Category: On The Board

 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  co…

 For most people, “foaming at the mouth” is just a figure of speech. Attorney Ellen Hirsch de Haan, a managing partner  in the Tampa Bay, Florida office of Becker & Poliakoff PA, has encountered the real thing—and not at an animal shelter,…

 In many parts of North America, people will soon enjoy one of nature’s finest shows. The changing colors of fall foliage make for a beautiful  display, but too-early changes in leaf-color can be a sign that your tree is  stressed and is s…

 Whether its the close proximity to the coast, the reassurance of knowing its a  safe place to raise children or simply its easy distance from the bright lights  of Atlantic City, Egg Harbor Township in southeastern New Jersey has somethin…

 When you’re reading the history of the Pennsylvania and Delaware Valley Chapter of the  Community Associations Institute (CAI-PADELVAL, for short), it might be helpful  to whip out the map to get a sense of who they are and the communitie…

 Generally speaking, the issue of municipal services—snow removal, paving, garbage collection, etc.—as they apply to HOAs is pretty cut-and-dry: municipalities receive money  directly from owners in the form of property taxes. HOAs budget …

 It’s an oft-repeated mantra when it comes to condo and HOA management: no two  boards are ever the same. Each is—or should be—a reflection of the community it serves, and each is made up of a unique blend  of personalities, skill sets, an…

 When owners move into an HOA or condo development, most have a basic idea of who’s responsible for repairs and maintenance in their unit, and who’s responsible for the common areas—even if they don’t bother to read the governing documents…

 When it comes to stories about board members pushing their own pet projects,  stalling meetings, and generally gumming up their HOA’s administrative works for selfish reasons, most property mangers have one or  two doozies.    Cons…

 Here’s the scenario: the developer of your suburban building, who still owns enough  units to throw his weight around, hires a property manager who plays fast and  loose with the municipal tax codes. So much so in fact, that he winds up i…