Webinars

PLEASE NOTE: The programs on this page are NOT eligible for CEU credit or certificate of completion.
Click here to view our Class Library. 

Speakers:

Brett Fielo
Co-Founder, shyft

Andrea Wolkofsky
Co-Founder, shyft

Original Air Date:
1/09/24

Webinar: BeckerBALLOT Online Voting Platform – LIVE Demo!

Since 2016, Condominiums, Cooperatives and Homeowners’ Associations have been able to conduct votes electronically, including elections! If you haven’t implemented online voting in your community, think of all the postage, manpower, and sheer hassle that can be saved by utilizing BeckerBALLOT.com!

Electronic voting curbs voter fraud as it eliminates the possibility of stuffing a ballot box or removing ballots. The BeckerBALLOT.com voting platform will also open the door to unit owners who have been disenfranchised in the past by not being able to vote in an easy and timely fashion.

Sign up for one of our upcoming webinars and we will show you how easy and affordable BeckerBALLOT.com can be for your association!

This program is not eligible for CEU credit or certificate of completion.

Speakers:

Brett Fielo
Co-Founder, shyft

Andrea Wolkofsky
Co-Founder, shyft

Original Air Date:
12/11/23

Webinar: BeckerBALLOT Online Voting Platform – LIVE Demo!

Since 2016, Condominiums, Cooperatives and Homeowners’ Associations have been able to conduct votes electronically, including elections! If you haven’t implemented online voting in your community, think of all the postage, manpower, and sheer hassle that can be saved by utilizing BeckerBALLOT.com!

Electronic voting curbs voter fraud as it eliminates the possibility of stuffing a ballot box or removing ballots. The BeckerBALLOT.com voting platform will also open the door to unit owners who have been disenfranchised in the past by not being able to vote in an easy and timely fashion.

Sign up for one of our upcoming webinars and we will show you how easy and affordable BeckerBALLOT.com can be for your association!

This program is not eligible for CEU credit or certificate of completion.

Speakers:

Donna DiMaggio Berger
Shareholder, Becker

Senator Jennifer Bradley
Florida State Senator, District 6

Kenneth S. Direktor
Shareholder, Becker

Andrea Northrop
Vice President, Insurance Office of America

Original Air Date:
11/02/23

Webinar: Fixing Florida’s Property Insurance Crisis

An unprecedented number of property owners in the Sunshine State are being abruptly dropped by their long-time carriers. Others are seeing premium rates increase by as much as 200% (or more!) while having to replace their roofs or pay for other expensive upgrades just to stay insurable.

What can be done to fix this statewide crisis?

Becker is bringing together a prestigious panel of Florida property insurance experts to offer their legal, legislative, and insurance industry insider perspectives on the state of Florida’s insurance crisis and what can be done to protect property owners’ interests.

They’ll answer your most pressing questions:

  • How did Florida property insurance rates get so high?
  • How did Citizens, the state’s so-called insurer of last resort, become Florida’s biggest property insurer?
  • Is Self Insurance a viable option for Florida’s community associations?
  • What is the Florida legislature prepared to do to control skyrocketing insurance costs and diminishing coverage options, and what can and should be done going forward?
  • What role do community association managers and board members play in vetting insurance options?

This program is not eligible for CEU credit or certificate of completion.

Original Air Date:
09/19/23

Webinar: Out with the Old and In with the New: Upgrading Your Community Association Documents

Operating a community association with outdated governing documents is risky business. Your documents should be updated to stay current with the law and the operation as it has evolved under unit owner control, not under developer control. Also, there is a benefit to clarity in the documents, particularly as regards the allocation of maintenance and repair responsibilities. This webinar provides the tools you need to confidently bring your documents up-to-date.

You’ll walk away with:

  • Insights into the differences between operational, statutory, and policy amendments
  • A step-by-step guide to updating your governing documents
  • Practical strategies you can adopt to get the buy-in and votes you need for success

This program is not eligible for CEU credit or certificate of completion.

