2011 November
2011 November Vol. 9, No.11
Focus on...Building Maintenance
Furry Pests
The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife says that there are over 800
species of wildlife living in the Garden State, and while most of them will
never been seen on association properties, it seems that others are showing up
more than ever before.
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Breathing Easy
Keeping indoor air clean is critical to maintaining a healthy environment. The
inner workings of a building’s operating system is often a mystery to the untrained person or board member.
Since it’s easier to determine the cleanliness of common rooms such as garbage and
recycling areas, more attention is often paid to keeping these shared spaces
sanitary. However, there are no federal or state guidelines that require a
building to have its air ducts cleaned, for example, and these systems often
need attention because danger could be brewing from within.
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On the Up-and-Up
Like the automobile, the residential elevator is a mechanical marvel—and a fairly recent invention. If you’re a board member, a manager or just a unit owner of an urban or suburban co-op
or condo development, chances are you probably use an elevator every day. We’ve all seen those elevator inspection reports but chances are that we don’t think about the inner workings of elevators very much. And it seems like the
only times that elevators make the news is when something goes wrong, like the
time a Chinese-food deliveryman was stuck for three days inside an elevator in
a Bronx high-rise.
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Be Prepared
No one would deny New Jerseyans are tough. But even the most stoic Garden State
resident shivers a bit when the first signs of winter settle over the state.
The inevitable arrival of snow and ice take their toll not only on the people
of the East Coast, but on their homes as well. From high rises to townhouses to
community association bungalows, every home must be protected against the
onslaught of winter weather that can damage pipes, roofs, windows and
sidewalks. For the men and women whose job it is to make sure that damage is
minimal—or ideally, nonexistent—preparations start early and require and ongoing vigilance.
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Holiday Harmony
Holidays are usually synonymous with good cheer, smiles, and a festive
atmosphere—but occasionally, they can be the cause of friction and ill will as well. When
people of various faiths and traditions all live in the same high-rise building
or HOA, rules and aesthetics for holiday decorating have to take into account
the whole community—not just those members who happen to be a part of the dominant culture. Good
boards and managers tread carefully and are mindful of their associations'
diverse residents when it comes to mapping out policy for holiday decorating in
common areas such as lobbies, garages, hallways and balconies.
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Maintaining a Building's Infrastructure
In many ways, a building’s boiler is like the heart is to the body: it provides heat and circulation; it
works unseen; and if properly maintained, it will function well for decades
without a problem. Maintaining the heat source of the community is as important
and as specific as the care people take in watching their weight and their
cholesterol levels. And when the weather gets colder and a building’s boiler is taxed harder, it is crucial for the boiler to be maintained well,
and for it to be running at optimal efficiency. Failing to do so will
inevitably put added strain on the machine and end in a breakdown.
Read More
Winter Cleaning
For building owners and managers in the Garden State, winter weather not only
refers to the white stuff that falls out of the sky—but rather, the white stuff that collects in a building’s lobby and is also deposited on their many sidewalks, roadways and parking lots. But
luckily for these owners and property managers, a variety of services and
products exist that can eliminate the headaches caused by the various forms of
winter precipitation.
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Keeping it Zen
Managing a condominium or cooperative building would be a piece of cake… if weren’t for all those people.
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Clifton, New Jersey
Situated a mere 10 miles from the “Big Apple,” Clifton is a delightfully diverse community that does not fit the mold of the
average commuter town. While a sizable number of residents do commute to “the city,” a majority of residents work within driving distance of their homes. Some
residents hardly ever go to New York, and in fact there are even some who've
lived in Clifton all their lives and have never even set foot in the metropolis
only 35 minutes away. That may sound incredulous, but trust me as a former
resident of Clifton, it's true.
Read More
Q&A: No Quorum and the Same Board
What happens when there is no quorum at a shareholders meeting and therefore there is no election for new board members? The same board has remained in my condo for many, many years without a chance for us to vote them out. Isn't there a law against this? Read More
