eAlerts

Question: To cut down on payroll, would it be okay for an association to lay off some of its maintenance crew and rehire them as independent contractors? Answer: It would be a big mistake. Tax authorities would be quick to reclassify such workers as employees. For more information on the tax consequences of employees vs.…

Community associations generally prefer that members occupy their own units, rather than lease them to others. But why is it a good idea to limit the leasing of units? Limiting your members’ ability to lease units can keep your community easier for you and your staff to manage on a day-to-day basis and can have…

Q: As a community association manager, what can I ask a job applicant about drug and alcohol use without facing a discrimination lawsuit? A: You must be very careful if you have 15 or more employees. While you want a workplace free of drug- and alcohol-related problems, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) bars companies…

Upon completion of the 2012 Community Association Managers Survey, you will be entered into a drawing for a $100 American Express gift card! The survey asks about how overhead expenses are straining your community’s purse strings, and will take approximately 5 to 6 minutes to complete. Your answers will be treated confidentially and will never…

Medical groups bought three commercial condo units on the mezzanine terrace level of a New York City condominium building below street level. The entrance to the residential portion of the building was separate from the entrance to the medical offices. The purchase agreement permitted the medical groups to install HVAC units on the mezzanine outside…

Install closed-circuit TV (CCTV) cameras in the common areas of your community only if you have the staff and money necessary to monitor them. While the presence of CCTV cameras in parking lots and other common areas may help reduce crime in these locations, there is a downside—they need to be monitored and, if you…

Condominium unit owners in New York City recently sued their board of directors for "abhorrent" living conditions. They claimed that there were holes in the floors and damage to walls, railings, and terraces. The board had promised to repair the conditions but had failed to do so. In the meantime, the board had asked the…

Has mold been discovered in one of the units in your community? Taking steps right away to fix the problem can help you avoid complaints about mold-related illnesses or unsafe living conditions. You should clean up the mold and fix the water problem that caused it. But there could be moisture—which creates a breeding ground…

Question: Your community allows members to park anywhere, but a new member says she wants an assigned parking space because she can’t walk too far. You can’t be accused of a fair housing violation if you: a. Ignore her comment because she didn’t ask for a “reasonable accommodation” for a disability. b. Ignore her comment…

That’s the question many Barnegat Bay, N.J., residents are asking as a developer seeks approval to divide a new 305-unit development west of the state’s Garden State Parkway into separate sections targeted to seniors and families, plus a mandated 20 percent affordable housing component. The Barnegat Township planning board has postponed its decision on the…