Community Matters

Preparing for Association Board Meetings with a Board Book

Welcome to this episode of Community Matters podcast, where we discuss issues important to managing and governing condos, cooperatives and homeowner associations.

One of the primary functions of a community association board is meetings. Among other things, meetings establish policy, develop strategic plans, provide for owner input, and establish community finances and budgets. 
In today’s episode, we’ll be talking about how a community association board should prepare itself for meetings by developing a board book, and how managers can assemble the resources contained in a board book in a professional manner.

My guest for today’s topic is is Richard Kuziomko, a member of the CAI Keystone Chapter Communications & Content Committee. Richard has managed associations for over 12 years in Washington State and the Greater Washington DC area. Richard earned his MBA from McGill University, and has maintains his professional community association manager credentials, including the CMA, AMS and PCAM. 

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Preparing Your Roof for Fall & Winter

Welcome to this edition of Community Matters podcast, where we discuss issues important to managing and governing condos, cooperatives and homeowner associations.

In this episode, we're talking all things roof related, and whether or not your roof is ready for the Fall season.

Today's guest is David Velasco, with Lifetime Tool & building Products. David is an active member of CAI's Business Partners Council. For more information on Lifetime Tool Tool & Building Products, please visit their website at www.lifetimetool.com.

Community Matters is available in the iTunes store and on Google Play. Subscribe there or download the podbean app and be the first to receive notifications when new episodes are posted.

Chapter Leader Chat: Nicole Skaro, Board President

Welcome to this episode of Community Matters podcast, where we discuss issues important to managing and governing condos, cooperatives and homeowner associations.

We're taking a bit of a different approach with some of our podcasts this year. In addition to the informational and educational podcast interviews that you are used to hearing in this space, we'll be including chats with CAI chapter leaders. And, to start off, this episode features a chat with Nicole Skaro, CMCA, EBP, with CIT Bank, the President of the CAI Keystone Chapter. Tune in to hear how she got to be President of the Board, her plans and goals for the chapter, a new Ladies LAC golf outing, and her new set of drums!

Community Matters is available in the iTunes store, on Google Play and on Spotify. Subscribe there or download the podbean app and be the first to receive notifications when new episodes are posted.

Let’s Talk Legislation with CAI’s PA LAC

Welcome to this episode of Community Matters podcast, where we discuss issues important to managing and governing condos, cooperatives and homeowner associations.

This is our first episode for 2022 and the topic is legislation. We’re in the middle of a very active legislative session in Harrisburg and CAI’s Pennsylvania Legislative Action Committee is currently tracking 34 pieces of legislation that could potentially impact community association operations in the Commonwealth.

We touch on many of these bills with this episode's guest, Ed Hoffman, Esq., CCAL, with Hoffman Law. Ed currently serves as the Chair of CAI’s Pennsylvania Legislative Action Committee.. 

Community Matters is available in the iTunes store, on Google Play and on Spotify. Subscribe there or download the podbean app and be the first to receive notifications when new episodes are posted.

Resale Disclosure in Community Associations

Welcome to this episode of Community Matters podcast, where we discuss issues important to managing and governing condos, cooperatives and homeowner associations.

What is a resale certificate? Simply put, a resale certificate is a legally mandated document containing a very large trove of information that a seller must provide to a buyer of a home or unit in a community association. In reality, it’s a lot more complicated than that. Preparation of a resale certificate is important to both the buyer and the seller, its contents are extensive and its preparation is time consuming. We’ll cover all the details of resale disclosure certificates in today’s episode of Community Matters.

Today's guest is Neil Hilkert, Esq., an attorney who specializes in community association law with the law firm Reidenbach & Associates, LLC located in Wayne, PA.s. 

Community Matters is available in the iTunes store, on Google Play and on Spotify. Subscribe there or download the podbean app and be the first to receive notifications when new episodes are posted.

Lessons Learned: Association Boards, Reserves & Fiduciary Duty

Welcome to this episode of Community Matters podcast, where we discuss issues important to managing and governing condos, cooperatives and homeowner associations.

Anyone listening to this podcast is very likely aware of the tragic collapse of the Champlain Towers South Condominium building in Surfside, Florida that occurred a few months ago. The discussion that we are focusing on today intends to serve as a conversation regarding the obligations of elected homeowner leaders, while avoiding any insinuation as to the causes or events leading up to that tragic incident. And, before we start our discussion, we want to extend our sincerest condolences to all those impacted by this tragic event.

