So unfortunately we seem to be ending the year with the Covid numbers just creeping up — and that vaccine just can’t get here fast enough. I’m getting calls and e-mails every day, every hour, from communities that are simply scared to have their meetings in person – even if it’s the annual meeting or…
Year: 2021
WHEN THE PRESIDENT THINKS THEY’RE THE KING
So all this talk about the Presidency lately has got me thinking about an issue that comes up every week in my practice for the past 30 years or so. I get a call from someone on a Board of Directors. And they tell me that they have a President on the Board who is…
DEVELOPERS ARE ON THE PROWL
I got a call this week from The Sun Sentinel. They asked if I had heard about the prominent developer who approached the owners of the other Champlain Towers buildings that are still standing, offering to buy out all of their units. I had not, but I’m not surprised in the least about it. In…
IT'S NOVEMBER – AND THAT MEANS IT'S BUDGET TIME
Most community associations have their budget meeting in the month of November for the upcoming year. By doing it in November there is plenty of time to print new coupon books and let the community members know what the new monthly assessments will be for the coming year. In terms of notice, in a condominium…
THE SITE OF THE CHAMPLAIN TOWERS NOT AN EASY TASK TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO
I don’t envy Judge Michael Hanzman, the judge who is assigned to decide the fate of the property where The Champlain Towers South Condominium once stood. The question of what to do at this sacred site is not easy. Some families want no re-development and only a memorial. The City of Surfside needs to see…
NO ASSOCIATION WEBSITE? WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
When the original bill was filed that required condominiums to have a website, the statute was only going to apply with condominiums of 500 units or more. In effect, the statute would have applied to less than one percent of all condominiums in the state. I met with the legislator who drafted the bill and…
SUPPOSE YOUR DEC DOES NOT HAVE KAUFMAN LANGUAGE?
This is such an important topic that is often times difficult to teach. In a nutshell however, assume the following: Your condominium or HOA was created in the year 2000. That was when your declaration of condominium or declaration of covenants was recorded. Your declaration only adopts The Florida Condominium Act (Florida Statute 718) or…
THANK YOU SENATOR ANNA MARIA RODRIGUEZ!
A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog called It’s Time To Stop A True Florida Farce. The blog spoke about the fact that members of community association boards of directors can still get certified without taking an educational class. Instead, they can sign a rather silly piece of paper that states they have read…
TO ARBITRATE OR MEDIATE?
Prior to July 1st, 2021 if a condominium dispute arose, the parties were forced to first arbitrate the matter before the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. The law has now changed and reads as follows: (a) Before the institution of court litigation, a party to a dispute, other than an election or recall dispute, shall…
EVERYONE IS AN EXPERT
Imagine a world where accountants can examine your heart and give you an opinion regarding its condition and your life expectancy. Suppose an auto mechanic can examine your kidneys and liver and give his opinion on whether or not they are healthy. Perhaps one day you can walk into my office and one of the…