Original Air Date:
05/23/23

Webinar: Legislative Update 2023

In this course, participants will receive a review of the laws passed during the 2023 Legislative Session impacting condominiums, cooperatives, homeowner associations, timeshares and the community association management profession. It is designed to provide board members and community association managers with a working knowledge of the changes to the law to assist them in ensuring compliance within their community associations.

This program is not eligible for CEU credit or certificate of completion.

Speakers:

Original Air Date:
05/03/2023

Governor DeSantis recently signed Senate Bill 360 into law. This law’s stated purpose is to curtail frivolous construction defect lawsuits by significantly reducing the amount of time parties have to bring such lawsuits. However, the practical effect of this bill is likely to be an undermining of the safety requirements passed in the aftermath of the Surfside tragedy. Given how many communities are in the process of passing and collecting large special assessments to pay for repair and maintenance projects, it is more important than ever that your community association understand how to protect your rights in the event that such project goes awry. Board Certified Becker Construction Attorney Patrick C. Howell will explain how your community can protect itself.

This program is not eligible for CEU credit or certificate of completion.

Navigating the Storm of a Lifetime, Hurricane Ian: Where We Have Been, Where We Are, Where We Are Going

Please join Becker to review important information as to next steps and a way forward for your community. Join our esteemed panel of attorneys and guest speakers for an interactive discussion. We will cover the FEMA 50% rule, Zoning and Floodplain regulations, Handling Insurance Claims, Project Management, Emergency Powers, and more.

Specific Agenda Items will include:

  • Observations on State of State and Lee County Recovery; Business and Tourism Outlook
  • Association Lending; Trends and Credit Availability
  • Latest on the 50% Rule and Permitting
  • Insurance Issues: What Are the Rules When You Have Both Flood and Wind Damage; Claim Adjustment Process and Time Frame
  • Contract Management Legal Issues: Good and Bad Contracts; Avoiding Disputes and Liens; Role of Outside Professionals
  • Association Governance Issues: Who Insures and Pays for What; Special Assessments and Loss Assessment Coverage; Board Emergency Powers

CO-SPONSOR:
• Sanibel Captiva Community Bank

This program is not eligible for CEU credit or certificate of completion.

Navigating the Way Forward After Ian: Twists and Turns in the Road to Recovery

Please join Becker to review important information as to next steps and a way forward for your community. Join our esteemed panel of attorneys and guest speakers for an interactive discussion. We will cover the new law on property tax relief for Ian damaged properties FEMA 50% rule, Borrowing, Handling Insurance Claims, Project Management, Emergency Powers, and more.

Specific Agenda Items will include:

  • Florida’s New Property Tax Relief Statute
  • Association Lending; Trends and Credit Availability
  • Effects of Ian on Shorelines and Potential Regulatory Environment
  • Latest on the 50% Rule and Permitting
  • Insurance Issues: What Are the Rules When You Have Both Flood and Wind Damage; Claim Adjustment Process and Time Frame
  • Project Management Legal Issues: Good and Bad Contracts; Avoiding Disputes and Liens; Role of Outside Professionals
  • Association Governance Issues: Who Insures and Pays for What; Special Assessments and Loss Assessment Coverage; Board Emergency Powers

CO-SPONSORS:
• Condominium Associations of Fort Myers Beach (CAFMB)
• Sanibel Captiva Community Bank

This program is not eligible for CEU credit or certificate of completion.

Rebuilding The Islands After Ian: What We Know, What We Don’t Know, What We Expect

Please join Becker to review important information as to next steps and a way forward for your community. Join our esteemed panel of attorneys and guest speakers for an interactive discussion. We will cover the FEMA 50% rule, Borrowing, Handling Insurance Claims, Project Management, Emergency Powers, and more. Specific Agenda Items will include:

  • Observations on State of Sanibel/Captiva Recovery; Business and Tourism Outlook
    Association Lending; Trends and Credit Availability
  • Boots on the Ground; What Are the Biggest Challenges and Concerns of Island Associations
    Latest on the 50% Rule and Permitting
  • Insurance Issues: What Are the Rules When You Have Both Flood and Wind Damage; Claim Adjustment Process and Time Frame
  • Project Management Legal Issues: Good and Bad Contracts; Avoiding Disputes and Liens; Role of Outside Professionals
  • Association Governance Issues: Who Insures and Pays for What; Special Assessments and Loss Assessment Coverage; Board Emergency Powers

CO-SPONSORS:
• Island Management Group
• Sanibel Captiva Community Bank
• Condominium Associations of Sanibel Island (CASI)

This program is not eligible for CEU credit or certificate of completion.

