JAMES R. LOEB SPEAKS AT THE NEW YORK STATE ASSOCIATION OF TOWNS ANNUAL MEETING
February 2010

Partner James R. Loeb was once again among several distinguished speakers at the annual meeting of the New York State Association of Towns, which took place over President’s Day weekend in New York City . His speech, entitled “One Apple, Two Bites,” discussed a series of cases that arose in Orange County involving a challenge to special benefit assessments for water and sewer. Loeb is a former President of the New York State Association of Towns and is one of the top municipal and land use attorneys in the mid-Hudson Valley. His presentation was offered in conjunction with Albany Law School ’s Institute of Legal Studies, which offers continuing legal education programs.




FIRM TO PARTICIPATE IN BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF THE HUDSON VALLEY TRADE SHOW IN MARCH
February 2010

Drake, Loeb, Heller, Kennedy, Gogerty, Gaba & Rodd PLLC is once again proud to participate in the Builders Association of the Hudson Valley’s 28th Annual Trade Show. The building products and services showcase will be held on Wednesday, March 3 at Anthony’s Pier 9 in New Windsor from 2:00 pm. to 7:30 p.m. The firm is a long-time member of the Builders Association and Partner Gary J. Gogerty serves on its Membership Board. Please stop by our booth and visit other exhibitors to see what resources the Hudson Valley offers for your residential and light commercial projects.


TIMOTHY P. McELDUFF, JR. NAMED PARTNER
January 2010

Drake, Loeb, Heller, Kennedy, Gogerty, Gaba & Rodd PLLC are pleased to announce that Timothy P. McElduff, Jr. has been made a partner effective January 1, 2010. Mr. McElduff’s practice focuses on civil and commercial litigation, representing individual clients, local business owners, and national asset management companies in corporate and partnership disputes, estate litigation and guardianship proceedings, personal injury and insurance defense, tax certiorari proceedings, bankruptcy, collections, and foreclosure. He received his law degree from St. John’s University School of Law and his undergraduate degree from Siena College. He also sits as a Town Justice in the Town of Wawayanda, a position he has held since 2007. He is a Minisink Valley Little League coach, Vice President of the Orange County Magistrates Association, and past Chairman of the Town of Wawayanda Master Plan and Zoning Committee. Mr. McElduff resides in Slate Hill, NY with his wife and three children.




PUGLIELLE JOINS FIRM AS LITIGATION COUNSEL
November 2009

Drake, Loeb, Heller, Kennedy, Gogerty, Gaba & Rodd PLLC is pleased to announce that Ralph L. Puglielle, Jr. has joined the firm as Litigation Counsel. Mr. Puglielle brings extensive experience in areas of litigation including construction, collections and business litigation. He received his law degree cum laude from Albany Law School and his undergraduate degree cum laude from SUNY New Paltz. A lifelong resident of the Hudson Valley , Mr. Puglielle currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Newburgh Community Improvement Corp. and is Legal Counsel for the Newburgh Chapter of UNICO National.




CORDISCO GIVES TESTIMONY TO NYS SENATE IN OPPOSITION TO WETLANDS REGULATION INCREASES
October 2009

Dominic Cordisco, a partner with Drake, Loeb, Heller, Kennedy, Gogerty, Gaba & Rodd PLLC, provided testimony during a public hearing before the New York State Senate Standing Committee on Environmental Conservation. His testimony was in opposition to proposed regulations that would expand the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s jurisdiction over wetlands. Mr. Cordisco is a prominent environmental and land use attorney and represents several major developers in the Hudson Valley.  In conjunction with his testimony, Mr. Cordisco submitted written comments on behalf of Alliance for Balanced Growth, Orange County Partnership, the Orange County Chamber of Commerce and Sullivan County Partnership, who are all opposed to these regulations because of the potentially negative effect it would have on development in the area.

Click here to see the full text of written comments in opposition to wetlands regulation.


Click on arrow below to watch video of Cordisco testimony before the NYS Senate.






CORDISCO SPEAKS AT 2009 ANNUAL NEW YORK
PLANNING FEDERATION CONFERENCE
September 2009

Dominic Cordisco, a partner with Drake, Loeb, Heller, Kennedy. Gogerty, Gaba & Rodd, was a featured speaker at the 2009 Annual New York Planning Federation Conference held in Lake Placid, New York from September 13-15. Mr. Cordisco presented information concerning State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) Lead Agency disputes. He was also presented a paper on “Evaluating Greenhouse Gas Emissions at the Local Level.” Mr. Cordisco concentrates his practice in land use, environmental and municipal law. He is a past Region Three New York State Department of Environmental Conservation attorney.



