Page 15 - CooperatorNews New Jersey Spring 2021

NJ.COOPERATORNEWS.COM COOPERATORNEWS NEW JERSEY — SPRING 2021 15 GUARDIAN OUTDOOR SURFACES INC. PLAY HARD • FALL SAFER Playground Structure and Surfacing Projects Let Guardian Outdoor Surfaces Inc. help you DESIGN, QUOTE, and BUILD your next WWW.GUARDIANPLAY.COM GUARDIAN NORTHERN DIVISION: TOM RUTOWSKI - P: 201-803-1879 TSRUT@COMCAST.NET GUARDIAN SOUTHERN DIVISION ROCCO CASTIGLIONE - P: 609-221-9272 RCASTIGLIONE56@GMAIL.COM Convert and maximize your “Unused” Double Tennis Courts into a Dog park, Full Basketball/Tennis court/Pickleball court, Soccer/Playground area ALL IN ONE. We have done it and we can show you how. Playground Sales/Installa� ons • Tennis Court Resurfacing • Site Ameni� es, Benches, Tables, Etc. • Cer� fi ed Wood & Rubber Playground Mulch • Dog Parks • Ar� fi cial Grass Installa� ons • Gym Tiles & Equipment • Modular Sport Tile Systems • Playground Borders & Mats • AND SO MUCH MORE CONDO/APARTMENT COMPLEXES • HOA ASSOCIATIONS MUNICIPALITIES • SCHOOLS • DAYCARES • CHURCHES Inspections and Reporting As to who can or should do an inspec- tion of exterior or interior building sys- tems, that really depends on what they’re inspecting. If management schedules a walk-around inspection of exterior light- ing every three months, the maintenance person or cleaning person who is in charge of changing light bulbs is certainly qualified to do that inspection. Similarly, observational inspections of parking lots and community drives and roads should be completed three to four times a year and reported back to the board through management. Again, this type of obser- vational inspection can be completed by almost anyone who can recognize a pot- hole. Roof and façade inspections, on the other hand—especially when they involve pitched roofs or multistory buildings— are complex undertakings and should be carried out by outsourced professionals, preferably ones who are specialists in the field in question. The next critical step for management is to report the results of physical inspec- tions to the board for ultimate decision- making. Traditionally, inspectors took a clipboard, notepad, and pencil with them and delivered the findings of their inspec- tions to management, who then delivered tinue to think like renters long after they Massachusetts, when it comes to indi- the results and appropriate comments become owners. In the rental universe, the vidual condominium associations, “no and suggestions to the board. The advent landlord—and, by extension, the building one size fits all. Everything depends on and adoption of all types of electronic staff—are expected to make repairs on al- tools and methods has changed all that, most anything, exterior or interior. however. Apps, tablets, and smartphones have replaced clipboards and handwrit- ten notes. These apps can easily produce documents that can be delivered to board members by manag- ers in a nanosecond electronically, saving time, reducing confu- sion, and lessening the environmental impact of endless paperwork. The Fine Line for Residents One recurring problem issue for individual units,” says Wolf. “They cannot performed, and by whom. Running afoul boards, management, and residents of work on personal projects—only com- condominium associations is the fine mon area work. Some associations allow of directors and other insured persons, line between what building staff can and for private work after hours. We discour- should do for unit owners and what they age it, but if staff members do this kind of breach of fiduciary duty or other causes should not do when it comes to mainte- nance and repairs. Many unit owners come to the condo- minium experience directly from rental torney with Marcus, Errico, Emmer & units—and consequently, they often con- “Condominium owners need to un- derstand that the workers and staff of ing documents dictate what a board or their association are there for the maintenance and upkeep. common areas of the property, not individual units,” says Wolf. That’s bylaws, CC&Rs, and so forth—before very different from determining how best to accomplish a living in a rental, project,” says Wayne Dow, a partner in where the landlord New Jersey-based JGS Insurance. “Often- is responsible for times, such documents set out mandates all repairs. “Staff as to how certain maintenance, repairs, may not be insured for work in or around or capital improvement projects are to be private work, they must be licensed and of action. You also want to ensure that the insured.” According to Ellen Shapiro, an at- Brooks, a law firm located in Braintree, the type of management the property has, and what management is required to do under their contract. Otherwise, govern- association is required to do” in terms of Insurance Concerns “I would suggest reviewing your as- sociation’s governing documents—the of any mandates could expose the board such as the property manager, to claims of work to be performed is within the scope of ability and expertise of the person “If they are qualified to do the specific work, they should do it. If they aren’t, they shouldn’t.” —Scott Wolf continued on page 20