Become a Member: JOIN SFPMA TODAY   LogIn / Register: LOGIN/REGISTER

SFPMA Industry Articles | news, legal updates, events & education! 

Find Blog Articles for Florida’s Condo, HOA and the Management Industry. 

Florida Rising Magazine – New Publishers for 2022

Florida Rising Magazine – New Publishers for 2022

  • Posted: Jun 22, 2020
  • By:
  • Comments: Comments Off on Florida Rising Magazine – New Publishers for 2022

Florida Rising Magazine

Dear Reader,

publication coverRe: Florida Rising Magazine

To inform everyone involved:

In 2022 we contracted an outside company as per our board. to take over publishing the magazine.

Since 2014 our very first year, SFPMA had been publishing this in house and published the first week of each month.

Frank J Mari / Executive Director

Publisher of The Florida Rising Magazine

 

Viewing the digital publication doesn’t require special software and loads quickly in your web browser. Just click on the publication cover or link above to begin reading now!

 

 

 

Tags: , ,
SAFETY & HEALTH PRODUCTS – Condo & HOA’s  Masks are to be worn in all common areas! 

SAFETY & HEALTH PRODUCTS – Condo & HOA’s  Masks are to be worn in all common areas! 

  • Posted: Jun 19, 2020
  • By:
  • Comments: Comments Off on SAFETY & HEALTH PRODUCTS – Condo & HOA’s  Masks are to be worn in all common areas! 

SAFETY & HEALTH PRODUCTS – SFPMA

One of our Members has a Great Company Selling Safety Products. We are standing behind them….in support for our industry.

Condo & HOA’s  Masks are to be worn in all common areas! 
You must have a mask on if you go into any Store or Business!

https://bithermometer.com/?ref=sfpma

Condo & HOA’s  Masks are to be worn in all common areas!

Due to the numbers of Covid19 cases increasing and the lack of compliance with face masks , particularly in condominiums our city has declared that masks are mandatory in all common areas within buildings.Supported by the city manager and approved by the entire commission. This is not an issues of rights it is for everyone’s protection.

 

Protect Your Family
-No Contact Technology decreases the chance of viral/bacteria spread through contact.
-Get a more accurate reading using Body Infrared Technology.
-Increase recovery time by getting the valuble medical insight fast.
-Decrease chances of viral & bacterial spread with quality medical grade masks & supplies.
-Masks have been proven to deter airborn viruses by filtering air before it reaching your face.

 

 

Tags: ,
The Importance of Getting Permits For Additions and Improvements for your properties.

The Importance of Getting Permits For Additions and Improvements for your properties.

  • Posted: Jun 11, 2020
  • By:
  • Comments: Comments Off on The Importance of Getting Permits For Additions and Improvements for your properties.

The Importance of Getting Permits For Additions and Improvements

 

Getting Permits For Work at Your House is Vital

When you consider making improvements or additions to your home, it can be tempting to try and skirt the permit process. In some cities and towns, the cost and hassle of getting a permit can seem unnecessary, especially if you are handy and like to make renovations, or you have a friend who offers to do it for you.

Unfortunately, when you go and try to sell your home, the lack of permits can prove to be a real problem. Buyers may balk at purchasing a home that does not have permits – fearing that the additions may be unsafe or not properly done.

In the end, getting the property permits is always a good idea.

Often a home seller will say to me “I’m selling my home do I need permits for work I have done”? Unfortunately, the answer is usually yes you do.

 

The Temptation Of Avoiding Permits

The temptation to avoid getting a permit for home improvements is something every owner faces at one point or another. It is understandable, as the cost of home improvements and additions is already high in many cases.

The permit process – including the inspection to verify the work is up to standards – can seem like a pain. It may take some time to complete the process, time you may not feel like you have.

Those most tempted to avoid permits are homeowners that are interested in actually saving money by doing the work themselves, or bringing in a friend who has experience in home repair and renovation.

The friend – or inexpensive contractor you hire – may even imply that you do not need to worry about getting a permit. This, of course, is WRONG!

 

The Real Reason Why Most Don’t Pull Permits

The real reason that many homeowners don’t pull permits isn’t that of paying a few hundred bucks to the town hall or the inconvenience that comes with it. Nearly every city and town in America collects taxes bases upon the assessed value of a home. Assessed value is calculated by looking at the size and characteristics of property.

What is the gross living area? How many bedrooms does it have? How many bathrooms? These are all factors in determining an appropriate assessed value.

Guess what happens when the tax assessor knows about the luxurious new finished basement with home theater, wet bar, home gym and beautiful bath you just added. If you guessed your taxes are going up, then you are 100 percent correct.