The webinar is designed to teach volunteer board members and managers what concerns they should be aware of and what steps they need to take when new development near an existing community is contemplated and ultimately undertaken.

Panelists will discuss:

  • What an existing community can do to mitigate the impact of new construction
  • The importance of starting early in the process when construction is proposed
  • The contents of a cooperation agreement
  • The respective roles of local government and developers
  • Communicating with your residents

This program is not eligible for CEU credit or certificate of completion.

Original Air Date:
10/25/2022

In this webinar, association employers will hear about changes in the employment landscape that impact them as employers. This webinar will also touch on recurring issues that associations face with personnel and best practices for handling them.

Those who attend will learn about:

  • Legal trends affecting the association workplace
  • Independent contractor classification and the new DOL rule (independent contractor versus employee)
  • Drug testing and medical marijuana
  • Worker shortages and issues with hiring, at-will
  • Personnel issues that routinely impact associations
  • Employment contracts and why employment contracts can be important
  • Failing to document performance issue and not understanding compliance issues
  • Best practices for handling routine personnel issues
  • Protecting employees from abuse
  • Terminations, severance agreements, performance reviews, and employee handbook – tools of the trade

This program is not eligible for CEU credit or certificate of completion.

This course will address how aged infrastructure, insurance costs, maintenance costs, budgeting and reserve requirements, and real estate values have caused incremental changes in the Condominium Act and in attitudes towards making condominium termination more available. The course will include discussion aimed at setting practical expectations as to when and how a condominium termination might arise. The course will also cover how governing documents influence termination options and how amendments addressing condominium termination may be beneficial.

Participant Objectives:

  • Learn how the Florida condominium building boom of the 1960s through the 1980s has set the stage for a wave of redevelopment.
  • Learn how routine and compulsory inspections, maintenance requirements, reserve and budgeting obligations, and insurance availability can tip the scales in favor of condominium termination and redevelopment.
  • Learn about the important changes to Fla. Stat. §718.117 from pre-2007 to the present and also how governing documents still remain very significant in condominium terminations.
  • Learn about why waiting or holding out too long before terminating an aged condominium can present problems.
  • Learn how new ideas are being circulated to try to make it possible for condominium associations to interface with the redevelopment market.
  • Learn about how attitudes in response to SB4D are influencing termination discussions.

This program is not eligible for CEU credit or certificate of completion.

Original Air Date:
10/11/2022

Join us for this highly anticipated webinar about the different methods of covenant enforcement, how to enforce covenants and collect fines, and what the possible defenses to enforcement are that an association could face.

This program is not eligible for CEU credit or certificate of completion.

Original Air Date:
8/23/2022

In this informative webinar, we cover what to expect in the event your community is damaged by a casualty event, such as a hurricane. Hear from Community Association Shareholder Jay Roberts, Construction Law & Litigation Shareholder Aaron Pruss, and Public Adjuster Joseph Connelly of Association Adjusting. They approach the conversation from their unique industry perspectives while walking you through the various issues to consider during the casualty insurance claims process.

This program is not eligible for CEU credit or certificate of completion.

Original Air Date:
8/18/2022

In this webinar, we cover everything you need to know about electronic voting for your condo/HOA in New York/New Jersey, and how moving to electronic voting can save your association time and money.

Join us to hear from experts in community association law and electronic voting software talk about why it’s beneficial for your association to move away from paper ballots and utilize software to conduct your association votes.

Topics Covered:

  • The specific voting laws in your state.
  • What items you’ll need to consider before making the move.
  • What financial impact this could have for your association.

This program is not eligible for CEU credit or certificate of completion.

