Under state law a local government official or board may determine that a dog is “potentially dangerous.” When that happens, the dog’s owner has a right to appeal the decision. What rules govern these appeals? The statute is a little … Read more

Have you paid your “Tag and Tax Together” yet? If you haven’t, you soon will. As of September 1, 2013, everyone who registers a motor vehicle in North Carolina will be required to pay at the time of registration not … Read more

Employees in “exempt” positions are not entitled to overtime pay, even if they work sixty hours or more in a single workweek. How does an employer determine whether a position is exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act? A position … Read more

News outlets regularly report about the latest company that was lured to North Carolina through the payment of a cash economic development incentive by a local government and the state. Local government cash incentives often take the form of an … Read more

December brings thoughts of gifts: gifts for hard-working employees, gifts for outgoing board members and retiring employees, and gifts from vendors and contractors. May public money be spent on gifts for employees or board members? May local governments honor outgoing … Read more

Hotly debated before its enactment and challenged in lawsuits since, North Carolina’s new photo identification requirement for voting goes into effect in 2016. Is it a genuine bulwark against fraud, providing confidence in elections, or is it a partisan attempt … Read more

Fred uses a county truck to go from inspection site to inspection site.  The truck is for work use only.  The inspections make up most of Fred’s work day.  His supervisor suspects that Fred is goofing off at times he … Read more

So you’ve got this extraterritorial planning jurisdiction, but how do you get rid of it? Fair question.  The statutes give clear procedures for establishing extraterritorial jurisdiction, or ETJ, but there is less clarity for relinquishment.  A good rule of thumb … Read more

Consider these three scenarios regarding potential appeals to the zoning board of adjustment.  Scenario 1.  Marge Simpson has worked for decades to improve her neighborhood.  Several years ago the town adopted a new plan that called for the neighborhood to … Read more

Two new members have been elected to the Pleasantville town council and are scheduled to be sworn in at the December meeting. A special meeting has been called for November 25, at which the current board plans to address several … Read more