2010 Feb
2010 February Vol. 8 No. 2
Focus on...Board/Owner Relations
Anger Management
For most people, “foaming at the mouth” is just an expression. Attorney Ellen Hirsch de Haan has encountered the real
thing – and not at an animal shelter, but at a condominium owners’ meeting.
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Civilian Again
For board members, the time spent serving their association and fellow residents
can be among the most strenuous yet rewarding periods in their lives. For
years, they make decisions that affect their community in the present and may
continue to impact them years down the road.
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On and Off the Record
To disclose or not to disclose? That is the question community association
boards wrestle with on a regular basis. If homeowners want to see the
association’s financial records, should the books be open to them? What about a list of
owners who are in arrears with their condo fees? Or details of the current
snowplowing contract? Should boards let neighbors know that a registered sex
offender has moved into the community? What if an association employee is under
investigation for stealing or other criminal activity?
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Overdue Overhaul
On July 1, 2010, a variety of sweeping changes to Connecticut’s Common Interest Ownership Act will take effect, and associations throughout
the state will need to change the way they approach building management. “It’s the biggest change to Connecticut condo law in 25 years,” says attorney Adam J. Cohen, the chairman of community law with Pullman & Comley in Bridgeport.
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A Matter of Trust
Few things can be as upsetting as discovering that the dollars and cents that fuel a community association have
been mishandled or worse yet, stolen.
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Portland, Maine
Four million people visit Portland, Maine each year. But don’t picture lobster bibs and sunburned summer tourists. The largest city in Maine
is not known for its fish shacks, candy stores or beaches. The center of both
commerce and culture in Maine, Portland is a thriving small cosmopolitan city.
With a world-class symphony and art museum, nationally-ranked restaurants, more than 40 languages
spoken in the public schools, and industries from insurance to semi-conductors,
Portland is an old city with a new beat.
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Q&A: Is Foreclosed Homeowner Responsible for Past Unpaid Dues?
A couple owns a home that is part of a homeowner association and they get behind on their monthly condominium dues. In the meantime, they also get behind on their mortgage and the bank forecloses on the home. The homeowner association is still seeking to collect the association dues from the couple. Is the couple responsible for thepast HOA dues or does the foreclosure extinguish the HOA's dues payments altogether? Who should be responsible for the HOA dues – the former owner (i.e. the couple) or the new buyer? Read More