When no permits have pulled the town most likely will not find out, and your taxes will not take the upward climb, they would have otherwise.

Homeowners can save thousands of dollars over the course of owning a home when permits are not pulled. When selling a home, this becomes very problematic. If and when the town or city finds out about it, the new owner is the one who will bear the brunt of the increased taxes paid.

This will often lead to disputing high property taxes. In the case where the town has not collected taxes in years, it may be harder to get a justified abatement.

 

The Problem With Not Getting Permits

When you go to sell your home, there will always be a home inspection and an appraisal conducted by certified professionals. This is just part of the selling process, and it helps buyers know what they are getting into before they buy the home.

The inspector and appraiser will likely go over your house with a fine-toothed comb, looking over every area to verify that the home is in good working order – sometimes even checking all public records on the home.

There are no requirements for the home inspector or appraiser to check on permits for improvements to the home, but this does not mean someone will not ask about them. The inspector, the appraiser, the buyer and the bank that is doing the lending, all have the ability to request public records from your home, which will include the permits that have been acquired for the home.

A good buyers agent should always ask if there were permits pulled when a significant addition or finished basement has been added. These types of improvements can have a significant impact financially for a new owner.

You can run into major problems when someone discovers that renovations were done to the home without permits. This can, in fact, stop a home sale. There is an especially high risk of getting found out if the improvements were made recently.

The appraiser can see what the house consisted of when you bought it, and will notice if there is not an extra bathroom, deck or finished basement. The bigger the addition or improvement to the home, the more likely that someone will notice that something is off.

 

Buyers Want Certified Work

Unless you are in an extremely tight housing market, where buyers are desperate and will take anything, you can expect people to be concerned with any improvements that do not have the proper permits.

A lack of permits implies several problems to potential buyers, including safety and quality issues.

 

Safety Concerns

Customers want to move into a safe home. They may be planning to start a family, or already have children. They may just be uneasy about any work that was not done by a certified professional.

Part of the permit process is intended to verify that the improvements to a home were made properly, according to regulations, by someone who knows what he or she is doing.

Knowing that all safety rules and standard building practices were observed gives buyers peace of mind. Another would be hiring the local handyman to do electrical wiring a licensed electrician should have done.

In some cases, it is even possible that you may not have insurance coverage if there was a major catastrophe like a fire. The perfect example is the owner who goes out and buys a wood stove for the fireplace and doesn’t bother to pull an installation permit with the fire department.

Good luck getting an insurance claim if the insurance company finds out there are no permits, and the stove was the cause of the fire.

 

Quality Concerns

Safety may be the first thing buyers think about when they see you lack permits, but questions about the quality of the work will come quickly after.

The fact that you do not have a permit makes buyers think that you were trying to cut corners. You may have hired someone that was not fully qualified to do the work, or you may have done the work yourself and not known what you were doing.

Whatever the truth is, buyers will suspect shoddy craftsmanship when there is a missing permit. No one wants to pour hundreds of thousands of dollars into a home with poorly crafted improvements.

A good example here is all the homeowners who had to deal with removing ice dams this past winter. There are a lot of negative things ice dams can do to a home including mold. In cases where mold is bad walls may need to be removed and rebuilt.

If it is bad enough, you may even need to relocate or replace the electrical wiring. Could a homeowner fix this themselves? I am sure many have. That doesn’t mean hiring a professional who pulls a permit for this kind of work is not the right way to go.

 

What Happens When I Don’t Have Building Permits

One of the questions I am often asked by homeowners when they are considering selling is what will happen if I don’t have a building permit for work done on my home. There is no clear cut and dry answer on this but in my experience, the local city or town will ask the homeowner to go through the permitting process.

The owner will, of course, have to pay all necessary fees involved with the construction. Each of the applicable inspectors will also need to come through and inspect the work.

Many homeowners are asking this question because they want to know if the town will make them rip out everything they have built and start from scratch. In my twenty-nice years of selling real estate I have not experienced this.

That, however, does not mean it is not possible. Homeowners should be very apologetic to the local building department when it has been discovered there are no permits pulled.

 

What Are Additional Risks of Not Pulling Permits

One of the other risks of not pulling permits is getting sued later on down the road by the buyer who purchases your home. Unfortunately, we live in a sue-happy society where people are always looking for someone to blame.

When you don’t pull a permit, and something tragic happens years down the road, who do you think they are going to come after?

In Massachusetts when selling a home, it is standard practice that homeowners fill out a form called the “sellers statement of property condition.” Lots of states use these forms.

They are primarily a disclosure of what the seller knows and doesn’t know about the home. One of the first questions on this form asks “have you done any work on the home in which a permit was required.” You better answer this one honestly folks for the reason above I just mentioned!

