Keith concentrates his practice in municipal, real estate and labor and employment law. As a municipal law counselor, Keith advises and represents local municipal governments and municipal authorities in matters involving the Sunshine Law and Open Records Act, condemnations, administrative matters, labor and workforce issues, civil service issues, zoning and land planning matters, public bidding and contract negotiations. Keith has also represented municipalities before the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection regarding alleged violations of the Clean Water Act and the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law. Keith represents both municipal and development clients in matters involving requests for variances, special exceptions, conditional uses, zoning appeals and other land use issues. He has drafted amendments to zoning ordinances and guided municipalities through the amendment process mandated by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, and assists municipalities and developers in guiding real estate development projects through the subdivision and land development process.
Keith currently serves as solicitor for the Boroughs of Kutztown and Shoemakersville, West Cocalico Township, Bern Township and has served as special counsel for Spring Township involving land use issues. Keith also serves as solicitor and legal counsel for the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Reading and has assisted the Redevelopment Authority in such areas as redevelopment projects, brownsfields issues and condemnations. Recently Keith successfully represented Spring Township in a matter in which a national retailer attempted to locate a shopping center within its borders. Recent projects in which Keith has assisted the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Reading include the Goggleworks Center for the Arts, the City of Reading Sovereign Center and the R/C Theatres project, which involved the development of an eleven-screen multiplex including an IMAX theatre.
As a labor and employment counselor, Keith represents employers in grievance arbitration and in the resolution, settlement and/or adjudication of unfair labor practice complaints before the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board. Keith has negotiated public sector collective bargaining agreements between municipalities and AFSCME, the FOP, the Teamsters and the IAFF. In negotiating public sector collective bargaining agreements, Keith has participated in fact finding mediation.
Prior to joining the firm, Keith served as solicitor for the City of Reading, Pennsylvania.
MEMBERSHIPS
- Member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Constitutional Review Commission
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DMC Reduction Steering Committee
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Pennsylvania Bar Association
PRESENTATIONS
- Condos in the City, Wake up with Barley: A Morning on Real Estate (June 2019)
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Consumer Credit: Foreclosure and Bankruptcy Update, Barley Snyder LendiCon Seminar (May 2014)
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Residential Foreclosure Issues, Barley Snyder LendiCon Seminar (November 2012)
OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Former City Solicitor, City of Reading, PA