The New England Condominium, The Condo, HOA & Co-op Monthly - Articles - 2010 August

Q&A: Can Condo Control Stuck Garage Door?

no@spam.com (Joseph Carleton, Esq. ) — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:42:29 EDT

My condo association wants to make it a rule that all garage doors must be closed at all times and cars cannot be left in the driveway. My garage door does not close or open properly in the winter time so I am forced to leave it open and my second garage is too small for my car. Since when is this part of the condo association's right to rule, when this is not a common area? What should I do?

Variety is Spice of Life in Oak Bluffs

no@spam.com (Jennifer Grosser) — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:39:53 EDT

At the second of two northern tips of the mostly triangular island of Martha’s Vineyard perches the town of Oak Bluffs. It is one of the smallest communities in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, but it packs a powerful personality. The name alone conjures up images of summer days and ice cream and windswept, tree-bordered beaches. Much of Martha’s Vineyard as a whole caters to the transient seasonal community, and Oak Bluffs is no different... but then again, maybe it is.

Welcoming New Board Members

no@spam.com (Hillary Pember) — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:39:11 EDT

Dear current board members and management team,

As a newly seated board member I wanted to let you know that I am a little unclear as to what my role and specific responsibilities involve. Having never served on a condo board I do not fully understand how meetings are run or how the governing process works. I will be honest; I am even reluctant to ask any questions until I feel a bit more comfortable with the group and the inner workings of the board. Can anyone help me transition?

Thank you in advance,

The new member of the board

Are You Seeing The Full Picture?

no@spam.com (Pat Gale) — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:38:23 EDT

With news of foreclosures raging about them and common fee delinquencies on the rise across the nation, condominium boards are taking a long, hard look at association expenses. But, professionals caution, boards should be wary about taking that red pen to the line item that reads “insurance.”

Are They Covered?

no@spam.com (Liz Lent) — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:37:38 EDT

Mistakes can happen. It’s a simple fact of life and a simple fact of doing business. That’s why issues of insurance are so important for condominium managers and boards. While it is easy enough to keep up to date on one’s own insurance, making sure the coverage of outside vendors and contractors is in order can be tricky. We all want to believe that our landscapers or snow removal teams or siding contractors are protected by insurance in the event of an accident, but it’s not always easy to be sure. And if coverage is not in place, that’s the kind of mistake that can lead to million-dollar problems for an association.

Household Hazards!

no@spam.com (Lisa Iannucci) — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:36:58 EDT

Mold – it’s an ugly four-letter word in more ways than one. Nobody wants to think about the fact that this fungus can be found anywhere where water leaks or drainage problems are present. Mold can cause serious damage to a condominium, like ruining drywall, and is believed to trigger numerous health problems in susceptible persons.

Not High and Dry

no@spam.com (Yvonnne Zipp) — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:25:12 EDT

In April, Massachusetts officials estimated it would take $38 million to repair the damage to infrastructure caused by the deluge, and tens of thousands of residents across the region applied for disaster relief from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).