Q: What constitutes a conflict of interest for a board member in their role of representing and making decisions on behalf of the condominium association? (S.W., via e-mail)
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A Primer on Mixed-Use Communities and Condo Hotels with Becker Attorney Allison Hertz
Living in mixed-use communities and condo hotels offers certain conveniences but can also pose unique challenges that require careful consideration. In this episode of Take It To The Board, host Donna DiMaggio Berger teams up …
Enforcement Consistency Issues Explored
I am on the board of a 54 home HOA. One of the owners has basically all plants in his front yard. That has been that way since I moved into the community 14 years ago. I don’t believe …
Ideal Board Composition Questioned
Q: During our recent condominium association board meeting, we received questions about how the number of board members impacts our effectiveness. Is having an odd number of members important to avoid tie votes? And, does having an even number, …
Important Insights from Florida’s Former Condominium Ombudsman
Our last episode of Take It To The Board involved a discussion with an owner in a luxury high-rise who had become disenchanted with some of the governance issues in his community. Today’s episode takes us further on …
Perils and Pitfalls of Social Media in Community Associations
Social media has transformed the way people communicate. In restaurants you can look around and see people “dining together” while on their cell phone. I was at a movie theater this weekend and even noticed the white glow of cell …
Condominium Termination: Don’t Let the End Catch You by Surprise
We all know how condominiums begin—with renderings, design and finishing selections, friendly sales agents, and, of course, so many documents. However, once a condominium becomes an aging project, particularly one rife with escalating maintenance needs and expenses, it is worth …
Can 55+ Communities Avoid Compliance With Federal Laws Which Prohibit Age and Familial Status Discrimination?
In 1988, Congress added “familial status” – defined to include those family groups with children under 18 – to the list of protected groups under the Fair Housing Act (“FHA”). Since that time, condominiums and homeowner’s associations have been discovering …
New Hurricane Protection Law Questioned
Q: What is the penalty, if any, for a Florida condo association that refuses to adopt hurricane protection specifications? We have none and there is no interest in doing so. Seems to fall into “they won’t find out about …
Life on The Other Side – A Resident’s Candid Take on Condo Living and Community Governance
Everyone knows that boards and management are the decision makers in community associations—but what’s it like to be on the receiving end of those choices?
In this week’s episode of Take It To The Board, …