Chris G. Trapp is a partner in the firm concentrating in municipal law, labor law, education law and civil litigation, including toxic tort and multiparty litigation.

Since 1992, Mr. Trapp has been the attorney for the Village of Alden representing the Village in a variety of capacities, including Village Prosecutor. Prior to obtaining the post of Village Attorney, he acted as Deputy Village Attorney from 1982 to 1992.

Since 1984, he has been chief negotiator to engage in collective bargaining between the Village of Alden and the employees within the Department of Public Works, formerly CSEA, Local 1000, AFSCME AFL-CIO.

In July of 1992, he was appointed school attorney for the Alden Central School District for which he has acted as a labor relations consultant and chief negotiator since 1982. As part of his work with the Alden Central School District, he has negotiated with the Alden Teachers' Association (NYSUT) and acted as the chief negotiator with the Alden Central School Employees' Association (bus drivers and maintenance employees), the Alden Central School Clerical Association and the Alden Administrators' Association. Mr. Trapp has also represented the School District at contract grievance arbitrations before the American Arbitration Association and improper practice hearings before the Public Employment Relations Board, disciplinary hearings pursuant to Civil Service Law Sections 75 and 76 and disciplinary proceedings pursuant to Education Law Section 3020-a.

In September of 2003, he was appointed as labor counsel on behalf of the Village of Cattaraugus with respect to their initial contract negotiations and recognition with the Teamsters which represents the employees within the Department of Public Works.

He also was appointed as the negotiator for the Village of Bergen with respect to their initial contract negotiations with the Teamsters which represents the employees within the Department of Public Works.

Between 1998 and 2004, Mr. Trapp was appointed as labor attorney on behalf of the Town of Clarence with respect to all labor matters within that municipality. This would include the handling of all grievances, contract interpretation, related consulting services, and negotiations. Issues involving discipline and discharge, compensation and benefits, and work rules are just some of the issues that have been addressed.

Effective January of 2002, he was appointed as one of the attorneys representing the Cuba Rushford Central School District with regard to its legal affairs in the education field.

In June of 2002, he was appointed as labor counsel to the City of Tonawanda School District with respect to its negotiations and other labor matters.

Between 1992 and 2004, Mr. Trapp acted as one of the school attorneys for the Grand Island Central School District. He has a variety of duties with that district including handling contract negotiations, grievance arbitration and general education issues. Those issues have included everything from questions regarding student discipline, attendance policies, Board of Education policy review and tenure questions to Civil Service Law and architectural contract reviews. Mr. Trapp has negotiated with the Grand Island Central School Administrative and Supervisory Council, School Related Personnel, and Cafeteria Units and has also conducted disciplinary hearings pursuant to the Education Law.

Mr. Trapp has acted as a panel member, panel chair and solo arbitrator through the Buffalo City Court Arbitration Program while that program existed. Additionally, for the past twelve years he has acted as the Traffic Violations Bureau Hearing Officer on behalf of the State University College at Buffalo.

He currently acts as the labor relations consultant for private educational programs and has revised the employment policy manuals of various organizations. He also acts as labor consultant to Community Services for the Developmentally Disabled, Inc. on issues ranging from pre-employment testing to employee benefits and issue of discipline and termination. Prior to its dissolution, he also acted as counsel to DEPTH, Inc., in proceedings before the New York State Division of Human Rights.

In the private sector, Mr. Trapp acts as legal counsel to a variety of private corporations and has handled grievance matters and discrimination litigation in both State and Federal Court on behalf of the employers. He also acted as chief negotiator against the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, AFL-CIO.

Mr. Trapp has also been an instructor for the American Institute for Paralegals as well as a guest lecturer in Labor and Education Law at Medaille College and Canisius College.

Education:

• B.S. Labor Relations and Marketing, Syracuse University, 1978, magna cum laude
• J.D. State University of New York at Buffalo, 1981

Admitted to:

• New York State Bar, 1982
• Western District of New York, 1982
• Northern District of New York
• Second Circuit Court of Appeals

Member:

• American Bar Association (Section on Urban, State and Local Government)
• New York State Bar Association (Section on Labor and Employment Law)
• Erie County Bar Association (Municipal Law Committee Chairperson, 1993-1996)
• Western New York Defense Trial Lawyers Association (Director 1993-1995)
• Industrial Relations Research Association
• Management Advocates for School Labor Affairs
• New York State School Attorneys' Association
• National Association of Bond Lawyers

e-mail: cgtrapp@bouvierlaw.com

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