Topics

Technological advancements have made it easier than ever for association boards to get messages quickly and effectively to members, and for members to communicate with each other. Email and even an association blog or online newsletter could help you as a manager to keep your community operating efficiently and remind members that you’re actively involved and ready to help. But some forms of this communication involve obtaining and using members’ personal information. 

Home businesses are being operated more often than ever before, as a cost-saving measure or because it’s more convenient for the business owner to stay at home. But some associations restrict the kinds of businesses members can operate in their homes or prohibit home businesses altogether.

Last month’s feature touched on the changing face of service animals—that is, nontraditional breeds being used as service dogs, and the ways that associations should handle responsibility and liability if a service dog of any kind happens to bite somebody (see “Keep Restricted Breed Dogs on Short Leash in Community,” February 2013).Although it’s important to speak with your association’s attorney as soon as there’s a request for a service dog that raises safety concerns, you should make sure that members generally understand how to interact with all

Major storms like Hurricane Sandy--the largest Atlantic hurricane on record, as well as the second-costliest Atlantic hurricane in history--reveal one of the biggest public-perception gaps with energy: You don’t notice it until it’s gone. As a result of Hurricane Sandy, many residents of New York and New Jersey still didn’t have power a week after the storm hit.

Whether it’s for fun, exercise, environmental concerns, or in an effort to save on gas prices and car expenses, an increasing number of children and adults have been riding bicycles. Many of your association members or their children may ride their bikes within the community. While bicycling should be encouraged, it can also create liability for the association if you don’t set rules to improve safety for not only these cyclists, but also members who walk or drive there.

In our last issue, the Insider stressed the importance of following a year-round maintenance plan and suggested that you put roofing at the top of your list of tasks to prioritize. If your association is responsible for the maintenance of roofs in the community, it’s particularly important to have them inspected before winter. After all, most roof damage occurs during winter. Harsh weather conditions—such as heavy rain and snow, strong winds, and extreme temperatures—can cause substantial damage to a building’s roof.

Working with your association’s board, fielding member concerns, and overseeing your own staff can take up a lot of your time. Occasionally, you may get hung up on handling major issues that become important to the community, too. But prioritizing day-to-day maintenance is crucial, no matter how busy you are. Preventative maintenance can save you time and the association money later by eliminating the risk of having to replace major items if they’ve deteriorated because of a lack of maintenance.

If your condominium community uses a fuel-burning appliance such as a gas or oil furnace to heat your building or pool, you need to worry about carbon monoxide (CO), a hazardous material that your members cannot see or smell. Many people die and many more become seriously ill from CO poisoning each year.

With the summer months coming to a close, it's time to start thinking about preparing your community for winter. Although winter weather may seem like it's a long way off, you'll need to take steps in the fall to get ready for harsh weather or other winter challenges, depending on where your community is located. Because there's always a lot to do during the fall, it's a good idea to have an annual checklist of maintenance tasks that you can refer to to “winterize” your community.

How you handle the aftermath of a serious crime when it occurs at your community will determine how safe your members feel in the future, as well as answer questions it might raise, such as whether the association's insurance policy will cover related lawsuits, and the degree to which the association may be held responsible for the crime—as well as any future crimes.