Speaker:

Original Air Date:
8/11/2022

There is a lot of confusion when it comes to obtaining a loan as a community association. This webinar is intended to clear the confusion and provide you with the necessary tools to obtain a loan.

Topics Covered:

  • What is and is not collateral for a community association loan.
  • What type of loan documents to avoid.
  • The borrowing process from beginning to end.
  • When to get your attorney involved.

This program is not eligible for CEU credit or certificate of completion.

Original Air Date:
7/28/2022

This webinar covers how, and to what extent, Constitutional Law impacts actions taken by community associations. Joseph Adams and Jay Roberts discusses the general applicability of the Constitution, what a “state actor” is and why that matters, and how the courts have discussed the extent to which the Constitution impacts actions taken by private community associations.

Topics Covered:

  • The general applicability of the Constitution.
  • What a “state actor” is and why that matters.
  • How the courts have discussed the extent to which the Constitution impacts actions taken by private community associations.

This program is not eligible for CEU credit or certificate of completion.

Original Air Date:
6/29/2022

SB 4D includes significant obligations relating to building inspections and reserve funding and boards are required to comply with the 2022 law by the statutory deadlines. Yet SB 4D is somewhat complicated and will need to be studied, digested and fully understood.

Join Becker attorneys, Donna DiMaggio Berger, Steven Mezer, and Robert Caves for a panel discussion that will address these nuanced issues and answer directors’ and managers’ questions including:

  • We had an engineering report performed in the last two years. Will this count as our milestone inspection?
  • Can members still waive reserves for painting and paving?
  • Can we no longer have pooled reserves?
  • What if the reserve company we have doesn’t have an engineer or architect on staff?
  • We have a monetary cap in our governing documents on how much we can increase our budget. What now?
  • What if all these costs increase our assessments by more than 15% of the prior year’s assessments?
  • What if our members simply cannot pay to fund these new reserves or the repairs outlined in the Milestone Inspection?
  • What are the potential penalties under this 2022 law for being in breach of one’s fiduciary duties?

This program is not eligible for CEU credit or certificate of completion.

SB 4D includes significant obligations relating to building inspections and reserve funding and boards are required to comply with the 2022 law by the statutory deadlines. Yet SB 4D is somewhat complicated and will need to be studied, digested and fully understood.

Join Becker attorneys, Donna DiMaggio Berger, Steven Mezer, and Robert Caves for a panel discussion that will address these nuanced issues and answer directors’ and managers’ questions including:

  • We had an engineering report performed in the last two years. Will this count as our milestone inspection?
  • Can members still waive reserves for painting and paving?
  • Can we no longer have pooled reserves?
  • What if the reserve company we have doesn’t have an engineer or architect on staff?
  • We have a monetary cap in our governing documents on how much we can increase our budget. What now?
  • What if all these costs increase our assessments by more than 15% of the prior year’s assessments?
  • What if our members simply cannot pay to fund these new reserves or the repairs outlined in the Milestone Inspection?
  • What are the potential penalties under this 2022 law for being in breach of one’s fiduciary duties?

This program is not eligible for CEU credit or certificate of completion.

This is the first in a series of programs Becker will host on this important topic. We will break it down into several components and bring in the foremost industry experts to help associations comply with the 2022 law by the statutory deadlines. Visit FLBuildingSafety.com for more information!

Original Air Date:
4/20/2022

Following a legislative session that is best known for what did not happen, this webinar gleans a few measures that are worth noting, with some additional discussion about what might be coming up in special sessions.

Topics to be discussed:.

  • An amendment to the Marketable Record Title Act (MRTA).
  • How to properly display flags in communities. What does “respectful manner” really mean?
  • The trials and tribulations of tree removal.
  • Miya’s Law, which supports tenant safety by requiring landlords to perform criminal background checks for some employees.
  • What constitutes unlawful protest in front of a dwelling?
  • Exemptions to requirements about curbing excessive water and fertilization use for golf course irrigation and emergency situations.
  • Measures that might phase out residential solar.
  • Mandated inspection reports. What are the responsibilities on the part of board members?
  • Changes in reserves and how they might be funded.
  • The importance of board members disclosing reserve studies.