 

When Do I Need to Pull a Building Permit?

There is no clear cut and dry answer on when you will need to pull a building permit for an improvement to your home. The best way to find out is to pick up the phone and call the local building department or stop in for a face to face.

The building inspector should be able to quickly tell you if you will need a permit for your project or not.

It is safe to assume that anything safety related will require a permit. You can also expect that a permit will be necessary when you are doing something that will significantly alter your home.

One important reminder – When all the work has been completed don’t forget to have a final inspection and get the permit closed out! Over the years I have had several clients who have done the right thing and pulled a building permit but never closed it out once all the work was completed.

Closing out a permit is often called getting a certificate of occupancy. Recently while selling a home, I ran into this exact situation.

The owner pulled an original building permit but never asked for a final inspection, so the project was never filed as completed. Luckily, the building department did not make them do anything special other than getting a final inspection.

You could, however, find yourself in a situation where you are not so lucky if there are code changes between the time the permit is pulled and when you are selling your home. So make sure when the project is completed a final inspection is done, and certificate of occupancy is issued.

Here are some examples of items you will more than likely need a permit for:

  • A finished basement.
  • A bathroom remodel or adding a bathroom.
  • The addition of a deck.
  • The addition of a screened porch.
  • Changing or upgrading your electrical service.

These are just a few quick examples. There are many other items for which you will need to pull a permit.

 

 

Tags: , , ,
How Does ZUUL Systems Facilitate No-Contact Entry to a Gated Community?

How Does ZUUL Systems Facilitate No-Contact Entry to a Gated Community?

  • Posted: Jun 09, 2020
  • By:
  • Comments: Comments Off on How Does ZUUL Systems Facilitate No-Contact Entry to a Gated Community?

How Does ZUUL Systems Facilitate No-Contact Entry to a Gated Community?

As your fellow neighbor, we understand recent shifts in society have greatly impacted communities all over the world. We’ve laughed together. We’ve overcome challenges together. Most importantly, we’ve learned individuals can adapt when hard times call for innovation. You’ve been through a lot, and ZUUL Systems recognizes the changes you’ve made to safely navigate daily life.

You, yes you, have made great strides to help our community stay healthy and flourish. You, along with other compassionate individuals, have adopted preventative tactics, like social distancing and contact-free communication, to maintain a safe quality of life until society finds its way back to a stable form of normalcy. Although the future is unknown, we can continue on this path of prevention to ensure our neighborhood’s well-being is preserved.

Our team at ZUUL Systems is taking note of seamless, no-contact living and its important contribution to society. Officials have encouraged individuals to avoid contact with frequently touched surfaces while performing necessary tasks outside of a home, as the virus affecting our community can survive stably on a hard surface or object for up to 72 hours. Now, there is a way to carry out day-to-day tasks and even commute while reducing the risk of virus transmission through touching surfaces or objects.

More specifically, ZUUL Systems facilitates no-contact entry to a gated community through its safe neighborhood access system. This completely digital platform allows users entry and exit into a gated community without the need for physical contact with strange gate guards, unfamiliar security personnel, and frequently touched objects. How exactly does ZUUL Systems pull this off? It’s simple.

Approved guests and community residents will use this no-touch system to filter in and out of the community, avoiding the need to touch a potentially contaminated call box, keypad, or identification card. All users need to complete a safe, streamlined entry would be a personal mobile device. For guests to enter, residents of a gated community will send a private QR code to an approved visitor via the ZUUL Systems app. This QR code will allow the visitor to easily enter and pass the security perimeter. The code can be issued as a single, one-time pass or a recurring pass. As the guest approaches the neighborhood entry gate, they will extend their mobile device to a ZUUL Systems scanner, and voilà. The approved guest is in.

This type of zero-touch entry system is particularly helpful for essential workers, like home improvement service providers and delivery people. They are the individuals navigating neighborhoods to complete essential services that propel our society.Can you imagine all the frequently touched surfaces and objects they encounter each day? By keeping essential workers and community guests at a safe distance, we can sustain a healthier lifestyle for all.

Alas, there’s always light at the end of the tunnel; or rather, at the end of the guard gate. With ZUUL Systems, you are in control of the distance you keep at all times, ultimately leading our society to a safer tomorrow. Learn more about the benefits of this contact-free access system by visiting ZUUL Systems.

 

 

Tags: , , ,
Here’s how the coronavirus pandemic will impact hurricane season in Florida

Here’s how the coronavirus pandemic will impact hurricane season in Florida

  • Posted: Jun 09, 2020
  • By:
  • Comments: Comments Off on Here’s how the coronavirus pandemic will impact hurricane season in Florida

Here’s how the coronavirus pandemic will impact hurricane season in Florida

COVID-19 forcing state to revisit evacuation, shelter plans

Preparing for hurricane season is always a daunting task for many Floridians, but with the coronavirus pandemic adding a few extra barriers, your preparations will likely require a few extra steps this year.

