2009 Oct
2009 October Vol. 7, No.10
Focus on...Board Operations
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Here’s the scenario: the developer of your suburban building, who still owns enough
units to throw his weight around, hires a property manager who plays fast and
loose with the municipal tax codes. So much so in fact, that he winds up in
jail—and your building winds up owing some significant back taxes. The sponsor then
brings in a new, wet-behind-the-ears property manager, who pays the tax bill
with an unmarked—and untraceable—starter check, which the city cashes…without crediting the proper account. It’s like a parking meter ate your quarter, but instead of 25 cents, your building
just lost thousands of dollars.
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Disruptive Pet Projects, Grudges & Other Distractions
When it comes to stories about board members pushing their own pet projects,
stalling meetings, and generally gumming up their HOA’s administrative works for selfish reasons, most property mangers have one or
two doozies.
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Understanding Maintenance Responsibilities
When owners move into an HOA or condo development, most have a basic idea of who’s responsible for repairs and maintenance in their unit, and who’s responsible for the common areas—even if they don’t bother to read the governing documents, which they should.
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A Guideline to Put into Practice
It’s an oft-repeated mantra when it comes to condo and HOA management: no two
boards are ever the same. Each is—or should be—a reflection of the community it serves, and each is made up of a unique blend
of personalities, skill sets, and individual administrative styles. A board is
almost like its community’s fingerprint.
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Serving HOAs in Three States
When you’re reading the history of the Pennsylvania and Delaware Valley Chapter of the
Community Associations Institute (CAI-PADELVAL, for short), it might be helpful
to whip out the map to get a sense of who they are and the communities they
serve. Once you get past the little geography lesson, you can get a better
sense of exactly who they are and what the organization has set out to
accomplish.
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Understanding a Complex Game
Generally speaking, the issue of municipal services—snow removal, paving, garbage collection, etc.—as they apply to HOAs is pretty cut-and-dry: municipalities receive money
directly from owners in the form of property taxes. HOAs budget for snow/ice
removal, and other similar services on an annual basis and then set the monthly
fees or levy special assessments on owners accordingly. Occasionally however,
questions do arise, and like any gray area where money and legal responsibility
converge, debate can quickly devolve into argument.
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Early Color Could be a Sign of Distress
In many parts of North America, people will soon enjoy one of nature’s finest shows. The changing colors of fall foliage make for a beautiful
display, but too-early changes in leaf-color can be a sign that your tree is
stressed and is susceptible to attack by insects and disease.
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A Nest Egg in Egg Harbor Township
Whether its the close proximity to the coast, the reassurance of knowing its a
safe place to raise children or simply its easy distance from the bright lights
of Atlantic City, Egg Harbor Township in southeastern New Jersey has something
for everyone. The word is spreading, too, as more people take notice of its
large selection of new homes and developing communities. The township’s population, in fact, has grown more than 25 percent in the last seven years,
not too bad for a place that was mostly farmland just a century ago.
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Q&A: Board Ethics
Can the president of a co-op board be in business with the management company’s owner without divulging it to the shareholders or other board members? The board members were recently notified that the owner is one of the board of directors and principal owners of a new bank that the co-op has refinanced through. Our board president who is dealing with the company owner is also an investor in this bank. I think the relationship between the management company’s president/owner has compromised the board president’s fiduciary responsibilities to the shareholders. I do not believe the board president has pursued problems allegedly related to the managing company’s poor performance since he wants to be on the good side of the very wealthy and connected owner. As of this time, the shareholders have not been informed of the board president’s business dealings with the owner of the management company. Read More
Q&A: Ownership Responsibilities?
We are a 38-unit condo complex. We have had trouble finding owners to serve as board. Can we require owners to serve at least one term on the condo board during the time that they are owners of a unit? Can we permit them to pay a fixed amount in lieu of not serving on the board? Read More