This program is not eligible for CEU credit or certificate of completion.

Original Air Date:
12/14/2021

Many associations are looking to undertake major renovation and repair projects in 2022 and special assessments will be needed in many cases to fund those projects. Our webinar will answer your questions about the process your board must follow to levy a special assessment, how to structure that special assessment in a manner that addresses your association’s needs while not overlooking the owners’ ability to pay as well as the processes to deal with owners who fail to pay and handling any common surplus after the purpose for which the special assessment was passed has been completed. Let us walk you through the special assessment minefield and provide practical guidance on protecting the association.

Topics to be discussed:

  • Authority for Special Assessments
  • Process of Adopting Special Assessments
  • General Considerations

In this webinar, we will discuss options available to community associations seeking to enforce their governing documents and defenses commonly raised by homeowners opposing actions by the association. There will also be a discussion regarding the recent changes to Florida Statutes and considerations for associations when pursuing different remedies.

Topics include:

  • Changes to Florida Statutes Providing for Presuit Mediation for Condominium Disputes
  • Mediation, Arbitration, Litigation Explained
  • Fining and Suspension Procedures, a Trap for the Unwary
  • What is Self-Help and is it a Good Idea?
  • Estoppel, Waiver, Selective Enforcement and Other Defenses

This program is not eligible for CEU credit or certificate of completion.

Original Air Date:
9/23/2021

Learn why it’s important for condo and community associations to have “good governing documents” and how that is the starting point for effective enforcement. Some of the topics covered will include:

  • Maintenance Responsibilities
  • Conflicts within governing documents and with the statutes
  • Sale and Lease Restrictions
  • Material Alterations

Speakers:

Richard Rodriguez

Regan Marock

Original Air Date:
8/19/2021

Property and Casualty Insurance is one of the largest line items on every association’s budget. With rates continually on the rise, it’s important for board members and managers to learn how to maximize the benefit and manage risk to avoid costly and unnecessary expense.

Topics include:

  • What can an association do to keep its insurance rates from rising?
  • Does notice to the insurance company of a potential claim (threat of lawsuit) increase the premium?
  • How often should an insurance agent visit / inspect the property?
  • What is the manager’s role in mitigating risk and processing an insurance claim?
  • Should the association’s attorney be given notice when an insurance claim is filed?
  • What can an association do to have their insurance claim paid as quickly as possible?

Has a prospective vendor presented your association with a standard one-size-fits all contract? Before signing on the dotted line, watch the replay of a discussion dedicated to successfully navigating the boilerplate provisions of a commercial contract. We discuss the importance of key contract clauses, why you should think twice before signing a vendor’s typical agreement, and what your options are for addressing provisions either through a new contract or via addendum.

Contract terms highlighted include:

  • Time for completion or schedule of services
  • Payment terms
  • Detailed specifications for work or services to be provided
  • Vendor insurance
  • Indemnity
  • Venue and prevailing party attorney’s fees
  • Termination

Original Air Date:
3/16/2021

While the complexity of a community association construction project cannot be overstated, it is possible to successfully navigate the entire process.

Becker attorneys Ken Direktor and Steve Lesser welcome experienced construction management pro James LaGreca DSS Condos to discuss just how it’s done.

You’ll learn how to stay in the driver’s seat of your project, implement innovative new approaches to construction – created from the association’s perspective and designed to protect the unit owners’ interests – and manage costs throughout the projects’ timeline.

Topics include:

  • Effective Communication
  • Document Management
  • Proposal Evaluation
  • Budget Estimation & Management
  • Establishing Realistic Goals & Timelines
  • Common Mistakes (Planning, Design, Contract, Construction)

The adoption and enforcement of rules are the means by which a community defines and preserves a lifestyle. Consistency in enforcement is critical and has never been more critical than it is now, during a life-threatening pandemic. Board members and property managers need to be aware of their responsibility to enforce the rules and how to handle violations when they occur. As always, Becker is here to offer guidance to help ensure the health, safety, and quality of life in your community.