According to Eric Alberts, Orlando Health’s corporate director of emergency preparedness, thanks to COVID-19, there are quite a few extra things you’ll need to take into consideration and plan for before a storm.

For example, will you be able to find the supplies needed for your storm kit with stores sold out of certain items due to shoppers hoarding them during the pandemic? And if you’re one of the countless Floridians who is out of work because of the health crisis, how can you afford to properly prepare your home for a storm or repair damage still left behind from a previous one? Oh, and let’s not forget the price of insurance. What about shelters? What will those look like now that the CDC is asking everyone to practice social distancing?

We know those are probably just a few of the concerns you have, so News 6 anchor Ginger Gadsden spoke to Alberts to tackle them one by one and find out everything Floridians should consider when preparing for a storm.

 

Supplies

Let’s start by talking supplies.

Of course, you’ll need the items that have always been recommended in a hurricane kit – you can find a complete hurricane preparedness checklist available for download here – but that’s not all, according to Alberts.

“You can’t just think about having at least 72 hours of food and water, medications, flashlights, batteries and all that other stuff. You also have to think about your health,” Alberts said. You’re going to have to think through masks and whether you have additional masks, wipes or sanitary wipes. You’ve got to think through gloves in certain situations, protective clothing, in some regard.”

Some of the additional items Alberts listed, including masks and gloves, have been difficult to come across because of the coronavirus pandemic, which is why he recommends starting your supply search sooner rather than later.

 

“Start now and don’t wait until the hurricane’s here because you definitely won’t be able to get it then,” Alberts said. “And unfortunately, I don’t believe that these supply shortages are going to go away anytime soon. I think they’re going to last through at least the summer at some point.”

State officials have said they’re also taking this into consideration as they revisit their plans for hurricane season.

Division of Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz said his agency has arranged to add face masks to the state’s stockpile of storm supplies.

“We’re going to have 10 million masks in reserve by the time the hurricane season starts,” Moskowitz said. “And we signed a long-term deal with Honeywell to help get us 12 million N95 masks over the next year directly from the manufacturing plant, with a significant portion of that being delivered during hurricane season.”

Alberts said that even if the personal protective equipment shortages let up, it could still be difficult to find the right supplies because of shoppers who hoard them when they are available in fear of not being able to find them next time they need them (same goes for toilet paper, as we all know by now).

“Even if the items do begin to hit the market or go back on the market, some people will still do hoarding, they’ll still end up buying supplies for their families and their friends. They know they can’t get it and that will put a strain on the system for quite some time,” Alberts said.

Alberts said when it comes to hurricanes, the bottom line is: You need a lot of supplies. Add COVID-19 into the mix and you need even more. His best advice? Start gathering those items now, because they may only be more difficult to find when you actually need them.

 

 

Preparing your loved ones

Alberts said it’s important to not only get supplies and plans in order for yourself but also those with whom you live and others you might care for, especially if they have any special needs.

With many still feeling on edge because of the pandemic, it may be difficult to have the conversation, but Alberts said it’s important you don’t want to prepare your family’s emergency plan.

“Now’s the best time to get your kit and your plan together. So what I mean by that is, you know, you live with others, whether it be your significant other, your family or friends. Just get them together and just sit down and talk to them,” Alberts said.

While building your plan, Alberts said you should ask yourselves, “What is it we’re going to do if we experience a tropical storm or hurricane soon or later in this season?”

From there, he recommends you start writing things down and finalizing a game plan that you’ll all be ready to put into action at any given time.

“Whatever you talked about or you wrote down, make sure you actually do it. People need plans, they need education, they need training. And if you don’t have that, then you feel weakness, you feel fear, and you feel susceptible to rumors, and chaos and stress,” Alberts said.

He said having that plan in place and knowing everyone is on the same page will help ease some of the anxieties that could come with uncertainty in the future.

If anyone in your family has special health needs, Alberts said you’ll want to keep those in mind and include any extra steps you might need to care for them in the event of an emergency in your family’s plan.

 

 

Can’t decide on what type of shutters to get?

Accordion shutters are among the most practical types of window coverings because they are strong enough to offer hurricane protection.

They are made of aluminum allowing them to shield windows from heavy winds!

Contact us today at (954) 786-7292 or

visit our website www.aruba-services.com and we can help you with your new shutters!

 

 

Alberts recommends individuals with special needs register with the Florida Special Needs Registry.

