New England Condominium magazine - Articles

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).

Q&A: What if Secret Ballots Aren't Secret?

no@spam.com (Joseph D. Saurino Esq.) — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 16:10:55 EDT

Our Massachusetts condo complex is composed of three phases with a separate board for each phase. In two of the phases, the board is elected at the annual meeting with a secret ballot. In my phase, the last of the three, unit owners are required to sign their name and unit number on the ballot before being checked in at the meeting. This requirement was not in the condo docs, but was passed by the board about two years ago. (Unit owners are afraid to vote for anyone not on the current board as their life would not be worth living). Many unit owners are unhappy with this situation, but havebeen afraid to complain to the board. Also, only one unit owner, appointed by the board, counts the ballots; in the past there were three. I feel it is not an election when it is not a secret ballot.

"Other-miniums"

no@spam.com (Susan Philips Plese) — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 16:09:56 EDT

It’s not your Daddy’s condominium any more.

A Rash of Thefts

no@spam.com (Yvonnne Zipp) — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 16:09:14 EDT

Given recent headlines, condo associations could be forgiven for thinking they need to put an armed guard and razor wire around the petty cash box. A wave of fraud appears to be hitting condominiums from New England to Florida and beyond.