The topic of condo and building safety will dominate the conversations of community association practitioners for many months and years to come, as we all work to insure something like this never happens again. CAI’s national organization assembled various task forces that are working on a series of public policies to address issues such as building inspections and maintenance and reserve funds and studies. This podcast is intended to be a conversation about the obligations of elected homeowner leaders when it comes to the various issues involved in this topic.  

Our guests for this episode include Sara Austin, Esq., with Austin Law Firm, LLC, Marshal Granor, Esq., CCAL, with Granor & Granor PC, and Stefan Richter, Esq., CCAL, from Clemons, Richter & Reiss. 

Community Matters is available in the iTunes store, on Google Play and on Spotify. Subscribe there or download the podbean app and be the first to receive notifications when new episodes are posted.

Re-establishing Community in a Post Pandemic World

Welcome to this episode of Community Matters podcast, where we discuss issues important to managing and governing condos, cooperatives and homeowner associations.

As a community association manager or board member, it can be difficult to fully understand the financial, legal, and emotional impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the residents of your community association. While it’s crucial to focus on budgets, board meetings, and other community obligations to get your community back on track, you can’t lose sight of what matters most: reestablishing a sense of togetherness.

We’ll talk about this in detail with today’s guest, Jenniffer Harrington, Business Development Manager for Associa Mid-Atlantic, AAMC.

Community Matters is available in the iTunes store, on Google Play and on Spotify. Subscribe there or download the podbean app and be the first to receive notifications when new episodes are posted.

Bet on This: Games of Chance in Pennsylvania Community Associations

Welcome to this episode of Community Matters podcast, where we discuss issues important to managing and governing condos, cooperatives and homeowner associations.

Community associations often get creative in programming activities for homeowners. Sometimes these activities may involve games of chance like raffles, lotteries, drawings and 50/50s. But these games are considered gambling, and state regulations do apply. We’ll discuss these games of chance and how community associations can become licensed to host such events with Paula Haurie, a former member of the board of Traditions of America at Hanover, located in located in Bethlehem, PA. Information contained in this podcast is specific to community associations in Pennsylvania. Listeners from other states should check with your state for applicable laws and regulations.

Community Matters is available in the iTunes store, on Google Play and on Spotify. Subscribe there or download the podbean app and be the first to receive notifications when new episodes are posted.

Managing Collections & Delinquencies

Welcome to this episode of Community Matters podcast, where we discuss issues important to managing and governing condos, cooperatives and homeowner associations.

Today's episode is about the always important topic of assessment collections and delinquencies in community associations, and what impact, if any, the Covid-19 pandemic has had on homeowner delinquencies in community associations.

Today's guest is Sara Austin, Esq., founder of Austin Law Firm, LLC, located in York, Pennsylvania. Sara is a graduate of the Marshall-Wythe School of Law, College of William & Mary. Sara served as the 2016-017 president of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, and is the chair of CAI's Central Pennsylvania Regional Council.

The sponsor of today's episode is The Falcon Group - a unique, full-service Engineering, Architectural & Energy Consulting firm. Falcon’s primary focus is on restoring and evaluating existing facilities ranging from site, building envelope and energy improvements. The Falcon Group's full-service capabilities focus on your building’s specific needs. For more information on The Falcon Group, visit www.thefalcongroup.us. 

Community Matters is available in the iTunes store, on Google Play and on Spotify. Subscribe there or download the podbean app and be the first to receive notifications when new episodes are posted.

The Nuisance Factor

Welcome to this episode of Community Matters podcast, where we discuss issues important to managing and governing condos, cooperatives and homeowner associations.

The topic for t his episode is nuisances in community associations – odors, noise, neighbor to neighbor disputes, and more. This is a topic that often comes up in conversations with association board members and managers and how they can deal with complaints from homeowners about nuisances that may occur in their communities. Our guest for this episode is Ed Hoffman, Esq., CCAL, with Hoffman Law. Ed is a member of the College of Community Association Lawyers and is the chair of CAI’s Pennsylvania Legislative Action Committee. Ed frequents contributes to CAI as a speaker and author. 

Community Matters is available in the iTunes store, on Google Play and on Spotify. Subscribe there or download the podbean app and be the first to receive notifications when new episodes are posted.