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Author: Matt McArdle

McArdle Co-Founds Down Syndrome Society

Written by Matt McArdle on . Posted in News.

Matthew McArdle and his wife, Shannon, have established the Franklin County Down Syndrome Society, Inc. (FCDSS)—a not-for-profit corporation organized to benefit and assist individuals with Down syndrome and their families.

Down syndrome is a genetic condition that occurs when an individual has three copies of the 21st chromosome, rather than two. This additional genetic material alters the course of development and causes the characteristics associated with Down syndrome.

Since 2009, the Franklin County Down Syndrome Society has held a walk for Down Syndrome at the Arsenal Green in Malone, New York. Over 200 people walk in this event, and over 300 attend.

In October 2010, Missy McGarger and Eric Viscardo were honorary captains at the annual Saranac Lake/Tupper Lake high school football game, held in Saranac Lake, New York. Missy and Eric, who have Down Syndrome, are both members of the Franklin County Down Syndrome Society.

The mission of the FCDSS is to raise awareness of Down syndrome, provide emotional and financial assistance to individuals with Down syndrome and their families, increase the quality of life of individuals with Down syndrome and promote a positive image of individuals with Down syndrome.

Franklin County Down Syndrome Society

Village of Massena Lawsuit Dismissed

Written by Matt McArdle on . Posted in News.

On July 28, 2015, the St. Lawrence County Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit filed against the Village of Massena by local resident Edward J. Kaneb and his company, the Urban Highway Development Corp.

The Village was represented by Village Attorney Matthew H. McArdle of Fischer, Bessette, Muldowney & McArdle, LLP, in Malone. Mr. McArdle stated that the Supreme Court’s Decision “validates the Village’s actions in this case, and demonstrates that the Village acted reasonably and appropriately in all respects.”

The lawsuit was based upon a 1958 agreement the Village entered into with the Urban Highway Development Corp. to extend the Village’s waterline to service Mr. Kaneb’s business entities on Highland Road. The Village designed and supervised the waterline extension, and Mr. Kaneb’s company paid for the installation.

For more than 50 years, the Village has billed, collected, and remitted to Mr. Kaneb’s company a $10 per foot of road frontage tap-on fee to the line in accordance with the agreement. After the Village rejected an invoice from Mr. Kaneb requesting more than the $10 per foot fee, Kaneb filed a lawsuit against the Village.

By Decision dated July 28, 2015, St. Lawrence County Supreme Court Justice David Demarest dismissed Mr. Kaneb’s Complaint against the Village in its entirety. In its Decision, the Court agreed with the Village’s argument that Mr. Kaneb’s lawsuit was untimely. The Court also noted that, in 1994, Mr. Kaneb was unsuccessful in a prior lawsuit against the Village on similar issues.