He said doing so will inform local officials that a member of the community is at risk and allows them to reach out before a storm and make sure the individual with special needs is safe. Officials can also reach out to those who are registered to follow up with them after a storm.

 

Caring for the elderly

Just as you should for other members of your family, Alberts recommends keeping the care of any elderly family members a priority in your preparedness plan.

Get any medication and other needed supplies in order ahead of time so they’re ready if and when your family needs to evacuate.

If your loved one is a resident at a long-term care facility, Alberts recommends having storm prep conversations with those who work at the facility, especially in the months following the COVID-19 pandemic, with visitations temporarily paused to protect the health of the most vulnerable population.

“Well, it really depends on where we’re at in response to COVID-19. They may still be in the status of not allowing others into their facilities. So if that’s the case, you really end up having to trust the management and the administration of that facility to do the right thing for your loved one. And you always have the right to call them and ask for their administration,” Alberts said.

He said you should ask the administration at the facility about their plans for emergencies so that, if you’re uncomfortable with them, you have time to make changes.

“I hate to say it this way, but put some pressure on them if you don’t feel comfortable with their actions. You know, if there’s a tropical storm or hurricane coming directly at that facility and you don’t feel safe with them being there, then you can really impress upon them how you feel and that your loved one really needs to be moved somewhere else,” Alberts said.

Alberts said don’t be afraid to call and ask to speak with the facilities’ leadership because the person at the front desk may not have all the answers.

He said to call and ask if you should drop off any extra tissues, sanitary or moisturizing cloths or even medication to let them know you’re planning for the care of your family member and they should step up their planning efforts, too.

 

 

Preparing your home

It’s not uncommon to drive around Florida and see blue tarps on homes months after a major storm hits part of the area. Something you don’t want to see, though, according to Alberts: Blue tarps still being used as we enter the next storm season.

Alberts said Floridians should work to have any home repairs completed by the time hurricane season arrives so that their home can better weather the next storm.

With many Floridians unemployed due to the pandemic, covering those repair costs may be difficult to impossible for anyone struggling to make ends meet.

Alberts’ advice is to financially plan as much as possible and look for any opportunities to save so that you have some extra funds available in the event of an emergency.

“One of the recommendations is to have additional monetary savings with you so that you’re able to pay for response and recovery efforts,” Alberts said.

Some people will opt out of insurance to save some money when their budget is tight, but Alberts said that presents its own set of risks and could actually cost you more down the road, should a storm damage your home.

“When you’re low on financial or monetary funds, you often think, ‘Hey, can I just not pay this insurance?’ or, ‘Hey, I don’t need this anymore,’ but with that comes a lot of additional risks or hazards or threats to your own financial well-being, right?” Alberts said. “So if you have damage at your home, or even your business, how are you going to go ahead and pay for that if you don’t have the necessary insurance?”

 

Safely seeking shelter

If you’ve ever visited a storm shelter while a hurricane was threatening Florida, you know they can get pretty crowded.

With social distancing now required or strongly encouraged in most places and COVID-19 still expected to be around through hurricane season, public shelters will likely look different than they have in the past, according to Alberts.

“When you think of shelters for hurricanes, and you’ve seen pictures or videos before, you’ll probably see a lot of mass gatherings of people for extended periods of time. Well, we can’t really do that now with COVID-19,” Alberts said. “So, you know, local, state and federal partners are really looking at the sheltering models to say, ‘Hey, what can and should we do in our shelters (to) minimize the impact of COVID-19 on the shelter as well?’”

Moskowitz said Florida emergency officials have been working with FEMA to revise their plans for evacuations and shelters.

In early May, state officials said they were looking at protocols for shelters that range from separating people based on temperature checks to non-congregated sheltering in hotels.

FEMA has since released its COVID-19 Pandemic Operational Guidance for the 2020 Hurricane Season, which outlines how the agency plans to adapt its response and recovery efforts in light of COVID-19.

Alberts said when it comes to evacuating to a shelter, Floridians should keep the following tips in mind:

“If it’s a shelter, just make sure you follow social distancing with COVID-19 and just take your extra precautionary measures with your personal protective equipment. Make sure that you’ve got your required medications and you’ve got your legal documents, any kind of insurance and identification. Make sure those are in a waterproof sealable bag because you don’t want to be hunting for those whenever it’s time to leave,” Alberts said.

 

Plan ahead

Alberts said planning for a hurricane requires a lot of preparation and supplies, and planning for storm season with a pandemic still underway requires even more. The most important thing Floridians can do to make sure they’re ready for hurricane season, according to Alberts, is plan ahead.

