Tag: Meetings

Community Association Meetings | See also Governance, Communications.

Make Sure Your Clients Give Proper Notice When Attempting to Remove a Tenant’s Dog

A Connecticut condo association board tried to force the removal of a dog after holding multiple hearings and concluding it was vicious (Copper Square Ass’n, Inc. v. Bonell). But a court found the board dropped the ball and denied to order removal. The case involved a dog named Bo, who lived with a tenant in…

Lack of Notice Comes Back to Bite Association in Removal of Tenant’s Dog

A Connecticut condo association board tried to force the removal of a dog after holding multiple hearings and concluding it was vicious (Copper Square Ass’n, Inc. v. Bonell). But a court found the board dropped the ball and denied to order removal. Read on to learn the kinds of mistakes your clients need to avoid…

Manager’s Killing Heightens Safety Concerns

The August 2022 murder of an Atlanta association manager has drawn renewed attention to the physical risks managers face on the job in today’s world. “I think this is an industry problem across the board,” says Katie Anderson, CEO of Aperion Management Group LLC, which manages around 65 associations in central Oregon. “It’s been perpetuated…

3 Critical Issues to Cover in Today’s Board Training

Community association board members have had a lot to deal with over the past two years or so, from the pandemic to the fallout of the Surfside tragedy. Comprehensive board training is an essential part of effective risk management — for the association, the board members themselves, and the manager — in such an environment.…

When Is a Closed Session Appropriate?

Closed sessions are among the most frequently abused governance tools in community associations, according to Kelly Richardson, a partner in the law firm Richardson Ober De Nichilo in Pasadena, Calif. “I frequently see boards conducting discussions in closed session where the topic really should be reserved for open session,” he says. Richardson says closed sessions…

Closed Session Dos and Don’ts

Closed sessions are among the most frequently abused governance tools in community associations, according to Kelly Richardson, a partner in the law firm Richardson Ober De Nichilo in Pasadena, Calif. “I frequently see boards conducting discussions in closed session where the topic really should be reserved for open session,” he says. Read on for some…

A Vivid Example of Why You Need Good Records

Poor recordkeeping can undermine the results of even the most amiable and productive board or membership meeting. When a meeting is contentious, insufficient records can prove even more disastrous. A community in Pennsylvania learned that the hard way. A trial court described the community as mired in utter chaos, nonstop disagreement, and a continuing power struggle…

Records Matter: A Bizarre Case Study

Poor recordkeeping can undermine the results of even the most amiable and productive board or membership meeting. When a meeting is contentious, insufficient records can prove even more disastrous. A community in Pennsylvania learned that the hard way (Pocono Mountain Lake Forest Community Ass’n v. Swift). Who’s the Boss? A trial court described the community…

What the Pandemic Has Taught Us About Working Remotely

The COVID-19 pandemic has worn everyone down — but the people who’ve been leading during a year of remote community association management say there are lessons all managers can take from this experience: The first is that work-from-home is here to stay. “Being into this now just under a year, remote working has actually worked…

Failing To Satisfy Notice Requirements Can Have Big Consequences

A Maryland condo association recently was reminded of the importance of strictly adhering to the applicable notice requirements for meetings. The 815-unit condo building had a 50-year-old fire alarm that had to be updated to comply with the county code. After a series of consultations and site visits by engineers, the board was set to…