Florida Governor DeSantis recently allowed Executive Order No. 20-52, which originally declared a State of Emergency for the entire State on March 9, 2020 in response to confirmed COVID-19 cases in Florida, to expire after eight (8) extensions¹. …
Donna DiMaggio Berger Addresses Service Animal/ESA Challenge for Community Associations
Ensuring that a shared ownership community welcomes legitimate service animals and emotional support animals (ESAs) while protecting the group from fraudulent claims is one of the most complex issues facing volunteer boards today. Becker shareholder and executive director of the …
Special Taxing Districts Explained
Q: What is an “MSTU”? My neighborhood association, which is voluntary, is considering getting one set up to maintain our roads. (P.K., via e-mail)
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Fining Procedure Details Explored
Q: Fining for violations has always been confusing to me, since most fines are cumulative or compounding for each day the violation is not corrected. Should the due date be following correction of the violation or whatever date the …
Leasing Restrictions – Be Sure You Can Do What You Think You Can Do
For over a year, it would appear from the outside that the only issue Florida community associations have been dealing with is the pandemic. Those of us who work with, live in, or manage condominiums know this is not the …
Playing for Keeps – What Rights & Authority Is an HOA Developer (or Successor Developer) Allowed to Keep after Turnover?
For many Homeowners’ Association (“HOA”) owners and board members, the words “turnover” and “transition” are two of the most anxiously anticipated yet mysterious terms in community association lingo. Often used interchangeably, the phrases generally refer to the period of time …
Owner’s Pot-Bellied Pig Leads To Unusual Discrimination Lawsuit
An Ohio HOA recently learned the hard way that discrimination lawsuits arising out of pet restrictions aren’t limited to disability-related claims. That’s one lesson from the association’s attempts to remove a pig from its premises; the other is that poorly …
Is That Contractor Really an Employee?
The misclassification of an employee as an independent contractor can prove costly for employers — including both community associations and managers. So it was good news when the Trump administration finalized a rule that loosened the test for determining whether …
Community Association Q&A: Can An HOA Director Be Recalled?
Q: One of the directors on the board at my homeowners’ association needs to be removed. He is very belligerent to his fellow directors and other owners. He also rarely attends meetings and never contributes. What needs to happen …
Lee County Wants to Help Speed Up Hurricane Cleanup
Q: As a popular columnist for Condominium and HOA residents, can you assist Lee County in providing information for hurricane season 2021? (Betsy Clayton, Lee County Government)
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