“The recommendation there is to start building your plan now, start building your kit now. Don’t wait until a hurricane is knocking at the door so to speak, you know, start the efforts now to get the supplies that you need. Don’t wait.”

 

 

 

Tags: ,
Stay Ahead of the Curve: Lessons in Technology Learned from Covid-19 by Jeffrey Rembaum, Esq. Kaye Bender Rembaum

Stay Ahead of the Curve: Lessons in Technology Learned from Covid-19 by Jeffrey Rembaum, Esq. Kaye Bender Rembaum

  • Posted: Jun 04, 2020
  • By:
  • Comments: Comments Off on Stay Ahead of the Curve: Lessons in Technology Learned from Covid-19 by Jeffrey Rembaum, Esq. Kaye Bender Rembaum

Stay Ahead of the Curve:  Lessons in Technology Learned from Covid-19

by Jeffrey Rembaum, Esq.   Kaye Bender Rembaum

 

The statutory emergency powers granted to community associations as a result of the Covid-19 State of Emergency proved to be a valuable resource for the orderly operations of Florida’s community associations. Many associations had to make significant changes to how they conducted the business of their association. For example, holding board meetings via “Zoom” and “GotoWebinar” became invaluable. But, when the State of Emergency is over can annual meetings and board meetings continue to take place on the internet? Sure they can, subject to the important considerations explained below. In addition, what other technologies can be utilized by the board?

 

 In fact, at the present time there are three statutory grants of technology that an association can utilize to make conducting the business of the association easier on a regular basis. They include, holding meetings electronically, voting electronically, and using email as an official means of communication to the members rather than the U.S. Postal Service. Electronic board meetings allow the board to continue conducting the business of the association without putting themselves or others in harm’s way. But even more than that, by attending electronically think of all of the gas that is saved since no one has to drive to the meeting. More than that, think of the extra time spent not driving or walking to the meeting and how it could be used as family quality time or just to relax.

 

However, if the board chooses to use video conferencing, it is important to remember that the board must comply with the statutory provisions regarding board meetings. The members must receive notice of the meeting pursuant to the bylaws of the association, and in any event, at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting. Additionally, condominium association members must have the right to speak to all designated agenda items and HOA members also get the additional right to speak on any item discussed by the board (this is because from a strict statutory interpretation condominium association boards are only supposed to address what is set out on the agenda, while such restriction does not apply to HOA boards). Remember, there is no exception to the meeting notice requirements and the need to provide opportunity for member comment. Therefore, any video conferencing software the board utilizes must allow members to virtually attend the meeting and have the opportunity to speak.

 

The second technology that associations can utilize to make life easier is electronic voting. Florida law allows condominiums, homeowners associations, and cooperatives to conduct elections and other owner votes electronically. When an association board adopts electronic voting, each member of the association must opt in, in writing, and can then vote safely from the comfort of their own home. Imagine all of the time saved by punching a computer button to get the tally, rather than counting by hand, in some instances over 1,000 votes!

 

To adopt electronic voting, the Board must first adopt a resolution authorizing an online voting system. The board resolution must provide that members will receive notice of the opportunity to vote online and must establish reasonable procedures and deadlines for members to consent, in writing, to online voting, and procedures for members to opt out of online voting. Once the board has approved electronic voting, the board must select an online voting system that complies with the requirements of Florida law. The online voting system must be able to do the following: (1) authenticate the owner’s identity, (2) authenticate the validity of each electronic vote to ensure that the vote is not changed during transmission, (3) transmit a receipt to each owner who casts an electronic vote, (4) be able to separate any authentication or identifying information from the ballot when voting must be done by secret ballot, and (5) be able to store and keep electronic votes accessible for recount, inspection, and review purposes.

 

Please take note that the board cannot force owners to vote electronically. Thus, a necessary step is to obtain each member’s written consent to participate in electronic voting. If an owner does not consent or opts out of electronic voting, then the board must allow that owner to paper vote.

 

The third technology an association can utilize which saves money, paper and time, is using electronic notices for official association communications. In other words, give up postage stamps in favor of using e-mail. Generally, associations are required to send official notices via mail or hand delivery. However, the association may choose to send notice via e-mail but only if an owner has provided their written consent to receive their notices electronically.

 

E-mails used for official association communications can only be sent to those owners who consent, in writing, to receive their official notices by electronic transmission. The written consent must specifically authorize the association to transmit notice electronically. An owner who has consented to electronic notice may opt out at any time. The association must retain a roster of the e-mail addresses and the written consents of owners as an official record of the association. The member is responsible to ensure the association’s emails are not blocked or categorized as spam. Failure to receive an email due to a member’s inability to receive the email will not be a valid reason for objecting. Budget adoption notices, annual meeting notices, election notices, board meeting notices and so much more can be provided via email.

