13, 2018  by  Paul Sullivan
Category:  Open Public Meetings Act

This blog reviews some of the requirements of the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) and what can go wrong if those requirements are not met (Hint:a lot). 

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A Grab Bag of Ask MRSC Questions

May 10, 2018  by  Paul Sullivan
Category:  Legislative Body

This blog post offers several examples of questions MRSC's legal and policy experts get from local government staff and elected officials. 

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My Can of Coke Costs What?!!!

March 1, 2018  by  Paul Sullivan
Category:  Revenues

Since January 1, 2018, Seattle residents and visitors have found that drinking sweetened drinks cost a little bit more. Legal Consultant Paul Sullivan looks at the city's new sweetened beverage tax, one that is projected to raise almost $15 million in 2018. 

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Year-End Personnel Topics Pop Quiz

January 9, 2018  by  Paul Sullivan
Category:  Compensation ,  Leave Policies ,  Minimum Wage ,  Termination and Retirement

Take a short quiz to test your memory of some common, personnel-related legal issues as well as new employment laws that came in to or remained in effect in 2017.

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Contracting – Some General Principles for Counties

November 30, 2017  by  Paul Sullivan
Category:  Purchasing and Contracting

This blog article discusses how counties can contract for goods and services, including the role that elected officials other than county commissioners may play in the process.

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Municipal Giving and Receiving

October 24, 2017  by  Paul Sullivan
Category:  Gift of Public Funds

The holiday season is approaching. What are the rules surrounding municipal gift "giving" and "receiving?" Consultant Paul Sullivan explores the rules and offers some advice. 

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Paid Sick Leave Starts January 1

September 5, 2017  by  Paul Sullivan
Category:  Leave Policies

Starting January 1, 2018, all employers in the state, including all local government agencies, must provide paid sick leave for their employees. In this blog post, MRSC Legal Consultant Paul Sullivan responds to some possible questions about the new paid sick leave requirements.

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Disqualification: What if a Candidate Doesn't Meet the Required Qualifications for Office?

May 22, 2017  by  Paul Sullivan
Category:  Running for Office

To be qualified tor elected office, candidates must satisfy certain legal requirements such as citizenship, residency, and voter registration. But what if they aren't legally qualified, such as a candidate who does not meet residency requirements?

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Paid Sick Leave and Initiative 1433

March 27, 2017  by  Paul Sullivan
Category:  Leave Policies

Initiative 1433, approved by the voters in November 2016, sets the minimum wage for most employees (currently $11.00 per hour). But the initiative does more than that. Starting January 1, 2018, every employer in the state, including local governments, will be required to provide its employees with paid sick leave. This blog post will explore how this new requirement will affect local governments in Washington State. 

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Regulating E-Cigarettes: The Federal Government Steps In

July 11, 2016  by  Paul Sullivan
Category:  Licensing and Regulation

After months of review, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued final regulations governing the manufacture, distribution, and sale of e-cigarettes, vapor liquids, and some tobacco products. The federal regulations come soon after the passage of a new Washington law (ESSB 6328) that, among other things, also regulates the sale of e-cigarettes and vapor products and prohibits their sale to persons under the age of 18. The federal regulations make additional requirements not covered by the state law, but, where both address the same subject, there does not appear to be any conflict.

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New Law Regulates E-Cigarettes and Vapor Products

April 20, 2016  by  Paul Sullivan
Category:  Licensing and Regulation

The Legislature adopted new legislation (ESSB 6328) this session to regulate the e-cigarette and vapor product industry in Washington. Here is a summary of some of the key provisions of the new law.

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Three Things You Should Know about FLSA and the MWA (but Maybe You Don’t)

March 2, 2016  by  Paul Sullivan
Category:  Fair Labor Standards Act ,  Leave Policies ,  Minimum Wage

Although the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and state Minimum Wage Act (MWA) are not new, they still raise questions. Here are a few issues you may not be aware of.

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New Amendments to the Public Records Act

June 10, 2015  by  Paul Sullivan
Category:  Public Records Act

The 2015 Legislature passed and the Governor signed five bills amending the Public Records Act (PRA) that affect local government public records procedures.

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Contracting – Some General Principles for Cities

May 27, 2015  by  Paul Sullivan
Category:  Purchasing and Contracting

When contracting for services, public works, or purchases, what are the responsibilities of the city council and the mayor/administration? This post addresses a few general situations.

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