Who are you?

MONROE — The Monroe Town Board approved a limited liability company member disclosure law earlier this week that Supervisor Harley E. Doles III said would "forever remove the veil of anonymity LLC members and corporations have when applying for approval and permits."
Doles said Monroe has a right to know who is building and what the intentions are.
"LLC's privacy laws have made it impossible to know who is building in Monroe," Doles said in an email exchange with The Photo New. "This law will put an end to the nameless and faceless LLC's and corporations with the intent to build on our ever-shrinking lands.
"Who they are is as important as what they intend to build. The new law will serve as a model for all towns and villages throughout New York State." Doles added. "No one coming before the Town of Monroe will be able to hide behind their lawyers and consultants any longer."

Definition

According to the web site, Legalzoom.com, a limited liability company, or “LLC,” is a separate and distinct legal entity. This means that an LLC can get a tax identification number, open a bank account and do business, all under its own name. One of the primary advantages of an LLC is that its owners, called members, have “limited liability,” meaning that, under most circumstances, they are not personally liable for the debts and liabilities of the LLC.
For example, if an LLC is forced into bankruptcy, then the members will not be usually be required to pay the LLC’s debts with their own money. If the assets of the LLC are not enough to the debts and liabilities, the creditors generally cannot look to the owners for payment. Their debt was with the LLC, not the people that owned the LLC.

Challenge expected

Lawyers representing several pending developments in the Town of Monroe objected to the local law during a public hearing. Some even called it anti-Semitic because some of the developers represent interests from the Village of Kiryas Joel and the ongoing efforts to build housing for its growing population.
Doles dismissed that label, although he did acknowledge that he expects the law will be challenged.
"The new LLC Member Disclosure Law is a major step in ensuring that as the predicted exponential in growth in Monroe is set to occur, only those with nothing to hide will be allowed to build," the supervisor said. "This signature piece of legislation has passed tough, legal scrutiny from our Town Attorney. I am certain that if this law is challenged in the courts its constitutionality will be upheld."
- Bob Quinn