Pool openings. Tee times. Court reservations. Dock moorings. Playground use. These are just some of the recreational activities offered by community associations, especially on Long Island. Continue reading “Spring Clean Up: Are Your Community’s Amenities Risk-Ready for the Season?”
Tag: community boards
NEW — CAI-LONG ISLAND DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROGRAM
The Board of Directors of the Long Island Chapter of Community Associations Institute (CAI) is excited to offer a new service to its members: mediation services to help resolve disputes in community associations.
This service is available to help resolve disputes between two homeowners within a community, a Board and a homeowner, or a Board and a vendor. This program will begin in November 2019.
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ANNUAL MEETINGS AND ELECTIONS
Now that Spring is here, many community associations will start planning for their annual meeting.
Annual meetings are for more than providing information to the Community. They are also for electing Board Members who will be responsible for making the day to day decisions necessary to keep the finances and property in good order.
A well planned annual meeting and election is the key to finding good candidates and having a smooth transition and term for those elected. One way to begin the process of finding persons interested in running is to form a nominating committee. A nominating committee will seek candidates by canvassing the community, either in person or in writing, and assist the board in preparing the election materials prior to the annual meeting.
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AVOIDING “US v. THEM” – Part II – Transparency
We are often contacted by condominium, co-op and homeowners association boards when a homeowner or shareholder has requested copies of community documents such as financial records, contracts, homeowner contact information, etc.
The boards’ initial inclination, and direction to our office is often to do everything to prevent or limit such access. The homeowner may be a perpetual thorn in the side of the board – looking to criticize the board at every opportunity – and the instinctual approach is to “circle the wagons” and give the person as little ammunition as possible.
Continue reading “AVOIDING “US v. THEM” – Part II – Transparency”
Paws for Thought
Community association Board members may squawk at the idea of allowing pets in their no-pet community, or at making communities more pet-friendly, but instituting such changes should not necessarily be a concern.
Rather, Boards may want to consider implementing changes to their pet policies to accommodate the growing population of pet owners. In keeping with this trend, many community associations are creating amenities for pets, as well as imposing reasonable and workable restrictions on pets and their owners.
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AVOIDING “US v. THEM” PART I – INCLUSION
Too often, hardworking community association Boards find themselves at odds with their homeowners.
Conscientious Board members, who are volunteering their time, talents and energy to better the community, wonder why their efforts are unappreciated and why they are constantly under attack. The tendency is to “circle the wagons,” which only serves to perpetuate and exacerbate the feelings of animosity between board members and the constituents they are trying to serve.
Continue reading “AVOIDING “US v. THEM” PART I – INCLUSION”
A Community Association Ombudsman in New York
You may have read the recent article in CAI’s Common Ground magazine entitled “Man in the Middle” about community association ombudsmen in Nevada, Florida, Virginia and Colorado.[i]
An ombudsman is defined as “a public official appointed to investigate citizens’ complaints against local or national government agencies that may be infringing on the rights of individuals.”[ii] In the community association context, an ombudsman is frequently called on to help resolve disputes between irate homeowners and community Boards of Directors/Managers. The Common Ground article depicted the mixed reviews that the ombudsman office has received in these four states. Continue reading “A Community Association Ombudsman in New York”