 

  Over the last several months, many associations have had to learn how to utilize technology to conduct the business of their association during the Covid-19 pandemic. Some have done so correctly and likely others have not. Thus, in utilizing any of the technology discussed in this article, an important step is to consult with your association’s attorney to ensure proper compliance with all the statutory requirements. Let us also turn a negative into a positive by continuing to use technology to assist the association with smooth operation. Who knows, perhaps one day, there will be a way for members to virtually enjoy the amenities, too. Until then, you’ll find me at the pool deck.

 

 

Jeffrey Rembaum’s, Esq.

legal practice consists of representation of condominium, homeowners, commercial and mobile home park associations, as well as exclusive country club communities and the developers who build them. Mr. Rembaum is a Certified Specialist in Condominium and Planned Development Law. He is the creator of “Rembaum’s Association Roundup,” an e-magazine devoted to the education of community association board members, managers, developers and anyone involved with Florida’s community associations. His column appears monthly in the Florida Community Association Journal. Every year since 2012, Mr. Rembaum has been selected to the Florida Super Lawyers list, and was also named Legal Elite by Florida Trends Magazine.

He can be reached at 561-241-4462.

 

Tags: , , ,
Is This A Better Way to Conduct Board Meetings? | Axela Technologies

Is This A Better Way to Conduct Board Meetings? | Axela Technologies

  • Posted: Jun 04, 2020
  • By:
  • Comments: Comments Off on Is This A Better Way to Conduct Board Meetings? | Axela Technologies

Is This A Better Way to Conduct Board Meetings? | Axela Technologies

This Pandemic has been a horrific human tragedy, and by no means can there ever be a silver lining. At best, we’ve learned some lessons, and new ways of doing business have been established as viable.

One of these things that we have learned is how we can improve community association board of director meetings.

 

Some Lessons Learned from the Pandemic

Companies have learned that remote working does not degrade productivity and perhaps even improves it. I would expect that in the future that “hot bunking” work stations in offices will allow companies to hire more people without having to expand to a larger space.

From a community association perspective, the greatest thing that has been discovered is the unbelievable success of video conference meetings.

 

Problems With Traditional Board Meetings

I have been to my share of community association meetings and usually, there are two problems:

  1. The membership usually fails to understand that a board meeting is NOT their meeting. Membership meetings are one thing but board meetings are another.

    The membership is positioned as observers who may articulate their issues in an open forum at the beginning or end of the meetings.  Board meetings may allow for an open forum but seldom do members sit and wait their turn.  Instead, it is often the case that they interrupt their elected directors from conducting meetings. This takes people off subject and often leads to confrontations.

  2. Many meetings are scheduled at inconvenient times so that members cannot attend, and that is a very bad practice. Sometimes these meetings are scheduled by design to minimize attendance, and sometimes they are held during work hours when people simply cannot attend.

 

Digital Board Meetings Are Just Better

Video conference meetings allow all members of the association an opportunity to see their community association board of directors as work.

It has been quite an eye-opener. More than that, it has been a brilliant experience for me to see how an unruly gathering can be changed into an orderly business meeting.

If I had my choice this would be the only way to perform board meetings going forward.

One Potential Drawback

The only drawback is that there are people who don’t have the technical skill or equipment to be able to participate in such a meeting.

My dear 92-year-old mother would love to have a computer but I won’t get her one until she figures out the remote control. I’ve done everything I can to help her learn, but mastery eludes her.

Getting people with limited technology experience to be able to attend will be the challenge if meetings go completely digital.

I invite suggestions.

 

Digital Meetings Are Better for Everyone

Regarding the first problem of unruly and disruptive meetings, a video conference has the best feature and it’s called a mute button. (My wife has been trying to get one for my big mouth for years, but I digress.)

In the past three months and countless meetings, I have never experienced such orderly, productive meetings, and considering these difficult times it has been a Godsend.

  • The board gets to conduct their meetings without being interrupted by members who come with personal agendas and the agenda is adhered to.
  • The members can be heard loud and clear during the open forum portion of the meeting, so they are not ignored or interrupted.
  • The administrator can record the meeting for prosperity, and minutes can then be properly composed.

It’s a perfect way to conduct board meetings and produce very effective results. This Pandemic has been tragic, but this is one small lesson or process that we can now say was an unintended benefit of a very unfortunate situation.

