2010 October
2010 October Vol. 8, No.10
Focus on...Association Operations
Put it in Writing
The sitting president of a Connecticut condo board recently approached the
property manager with a proposition: If he saw to it that her contractor
boyfriend was awarded certain jobs in the building, the property manager would
receive a tidy kickback. Ken Kohnle, working with Elite Property Management,
LLC, based in Farmington, Connecticut, ended the relationship with that
building. He said it was the “most shocking” of ethical breaches he’d seen in 22 years of business.
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"Everybody Out!"
One of the most important recurring themes New Jersey Cooperator readers are
likely to encounter in these pages is that of communication; between board and
manager, between association administrators and residents, and between
neighbors. When communication breaks down, or administrators discard
transparency, building operations and community morale tend to suffer.
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Tough Calls
Board members find themselves acting as referees so often, some may feel like
they're wearing black-and-white striped shirts. Maybe they're mired in the
middle of a conflict between homeowners because one group of gardening
enthusiasts is at odds with a group of parents over whether to use a limited
space to grow flowers or install play equipment. Another day might find them
settling a dispute between two unit owners who are about to duel over noise or
food odors.
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Mind Your Manners, Mr. Board President
The job of a co-op or condo board member seems pretty straightforward: have
meetings, take votes on this or that item of business, approve checks, keep an
eye on the budget, and so forth.
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Emergency Plans
While calamities like fires, floods, and tornadoes can happen almost anywhere
and impact anybody, thankfully most condo and HOA residents will never have to
deal with such a major emergency. That doesn't mean that boards, managers,
staff members, and unit owners shouldn't be ready, however. In fact, the
unpredictability and suddenness of emergency situations make it all the more
crucial that HOAs formulate clear, concise emergency plans and see to it that
everyone knows them.
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Diverse By Design
When Mohammed Hameeduddin was elected Mayor of Teaneck last July, he became the
first Muslim mayor in Bergen County history. He won that seat by edging out
Deputy Mayor Lizette Parker, who had hoped to make similar history by becoming
the township’s first female African-American mayor.
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Forget the Woods
New Jerseyans have the most of everything. The highest population density, the
densest system of highways and railroads, the most major shopping malls in a
25-mile radius, the most TV reality shows, and even the highest concentration
of 24-hour diners.
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Q&A: Reserve Fund Limits?
Is there an upper limit to how much money can be accumulated in the reserve account to avoid income taxes? Read More
Q&A: What to Do About a Law-Breaking Board?
We have a condo board which allegedly ignores, breaks, and applies bylaws inconsistently. They also make up bylaws, have not monitored our insurance policies for at least two years and have not taken action on a couple of safety issues, namely, front steps that are difficult to see and stones that roll from the garden into the driveway causing trips and falls. Read More
