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Seminar Tackles Fair Housing, Discrimination Issues

Educational session will cover Fair Housing Laws, discrimination claims and the False Claims Act

 

The Rockland Municipal Planning Federation and the Rockland Independent Living Center are co-sponsoring an educational session on Fair Housing on Thursday, Sept. 27. Scott P. Moore, special legal counsel to and an instructor for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Fair Housing Accessibility FIRST Program will lead the session.

During the session, he will discuss the Fair Housing Laws impacting governmental agencies, discrimination claims common to governmental agencies (such as Common Interference Claims and Reasonable Accommodation Claims), and the False Claims Act. A question and answer period will occur at the end of the presentation.

The educational session is geared toward municipal planning and zoning board of appeals members, elected officials, building inspectors, code enforcement officers, architectural board members, architects, building department staff, engineers, environmentalists, property developers and managers, real estate professionals, planners and attorneys involved in land use law.

The program will take place from 7 to 9:30 pm at Orangetown Town Hall in the new courtroom. Admission to the session is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is requested. Contact Arlene Miller at 845-364-3448, or send an e-mail to millera@co.rockland.ny.us. 

The session will provide two hours of Continuing Legal Education Credits (NY). A handling fee of $20 will be charged for anyone wishing to earn the CLE credits. AICP professionals may earn 2.5 hours of CEU credits, and attendees will also be eligible to receive two hours of credit toward the required annual training hours for municipal Planning and Zoning Board members.

Moore is recognized as a national expert in fair housing law and litigation and represents clients in all fair housing and public accommodation matters. Fair Housing Accessibility FIRST promotes compliance with the Fair Housing Act design and construction requirements. The program offers comprehensive, detailed instruction programs, online resources and a toll-free information line for technical guidance and support.

The Rockland Municipal Planning Federation is comprised of town and village board, planning board and zoning board of appeals members, plus members of the Rockland County Planning Board and the Rockland County Department of Planning. The staff, attorneys, consultants and building inspectors for the boards and land use professionals such as planners, surveyors, architects, and engineers are also members. Any individual interested in the purposes of the Federation may become an Associate Member. 

The Federation serves a number of purposes, including creating and maintaining a forum to discuss common land use planning and regulation, zoning and related issues. The Federation also offers education and training in planning and zoning methods and land use issues, as well as certification for municipal planning and zoning board members.

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Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
Kathleen May 21, 2013 at 08:55 am
CANDLE Night at the Rockland Boulders Game Join CANDLE for a fun(d)raising game on May 23rd as theRead More Rockland Boulders take on the Trois-Rivieres Aigles. Proceeds from tickets purchased through CANDLE* will support programs that educate & empower youth and reduce substance abuse and violence in Rockland County and beyond.
Heywood Jablohme May 21, 2013 at 02:48 pm
I agree with most of your points, but surely you are not implying that teachers are expected toRead More produce funding to correct school roofs, right? I think you got a bit off topic here, but I agree that our educational infrastructure is in disrepair and is in desperate need of rehabilitation. Maybe if our teacher's unions allowed a little more leeway we could allocate funding a little more appropriately and fund the important things instead of overpaying paying dinosaur teachers who lost interest a long time ago and fight any and all forms of teacher benchmarking.
WGMom May 20, 2013 at 09:10 am
It's entirely true that every professional has out-of-pocket expenses. But as someone who worked asRead More a corporate trainer, I can guarantee you I NEVER had to pay out of pocket expenses for supplies to teach classes. Every piece of paper, supply, and even snacks for the participants were fully covered expenses. If I had to spend out of pocket money to procure supplies, I could submit for a reimbursement, and receive it, no questions asked. I am now in school to become a high school teacher and I can see the stark difference in how the education of folks in a corporate environment is incredibly different, and privileged, than the public school environment. I've sat through numerous classes in the Clarkstown and Ramapo districts, doing observations required for my education certification, and while Clarkstown certainly benefits from certain advantages, the shabbiness of being a public school is still there. Furniture, such as teacher desks, that looks like it was purchased in a garage sale 30 years ago... faculty bathrooms that are dark and dingy, nearly crumbling, and sorely in need of updating. Etc. The public expects teachers to have professional training, act professionally, but they lack sometimes basic resources and are expected to function in an environment that feels more like a dungeon than an institution of learning. The citizens of Clarkstown, if they could get a tour of some of the facilities they are expecting children to learn in, and teachers to teach in, would be very surprised. We do supply some great technology, but then we put it in classrooms with windows that won't stay closed when it's windy, as one example. I spent most of my time in South, which is the best of the bunch, facilities-wise. Clarkstown North is a mess, Woodglen's woods are littered with fallen trees no one's cleaned up after Sandy, Laurel Plains had to be shuttered thanks to that whole foul stench... the district is in a situation where there are major capital improvements that are going to be needed. Buildings are aging, and it seems it's only the most basic of upkeep that happens. The district can't even fix the roofs of the buildings without applying for a state grant.
Heywood Jablohme May 18, 2013 at 07:17 am
What professional doesn't spend $500 per year on out of pocket expenses related to their jobs?Read More Staples offering 10% (or 5 in some cases) is hardly an example of the community getting involved. Thankfully, there are other examples of the community and PTA's getting involved and providing needed services. Clarkstown and surrounding areas hardly have substantial unmet needs in their classroom, thankfully.
Truth4all May 16, 2013 at 11:37 am
I guess better late than never. LaCorte is serving his 4th year as Mayor and was Trustee for I thinkRead More 4 years before that. This year is the only time he has brought the idea to the village about participating in this program. He is motivated by the opportunity of getting positive press for his County Executive campaign. The village should have been involved in this program ( as well as the Americorps program) long before this. On a positive note, hopefully the Village will continue this worthwhile partnership for many years to come.