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Blog
“If I Were An Association Board Member” – The 10 Things We Hope All Board Members Do
10 Things I Hope All Board Members Do: Acknowledge their fiduciary responsibility to all owners. After all, Board members are entrusted with properly managing other peoples’ money, primarily for the care and preservation of commonly owned properties. They are expected to honor the Association’s governing documents and corporate by-laws, Board rules, as well as the Florida Statutes and Administrative Code. Receive education in understanding and interpreting the monthly and annual financial statements. This is not just the responsibility of the Association Treasurer. I frequently hear comments from Board members such as, “I have to spend so much time going through our monthly financial package. Is there a simpler way to do it?” The answer is “YES.” With guidance from the Association’s CPA, a checklist can be developed to check for accuracy, completeness, explanations of variances, and essentially, answer these questions: How are we doing? What action steps should we consider?
Legislative Lessons and Reminders
Article Provided By Rosa M. de la Camara Esq. Becker & Poliakoff. The Florida Legislature is commencing another busy legislative session. We are aware of possible legislation to criminalize fraudulent Emotional Support Animal requests and to help communities and local governments regulate short term rental activity. While we monitor this session’s progress, it is a good time to review last year’s most important community association laws to ensure your association is in compliance. The outline below highlights some of the 2018 laws you need to know if you are serving on a community association board. Condominium and Cooperative Official Records The minutes of all meetings of the association, the board of administration, and the units owners must be permanently maintained from the inception of the association (as opposed to 7 years). The amount of time that condominium and cooperative associations must respond to a written records request is extended from
KW PROPERTY MANAGEMENT & CONSULTING Names Two New Partners Following Banner Year of Growth
Tim O’Keefe assumes role of Executive Director of Strategic Growth and Client Relations, and Frank Simone joins leading property management company as General Counsel. Miami, Fla. – Jan 8, 2019 – Following the completion of a record-breaking year of company and portfolio growth, KW PROPERTY MANAGEMENT & CONSULTING’s (KWPMC) has kicked off 2019 with the addition of two new partners. Tim O’Keefe, who joined KWPMC as Director in 2016, was promoted to Executive Director of Strategic Growth and Client Relations. Frank Simone, a Miami-based attorney who has served as the company’s outside counsel, is now the in-house General Counsel at KWPMC. Both are now partners with the company. The moves went into effect on Jan 1. KWPMC closed 2018 with 24 percent year-over-year growth in revenue and added 341 employees, a 30 percent increase. “We enjoyed a historic year of expansion in 2018 largely because of our incredible team and
Holiday Decorating Etiquette As a Community
Holiday decorations are an easy way for an association to spread some seasonal cheer and add a cozy, communal vibe to the neighborhood. And they’re a big part of Florida communities: 80 percent of associations choose to decorate, per a recent survey from the Community Association Leadership Lobby. But, what was once a practice limited to a couple lights, ornaments and a menorah or two has migrated toward a decorating empire complete with 10-foot tall blow-up Santas, multi-color lights that pulse and twinkle and even moving reindeer and elves, synchronized to holiday music. While not all associations chose to outfit their buildings with such elaborate décor (or want the super-sized energy bill that comes along with it), navigating the community decorating scene can be tricky at times. Decorating can be more complex than just stringing together a bunch of lights—it involves issues of culture, timing, quantity and quality. Before decking
Holiday Bonus Etiquette for Association Employees and Vendors
Whether you live in a suburb or in the heart of the city, an HOA or high-rise condominium, things can get pretty expensive. The holiday season compounds the issue: there are gifts to be bought, travel to be booked, parties to attend and the stress that many Boardss feel when trying to figure out what kind of bonus to give the people who (hopefully) make their everyday life a little easier: the building or HOA staff. A reward for work well done is a welcome gift, especially at this time of year. Property Managers, chief engineers, maintenance personnel, front desk staff, housekeepers and pool & spa attendants all work diligently throughout the year to deliver the lifestyle that you expect. An association’s staff in Florida spend most of the year dealing with heat, humidity, and the merciless southern sun as they go about their duties. Regardless of the temperature, your