June 2008 Vol. 6, No. 6

The June 2008 issue of The New Jersey Cooperator newspaper focuses on Law & Legislation.
In this issue, you can read about pet rules and restrictions, legislative update, boards gone wild and staff safety.
Visit our archives to see other articles that were published in 2008.
News Briefs
- 7.14.08 The price of oil may be in the ozone, but even up there every cloud has a silver lining. For Mig Halpine, $135 or so a barrel simply means “a faster payback for our solar panels” [NY Times]
- 7.08.08 Apartment dwellers in New York City have long endured the trauma of jackhammers, Manolo Blahniks, recycling trucks, sirens, canines and air-conditioning systems. [NY Times]
- 7.08.08 As the economy goes down and crime goes up, more gated communities are bypassing clickers for stickers. [Palm Beach Post]
- 6.27.08 IT was clear from the day he got his driver’s license where Louis Cerone was going to hang out at the Jersey Shore. [NY Times]
- 6.12.08 In real estate lingo, there is a delicately worded phrase used by brokers to describe a renovation tailored too closely to its owner’s taste: The place is too, ahem, specific. [NY Times]
- 6.02.08 The ruling hinged on the definition on the proposed 75-foot buildings, which would each have 15 units. nj.com
- 4.02.08 Harsh economic realities have prompted the Esplanade's developers to break a fundamental promise made to Cobb and dozens of his neighbors - that they would be free to grow old in a community of their peers [Boston.com]
- 4.1.08 In any real estate market, the question is asked, in voices both low and loud: What exactly do those brokers do for their 6 percent commission? [NY Times]
- 2.28.08 Headlines in the media from the Community Associations Institute. [CAIonline.org]
- 2.25.08 Every unit owner in a condominium association should be thoroughly familiar with the association's master deed and bylaws. [Northjersey.com]
Featured Articles
Protecting Workers, Preventing Injuries
A building or community’s onsite staff and workers are an integral part of any co-op, condo or HOA. As they go about their daily duties on behalf of your board and residents, your workers must be provided with a safe working environment as well as any necessary equipment they need to keep them safe on the job. Protecting workers before injury occurs is the first step in keeping them safe and avoiding costly workers’ compensation claims. Read More
What Happens when a Board Abuses its Power?
Condo and HOA residents often complain that their board doesn’t do enough, or that the board members aren’t involved as much as residents would like in the administration and maintenance of their community. While a disinterested or apathetic board is certainly a problem, going to the other extreme—becoming an overbearing, Big Brotherish cabal—can be just as bad, or worse. Read More
A Look at What's On Deck in Trenton
Each legislative session in the New Jersey Senate usually includes at least one bill or proposal related to housing, or one that impacts the state’s HOAs. There were several such bills introduced this past year—some of which were allowed to continue their journey toward ratification, and others that just couldn’t catch a break, no matter how long ago they were first suggested to the assembled lawmakers. Read More
Pet Rules and Regulations
For anyone who has ever taken in a stray, won a goldfish at a county fair, or indulged a pleading child with an impossibly cute kitten, the disarming charm a pet holds over its owner is self-evident. A pet becomes more than just a presence about the house, it is a loyal companion, and for many people, an extended member of the family. But in communal living situations, like in condos and HOAs, the issue of pet rules and restrictions is vital. One person’s joy must not become another’s burden. So lay out the ground rules before the situation becomes hairy—or furry, as the case may be. Read More

