Author: Melissa Baker

The Supreme Court of the United States recently voted to grant relief to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn and Agudath Israel of America in a case contesting New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s pandemic restrictions, specifically a cap he placed on places of worship that restricted the number of individuals allowed to attend religious services. Cuomo’s Executive Order stated no more than 10 or 25 people can convene at places of worship within areas of the city he classified as “red” and “orange” zones, respectively. Yet on the same block and in the same zone, other businesses and organizations were…

School officials and building committees involved in Portland’s elementary school renovations are seeking clarification on the energy requirements of the Green New Deal proposal that was passed by voters in November, a local referendum that was opposed by most of the city council and the mayor. As much as $6 million could be added to the budget that is currently set at $48 million for renovations at Longfellow, Presumpscot and Reiche Elementary schools in Portland. The Green New Deal policy states that renovation projects which are 5,000 square feet or greater and are owned or operated by the city must…

Certificate of Need (CON) laws are state regulatory procedures that require health care facilities to obtain permission from the state and their competitors before opening, expanding or purchasing new equipment and technologies. The state health planning agency either approves or denies an applicant based on a set of criteria and the perceived “community need” of the proposed service. CON programs remain law in a number of states, including Maine, despite mounting evidence that they fail to achieve their intended goals. Thirty-eight states and Washington D.C. have CON programs on the books, and the laws are supposed to control health care…

A number of iconic Maine businesses have closed this year due to the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and Gov. Janet Mills’ response to it. Businesses all over the state have permanently closed their doors, unable to survive after the governor ordered their closure earlier this year and issued new mandates that affect their normal operations.  Portland restaurants, unable to bring in enough revenue to maintain their employees and services, had no choice but to dissolve their businesses after years of serving the community. Restaurants already have a high rate of failure within the first year of business…

Gov. Janet Mills announced on Thursday new, last-minute restrictions on businesses to limit the spread of COVID-19 in Maine. Starting Friday, Nov. 20 and lasting until Dec. 6, all outdoor and indoor amusement venues, including casinos, movie theaters, performing arts venues, tasting rooms, social clubs, restaurants and bars will be required to close by 9 p.m. The decision comes abruptly for businesses just before the holidays, when there’s typically an increase in social gatherings. Under a standing executive order, Commissioners Heather Johnson and Jeanne Lambrew of the state’s economic development and health and human services departments, respectively, have the authority…

Portland residents approved on November 3 an ordinance that increases the city’s minimum wage from $12 an hour to $15 an hour, including a provision that will require employers to pay their employees time-and-a-half during a municipal or state-declared emergency.  The “hazard-pay” provision will increase the city’s minimum wage to $18 per hour under the emergency declared by Governor Mills due to the coronavirus, and if employers do not pay the rate as early as next month, they may be subject to substantial financial penalties under Maine’s “treble damages” law. In legal cases concerning employees who are not compensated at…