Topics include:

  • Occupancy and use of Amenities by Guests and Visitors
  • Health & Safety Protocols such as Face Coverings and Social Distancing
  • Legislating and Enforcing Civility
  • Maintenance Standards
  • Rental Restrictions in the Era of Short Term Rentals

Original Air Date:
3/16/2021

While the complexity of a community association construction project cannot be overstated, it is possible to successfully navigate the entire process.

Becker attorneys Ken Direktor and Steve Lesser welcome experienced construction management pro James LaGreca DSS Condos to discuss just how it’s done.

You’ll learn how to stay in the driver’s seat of your project, implement innovative new approaches to construction – created from the association’s perspective and designed to protect the unit owners’ interests – and manage costs throughout the projects’ timeline.

Topics include:

  • Effective Communication
  • Document Management
  • Proposal Evaluation
  • Budget Estimation & Management
  • Establishing Realistic Goals & Timelines
  • Common Mistakes (Planning, Design, Contract, Construction)

When was the last time you thoroughly reviewed your governing documents?

The Statute changes over time. New court rulings can change the legal landscape. What worked for your developer or for a community 20, 30 or 40 years ago may no longer work for you today. This is why your documents must evolve to reflect these changes.

Our education webinar covers where updates and amendments are possible and how to ensure your documents reflect the expectations and lifestyle of your community.

The holidays are a time for celebration and cheer, but, just like everything else, they’ll look a little bit different this year. Join members of our Community Association Practice for a discussion on how boards and managers can safely navigate this holiday season in the midst of a pandemic.

Questions include:

  • Should an association hold an all-resident holiday party this year?
  • What restrictions should apply to owners holding gatherings in their units or in common elements?
  • When can quarantine requirements be imposed?
  • Who should be permitted to use the common amenities?
  • How should boards balance COVID-19 fatigue and continue appropriate restrictions?

Watch the replay of this timely webinar that answered frequently asked questions that are front and center during this hotly contested campaign season. It’s easy to misstep if you don’t know New Jersey law.

Topics Covered:

  • Can owners in condos and individual homes display political signs?
  • If so, where can those signs be displayed?
  • Are American flags modified to convey a political statement protected by federal law?
  • What about signs saying Black Lives Matter or All Lives Matter?
  • What if your governing documents say no signs are permitted?
  • Can the Board adopt rules limiting the display of signs?

Original Air Date:
9/23/2020

The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs published new regulations in May of this year that are causing much anxiety and raising many questions. During this webinar, participants will learn about the new election and voting procedures required, as well as how electronic voting is one way to reduce the paperwork and stress.  Further, the panelists will discuss how DCA has tinkered with long standing law concerning open board meetings, notices of those meetings, and methods for removing sitting board members.

Topics Covered:

  • The Radburn Election Law v. The New DCA Regulations
  • CAI’s Appeal of the New Regulations
  • Elections and Voting – What’s New
  • Nominations and Candidate Qualifications
  • Owners Viewing the Ballot Count
  • What You Need to Know About Electronic Balloting
  • The Rest:
    • Voting in Executive Board Meetings
    • Notice of Board Meetings
    • Petitions for Board Member Removal

Speakers:

Joseph Connelly

Kelly Johnson

Original Air Date:
9/17/2020

Every community association will experience property damage during its lifespan. In addition to windstorms, fires and floods, there are everyday issues such as water leaks that can cause significant damage. Watch the replay of a panel discussion on what community associations need to do to prepare, manage, and successfully recover from the unexpected.

Discussion included:

  • Steps to take to protect life and property
  • Who pays (maintenance damage vs. casualty damage)
  • How to document a claim
  • How insurers determine the value of a claim
  • The role of independent public adjusters

Original Air Date:
7/30/2020

As Florida’s COVID-19 numbers continue to rise, how do volunteer boards safeguard community residents and navigate guidelines and protocols? What can a board do in response to the COVID-19 pandemic? How can your professionals assist the board in these processes?

