2008 Dec
2008 December Vol. 6, No. 12
Focus on...Safety & Security
Avoiding Toxins in Your Building
Some building hazards—things like cracked sidewalks, broken windows or crumbling masonry—are obvious to even an untrained eye, making it easy to conduct repairs and prevent further deterioration and potential injury. Read More
Educating Residents for Safety & Security
A fire can be one of the most devastating and destructive occurrences in any
multi-family building, whether it affects a small portion of one unit or the
entire association. Luckily, new technology and current regulations have made
fires easier to prevent, control and extinguish. However, residents and
building staff still must be educated about what to do in an emergency
situation, as well as how to prevent a fire from occurring in the first place. Read More
Look Out Above....and Below
Falling bricks. Rickety scaffolding. An errant nail and an unsuspecting foot.
Things can go wrong in renovation and restoration projects no matter what the
size and scale of the work at hand. Whether the job is tackling a new façade on a high-rise or putting new shingles on a townhome, anything can happen.
That’s why state and local governments put so much effort and energy into ensuring
the safety of passers-by and why co-op and condo managers turn eagle-eyed and
protective of their residents when large projects loom.
Read More
New Equipment for Safer Communities
Over the past 20 years, most of our country’s larger cities have become safer places than they were in previous decades. But
despite these positive changes, most Americans—both urban and suburban—are acutely aware of security: how much they have, how much they’d like, and how much they really need in order to have peace of mind. For many,
it’s a question of adding up the costs and benefits of a security system, and
assessing the viability of the system for their particular building, community
or home.
Read More
FCC-Mandated Analog-to-Digital TV Change Comng Soon
On September 7, 1927, 19-year-old Philo T. Farnsworth created the first
television system that could not only display, but also transmit signals
between separate rooms. Now more than 80 years later, another historic date in
broadcast transmissions is upon us. On February 17, 2009, all full-power
broadcast television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting on
analog airwaves and begin broadcasting only in digital. Read More
Q&A: Equating Co-op Shares with Apartment Sizes?
I live in a co-op with 41 units in Ocean City, New Jersey, and would be interested in knowing what the New Jersey co-op law is in regards to the number of shares that are proportionate to the size of the apartment occupied. Presently, the board is telling us that you can’t equate shares with the size of your unit. Is this true? Read More
Q&A: Having Second Thoughts?
Our cooperative board has approved a buyer for one of our units. The seller and prospective buyer have already gone to contract. There are presently a number of board members who have second thoughts about approving the buyer and would like the board to revote. Can the board reconsider their approval after a contract has been signed? In general, up until what point can a board reconsider? Is there a difference if the reason is financial or character-based? Read More
Q&A: State Contractor's License Needed?
I am on the Board of Directors of a 336-unit condominium in New Jersey. My question is in reference to the Contractors’ Registration Act Title 56: 8-138. It requires contractors to register with the state if they are doing residential work. Since our condo is considered residential, are the common areas also residential? An example is if we are renovating a pool, exercise room or a large rear deck is this considered residential and therefore require the contractor to register with the state and be issued a license? Read More
Q&A:Property Manager's Office Usage a Conflict?
I am the president of a co-op. We had a full time employee as our property manager. I stress the words: full time. My predecessor had a son, who was allowed to go into business with our full time manager. Their company was a building management company and solicited other co-ops. But at the same time, they were using our management office, computer, xerox, fax, stamps, secretary, etc. During this time, our co-op was neglected. Is this a conflict? Read More
