2010 June
2010 May Vol. 8, No.6
Focus on...Law & Legislation
A Burning Issue
The late 1990s saw a surge of nationwide smoking restrictions put into effect.
With varying amounts of resistance and controversy, workplaces, shops,
theaters, restaurants and bars in a growing number of states—including New Jersey—all went smoke-free.
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2010 Legislative Update from Trenton
In today’s economic climate, budget woes abound and pretty much dominate the legislative
landscape in New Jersey and elsewhere. With Republican Governor Chris Christie
trying to stem the tide of a monumental $10.7 billion budget deficit,
legislation affecting housing has kind of taken a back seat to the current
fiscal crisis in the Garden State.
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Your Condo's Attorney
Whether large or small, a community association’s list of essential professionals includes its property manager, an accountant,
and a lawyer.
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Governor Christie's FY 2011 Budget Plan
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has proposed a Fiscal Year 2011 budget plan
of $29.3 billion that has many in the Garden State seeing red. Tens of
thousands of New Jerseyans rallied at the Statehouse in Trenton recently to
protest severe cutbacks imposed by Christie that slash education funding,
reduce aid to towns and cities, and mandate unpaid state employee furloughs.
With a projected 35,000 people in attendance, it was estimated to be the
largest rally in state history.
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Go Ahead, Sue Me!
Lawsuits are an unfortunate, expensive fact of life these days—chances are that at some point in your lifetime you’ll be involved in one to at least some degree. In you live in a condo or HOA,
legal issues arise all the time. Sometimes it’s the resident who sues the building for some grievance, other times it’s the building that goes after an individual resident. Maybe Jane Doe in unit 3A
is six months behind on common charges, or John Doe has consistently caused all
manner of trouble since moving into his apartment and feels that the
community's rules just don't apply to him.
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Summer Security
This summer, even with the lingering recession squashing some folks’ plans for elaborate, far-flung vacations, plenty of HOA residents will still
pack up for a few days to hit the shore, or perhaps go visit relatives in
nearby states.
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Raising the Bar
On May 20, Richard H. Steen became the 112th president of the New Jersey State
Bar Association (NJSBA), continuing the tradition that began in June of 1899,
when the NJSBA was launched in Atlantic City by 74 attorneys from around the
state.
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Homeowners Beware of the Swarm
It would be tough to understate the havoc caused by subterranean termites—each year, the destructive feeders cause some $5 billion to structures in the
U.S. That's more damage to homes than storms, fires, and earthquakes combined.
Fifty billion termites infest about one million homes each year (that's about
one in 30). And the problem can be insidious—termites can be hidden for 10 to 12 years before a swarm becomes visible.
Catastrophic events may make the evening news, but when it comes to the worst
annual widespread property damage, the silent destroyers, termites, top the
list.
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Q&A: Dues Going Up?
Recently our association dues went from $166 to $275, and the main reason we were given was that the last board was "corrupt" and money wasn't being allocated correctly. Another reason we were given was that others in the complex were not paying their dues. The charges in arrears total about $75,000. Is it legal for them to increase our dues because others were delinquent? We just want to know if we have a leg to stand on if we try to fight it. Read More
Q&A: Giving Power to Dear Old Dad?
We have a small condominium complex of 25 townhouses. One home is owned by the son of the resident. The son does not live in the home. He has given his father a note allowing him to act on his behalf, as owner of the property. Does this allow the father to serve on committees? Be elected to office? Surely, he does not have the financial concerns or common interests of an actual invested homeowner. Read More