Watch the replay of this in-depth discussion with leading experts from Becker, AKAM, USI Insurance Services and The Water Restoration Group.

  • Our esteemed panelists candidly discuss:
  • How can a board safeguard its residents and its employees?
  • Can a community operate with stricter provisions than emergency orders?
  • Can an employer/association require an employee to take a COVID-19 test or inquire about medical information?
  • How will insurance coverage and costs be affected due to the pandemic?
  • What are the components and complexities of the sanitization process and why does it matter?
  • What is the board’s legal liability for decisions made during the COVID-19 crisis?

Original Air Date:
7/27/2020

All types of community associations throughout Florida implemented strict protocols in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. These protocols included, in many cases, restricting entry to nonessential visitors, shutting down common areas and recreational amenities and requiring the use of facial coverings. As the push to reopen the economy continues while Florida’s COVID-19 numbers show no sign of letting up soon, the big question is – how do volunteer boards and their management professionals safeguard community residents in the months ahead?

Our esteemed panelists will candidly discuss:

  • Do we need to reverse course on certain reopened amenities and relaxed protocols?
  • Is there anything else we can do to minimize the spread of the virus other than wearing masks or installing Sanitizer Stations?
  • What are the components and complexities of the sanitization process, why does it matter and who should pay for it?
  • What are our enforcement options?
  • How do we mitigate our potential liability and what role does insurance play?

Speakers:

Original Air Date:
7/9/2020

For over 30 years the regulatory language regarding a developer’s formation of the initial budgets for community associations in New Jersey has left a lot to the imagination and has led to endless disputes between association boards and developers during the transition process.

After extensive collaboration between a task force comprised of professionals from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA), the New Jersey Chapter of the Community Associations Institute (CAI), and the New Jersey Builders Association (NJBA), the agreed upon changes are in the process of being included within the Planned Real Estate Development Full Disclosure Act Regulations (PRED, NJAC 5:26-8.6 and 8.7).

The members of the task force who worked on these changes led a webinar discussion to review what this means for you and your association.

Speakers explore questions such as:

• Why are the changes important?
• What does “Adequate” mean when it comes to Reserve Study’s?
• What are the requirements for updating the initial Reserve Study?
• Does the phrase “Benefit Derived” matter anymore?
• How can working capital contributions by the original buyer’s be used by the developer-controlled board?
• How will these changes help smooth out the Transition process?
• If your association is under developer control, will the new regulations impact you?

The fluid nature of the pandemic, mixed with oftentimes inconsistent guidelines from all levels of government, has led to understandable confusion. Becker Community Association Shareholders explore the continuing state of emergency powers throughout Florida, best practices to follow when reopening facilities, how to handle allowing access to outside guests and contractors, and other timely topics.

Original Air Date:
5/20/2020

Community associations, country clubs, retail owners, and mixed-use facilities have all implemented strict protocols in response to COVID-19, including restricting access to common areas and shared amenities. As owners begin to look ahead to reopening many of these spaces, the big question is – how do they do so safely? Becker attorneys are joined by experts from Signal Restoration, a leading provider of commercial sanitization services, to explore important questions on what owners need to know about reopening facilities.

Original Air Date:
5/15/2020

Becker Shareholders Donna DiMaggio Berger and Joy Mattingly joined Affinity Management Services Co-Founder Raphael Aquino for “The Bounce Back: Safeguarding Your Community Association’s Financial Health in a COVID-19 Climate,” a webinar. The panelists discussed how the COVID-19 pandemic has caused many tenants, property managers, and business owners across the country to take some financial hits. They also addressed how to navigate tenants with financial difficulties, and how to manage your associations’ collection policy while grappling with after effects of COVID-19.

The COVID-19 virus has substantially impacted all types of community associations throughout Florida. From closing amenities, to limiting access by non-residents, taking in travelers from other parts of the country, including those deemed “hot spots”, and reacting to the endless flow of emergency and executive orders from the state, counties, and municipalities, associations across Florida have struggled to adapt to this highly fluid situation. Join us for an in-depth panel discussion on how we think the landscape will evolve in the coming weeks.