 

 

Tags: , , ,
WEBINAR: Association Operations During COVID-19 – A Castle Group and Kaye Bender Rembaum, P.L. Webinar

WEBINAR: Association Operations During COVID-19 – A Castle Group and Kaye Bender Rembaum, P.L. Webinar

  • Posted: Jun 02, 2020
  • By:
  • Comments: Comments Off on WEBINAR: Association Operations During COVID-19 – A Castle Group and Kaye Bender Rembaum, P.L. Webinar

Association Operations During COVID-19 – A Castle Group and Kaye Bender Rembaum, P.L. Webinar

Date/Time
Date(s) – JUNE 4th, 2020
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Location
Pompano Beach Office

REGISTER HERE

Castle Group invites you to join episode 4 of Association Operations During COVID-19 with a focus on opening community amenities and more. Panelists include Craig Vaughan, Castle Group, President and Michael S. Bender & Jeffrey A. Rembaum, Kaye Bender Rembaum, P.L. – Board Certified Attorneys in Condominium and Planned Development Law.

Castle Group invites you to join episode 4 of Association Operations During COVID-19 with a focus on opening community amenities and more. Panelists include Craig Vaughan, Castle Group, President, and Michael S. Bender & Jeffrey A. Rembaum, Kaye Bender Rembaum, P.L. – Board Certified Attorneys in Condominium and Planned Development Law.

Register to attend by https://castlegroup.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_lInnKQ_6QtS3C3qouWz9XA.

 

 

Tags: , , ,
PPP Loan Forgiveness and EIDL Loans by RMS Accounting & Royale Management Services

PPP Loan Forgiveness and EIDL Loans by RMS Accounting & Royale Management Services

  • Posted: Jun 02, 2020
  • By:
  • Comments: Comments Off on PPP Loan Forgiveness and EIDL Loans by RMS Accounting & Royale Management Services

PPP Loan Forgiveness and EIDL Loans

by RMS Accounting & Royale Management Services

 

JUNE 3rd, 2020 @9am

Good news, if you missed our recent webinar on PPP Loan Forgiveness and EIDL Loans you’re in luck! The demand for this webinar was so great that we’ve decided to have a second for those who were unable to attend.

Small business owners you don’t want to miss out on this valuable information that could have a big impact on your business.

Sign up for the PPP Loan Forgiveness and EIDL Loans Webinar using the link below:

https://zoom.us/webinar/register/8315904320497/WN_YyMrvspoTkK6tejPRYsENQ

Tags: , ,
WE ARE CONTINUING TO CERTIFY HUNDREDS OF YOU! by Eric Glazer

WE ARE CONTINUING TO CERTIFY HUNDREDS OF YOU! by Eric Glazer

  • Posted: Jun 01, 2020
  • By:
  • Comments: Comments Off on WE ARE CONTINUING TO CERTIFY HUNDREDS OF YOU! by Eric Glazer

WE ARE CONTINUING TO CERTIFY HUNDREDS OF YOU!

Just because we’re stuck in our homes doesn’t mean we can’t get together —- and learn together — remotely – in a safe and fun way.  NO EXCUSES.
Florida law allows the Board Certification class to be taught via a video conference and that’s exactly what we’re doing.
Turn off the news for a few hours and let’s try to have some fun instead. 
 

We have ANOTHER class scheduled:

NEXT CLASS – JUNE 11th, at 6:00 P.M.

If you want to sign up, just provide us with an an e-mail address.  I will then send you a link that you need to click on to start the live seminar.  Make sure to go to: GoTo Meeting
in advance to simply download the program.
Like always……IT’S FREE.
So let’s do this together!

If you want to register, send an e-mail to:

lydia@condo-laws.com

 

Just say you are registering for the class. You will then get a copy of the link to click on before the seminar starts.
After the on-line seminar, you will be e-mailed your certificate and materials.
Let’s make the best of the cards we were dealt.  Let’s get together and do something fun and useful.
In the mean time, our firm and all of the sponsors of the Condo Craze and HOAs radio show wish all of you and your families nothing but good health and good spirits.  We will all get through this in time.
Hoping to see you (on my computer).
Sincerely,
Eric Glazer
Tags: , ,
The Property Manager’s Guide to Social Distancing

The Property Manager’s Guide to Social Distancing

  • Posted: Jun 01, 2020
  • By:
  • Comments: Comments Off on The Property Manager’s Guide to Social Distancing

The Property Manager’s Guide to Social Distancing

by Concierge Plus Inc.

The COVID-19 crisis has presented new and unique challenges for everyone. As with past disruptions, technology will be a key part of the solution for businesses to survive this crisis and thrive in a “new normal” environment. By talking to property managers across North America every
day, we have found what’s working and what’s needed to operate your community remotely and virtually.))
We have published this guide to help managers and board members better understand how to serve their residents without being physically present.
This is the)only)guide published for property/association managers and board members with best practices, tips and tricks on social distancing
Tags: ,