FIRM PARTICIPATES IN ORANGE COUNTY
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2009 BUSINESS EXPO
September 2009

The Orange County Chamber of Commerce held its annual Business Expo on Wednesday, September 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. to promote and create networking opportunities for our area businesses. As counsel to the Chamber, Drake, Loeb, Heller, Kennedy, Gogerty, Gaba & Rodd PLLC was once again pleased to be a part of this event. With more than 2,300 members, the Chamber is the largest business and professional organization in the Mid-Hudson region and one of the ten largest in New York State.

Above, from left, Jennifer Schneider, firm administrator,
with James R. Loeb, partner and firm associate Jennifer Wright with
partner Glen L. Heller and associate Timothy P. McElduff, Jr. at the
2008 Business Expo.

ADAM RODD ELECTED TO SAFE HARBORS OF THE HUDSON
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
July 2009

Adam L. Rodd, a partner with Drake, Loeb, Heller, Kennedy, Gogerty, Gaba & Rodd PLLC, has been appointed to serve on the board of directors of Safe Harbors of the Hudson. Safe Harbors of the Hudson is a non-profit organization located in Newburgh, New York. Its mission is to transform lives and build communities through housing and the arts. Mr. Rodd concentrates his law practice in the areas of litigation; municipal law; and planning, zoning and land development. His clients include not-for-profit organizations, individuals, school districts, health care providers and businesses. He currently serves as the attorney for the Town of Cornwall Zoning Board of Appeals and the Town of Philipstown Zoning Board of Appeals.

RICHARD J. DRAKE APPOINTED TO THE INDEPENDENT
JUDICIAL ELECTION QUALIFICATION COMMISSION FOR THE
NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
June 2009

Richard J. Drake, a senior partner at Drake, Loeb, Heller, Kennedy, Gogerty, Gaba & Rodd PLLC, has been appointed to serve a three year term as a member of the Independent Judicial Election Qualification Commission for the Ninth Judicial District. The Commission is charged with evaluating judicial candidates running for election to the Supreme Court, County Court, Surrogate’s Court, Family Court, New York City Civil Court, District Courts and City Courts throughout New York to determine if they are qualified for the office to which they seek election. Mr. Drake is a past Chairman of the Committee on Character and Fitness in the Ninth Judicial District, Second
Department.

THOMA RECEIVES FIRST ROSE ROSEN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FROM THE WOMEN’S BAR ASSOCIATION OF ORANGE & SULLIVAN COUNTIES
June 2009

The Women's Bar Association of Orange & Sullivan Counties during the 30th annual meeting at the Eagle's Nest in Bloomingburg presented Drake Loeb staff member Rose Marie A. Thoma with the Rose Rosen Memorial Scholarship. Ms. Thoma will attend Albany Law School in the fall. She has worked with Drake Loeb since 2006. The memorial scholarship is newly created and named for Rose Rosen, who graduated from law school and was denied admission to the New York State Bar because she was a women. She persevered and was eventually successful. She was one of the founding members of the Women’s Bar Association of Orange & Sullivan Counties and remained active until her death.

NEW TAX LAW PROVIDES REQUIRED MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION RELIEF FOR RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS
January 2009

A recent tax law change promises to help give older Americans some much needed financial flexibility as they struggle to manage their finances during this difficult economic time. A key provision in the recently passed Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act of 2008 is designed to help alleviate the financial burden facing some seniors who have seen their retirement savings shrink dramatically. The new provision provides relief to senior citizens by allowing them to continue to keep money in retirement accounts that they are typically required by law to withdraw once they reach age 70½. Here's a brief summary of this new provision:

As you know, the tax laws generally require individuals with retirement accounts to make required withdrawals based on the size of their account and their age every year after age 70 1/2. This rule is intended to prevent wealthy individuals from using retirement accounts as a tax shelter. Any individual who fails to take a required minimum distribution (RMD) is heavily penalized by the IRS, which taxes the amount not withdrawn at 50%.

The new law suspends the required minimum distribution from retirement accounts in 2009. This waiver, which is available to everyone regardless of their total retirement account balances, applies to all defined-contribution plans, including 401(k), 403(b), 457(b), and IRA accounts. Suspending the mandatory withdrawal allows retirees to keep the money in their account if they choose and possibly recoup some of their losses.

Keep in mind that this is only a summary of this new provision. If you would like to discuss this matter further, please contact Glen L. Heller, Esq. at 845-561-0550.