News and Insights
Continuing Operations During Covid-19
Chmelik Sitkin & Davis is committed to providing our clients with the highest levels of service. We care deeply about community, our clients and our staff. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted not only our own team and clients, but also the global community at large. We recognize that our [...]
HGTV Magazine Features Handiwork of CSD Paralegal Jenny Brumfield
We’re thrilled to see the handiwork of long time CSD paralegal, Jenny Brumfield, land on the cover of the July/August issue of HGTV magazine. Jenny said she was surprised to see it there as the magazine had originally reached out to her in the spring but then indicated they [...]
Bellingham Business Journal Recognizes Tim Schermetzler as Top 7 Under 40
by ehamann – Bellingham Business Journal It was a chance encounter that led Tim Schermetzler to end up in Bellingham. Schermetzler, 33, is originally from Wisconsin. He was working in the nonprofit world when he decided to go to law school. He was managing a community organizing nonprofit at the [...]
Federal Assistance Available to Businesses Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act
Many clients have asked about the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and how their business may access the benefits. This memorandum provides some basic direction. We have provided a series of “Observations” which are insights from our firm that you may find helpful. If you would like [...]
Updating your Estate Planning During COVID-19
The COVID-19 has unsettled all of our lives. We are dealing with monumental change and uncertainty daily. Many of our clients are calling to ask how they can update their estate plan during this public health crisis or how they can implement new estate planning that they have put off. [...]
Continuing Operations During Covid-19
Chmelik Sitkin & Davis is committed to providing our clients with the highest levels of service. We care deeply about community, our clients and our staff. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted not only our own team and clients, but also the global community at large. We recognize that our [...]
November 2023 Knowing the Waters – Free Speech
We were recently asked about the ability of protestors coming to a port district to protest the handling of a certain type of cargo at a port shipping terminal (we don’t know the nature of the cargo). The subject of this month’s column is port districts and use of port property for speech related activities.
October 2023 Knowing the Waters
Back in July 2020, in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Knowing the Waters addressed the impacts of Governor Inslee’s emergency proclamations concerning residential tenancies on port districts with liveaboard moorage customers, recreational vehicle (“RV”) parks, and other similar facilities.
August 2023 Knowing the Waters
August 2023 Knowing the Waters – Commission Resolutions and Reporting By Frank Chmelik of CSD Attorneys at Law P.S. - WPPA Counsel Last month we addressed documents your port district should have on file. This month we address two quite common commission questions. Who should report directly [...]
July 2023 Knowing the Waters
July 2023 Knowing the Waters - Litigation Involving the Washington Public Records Act (Chapter 42.56 RCW). By Frank Chmelik I just returned from the WPPA Commissioners Conference where we had a discussion about the increase in litigation involving the Washington Public Records Act (chapter 42.56 RCW). I [...]
June 2023 Knowing the Waters – Port Documents
By Frank Chmelik This month we will take a look at what documents your port district should have on file and be keeping up to date. Some documents are required by statute and others are good to have as a “best practice.” Required By Statute Annual Operating Budget. RCW [...]
May 2023 Knowing the Waters – Resignations and Filling Commission Vacancies
By Frank Chmelik In the 2023 legislative session, the law relating to filling vacancies in municipal government elected bodies (including port commissions) was amended. RCW 53.12.140 is the port district statute that specifies when a vacancy in the port commission occurs and how to fill that vacancy. This column [...]
November 2023 Knowing the Waters – Free Speech
We were recently asked about the ability of protestors coming to a port district to protest the handling of a certain type of cargo at a port shipping terminal (we don’t know the nature of the cargo). The subject of this month’s column is port districts and use of port property for speech related activities.
October 2023 Knowing the Waters
Back in July 2020, in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Knowing the Waters addressed the impacts of Governor Inslee’s emergency proclamations concerning residential tenancies on port districts with liveaboard moorage customers, recreational vehicle (“RV”) parks, and other similar facilities.
August 2023 Knowing the Waters
August 2023 Knowing the Waters – Commission Resolutions and Reporting By Frank Chmelik of CSD Attorneys at Law P.S. - WPPA Counsel Last month we addressed documents your port district should have on file. This month we address two quite common commission questions. Who should report directly [...]
July 2023 Knowing the Waters
July 2023 Knowing the Waters - Litigation Involving the Washington Public Records Act (Chapter 42.56 RCW). By Frank Chmelik I just returned from the WPPA Commissioners Conference where we had a discussion about the increase in litigation involving the Washington Public Records Act (chapter 42.56 RCW). I [...]
June 2023 Knowing the Waters – Port Documents
By Frank Chmelik This month we will take a look at what documents your port district should have on file and be keeping up to date. Some documents are required by statute and others are good to have as a “best practice.” Required By Statute Annual Operating Budget. RCW [...]
May 2023 Knowing the Waters – Resignations and Filling Commission Vacancies
By Frank Chmelik In the 2023 legislative session, the law relating to filling vacancies in municipal government elected bodies (including port commissions) was amended. RCW 53.12.140 is the port district statute that specifies when a vacancy in the port commission occurs and how to fill that vacancy. This column [...]