Page 8 - CooperatorNews New York August 2021

8 COOPERATORNEWS — AUGUST 2021 COOPERATORNEWS.COM COOPERATOR EVENTS EXPO 2021 WHERE BUILDINGS MEET SERVICES YOUR BOARD’S ATTENDANCE IS NOT REQUIRED. BUT IT SHOULD BE. NEW YORK HILTON MIDTOWN — THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 9–4:30 FREE REGISTRATION: COOPEXPO.COM eran board members called to inform an officer right off the bat. This allowed dos, and emergency preparedness. CNYC vice professionals can access the latest me of my ‘win.’ A retired educator with me to gain extra insight and education also offers courses and seminars through- a fondness for conspiracy theories and from our extremely competent and sea- a helping of good ol’ mid-century chau- vinism, he told me, “I have one piece of Charles H. Greenthal & Co. He took me management firm FirstService Residen- advice for you: Stay quiet and let the oth- ers talk.” He said in my first year, I was showing me everything from the boilers talk over Zoom called “Onboarding New (www.caionline.org), provides informa- there to learn. (Our board members serve to the roofs. I was able to learn about the Board Members.” He believes that “suc- three-year terms.) There was a lot of com- plicated stuff going on, he warned, and it erty’s systems, would be best if I would just listen. My “board orientation,” as it were, projects, consisted of a four-inch binder from our management that contained previ- ous years’ meeting minutes, resolutions, meanings (FYI, financial statements, management re- ports, and communications to sharehold- ers; copies of the corporation’s govern- ing documents; and printouts of various articles—some straight from this publi- cation!—about legal precedents, board doors and win- governance, and other matters related to dows), allow- multifamily living and the history of co- ops. While legal and management profes- sionals universally agree that new board co nf iden t l y members should read and understand this in the board- information, it is admittedly easier said room, but also than done. In hindsight, it would have to translate and helped to have a current, knowledgeable more board member walk me through some of the more salient items. Alas, I had no such to the co-op’s 5,000 tenant-shareholders Service offer many resources to boards tions in a timely manner. Aging high-rise guide. In our first meeting, in which we elected officers, it was clear that I was not the only one who needed a refresher on parliamentary procedure. We had to redo several of the votes because one member had written “sustained” rather than “ab- stain” on their secret ballot. It also be- came clear that this member was part of a majority faction of long-standing direc- tors who were guided by fallacy, deferral, and nepotism. And since I was the only new member that year, discussions and voting proceeded without explanation or background information, using esoteric industry terminology and in-house short- hand that had been established long ago. “All in favor of option C for the lentil \\\[sic\\\] (http://www.cnyc.com/housing.htm), work (www.communityassociations.net) replacement?”—Huh? In spite of all that, no one stepped up budgets and financial statements, topics and information related to co-ops, con- for the position of secretary, so I became and terms pertaining to co-ops and con- soned general manager, Frank Durant of on a tour of the co-op’s four buildings, tial New York, recently gave just such a tute (CAI), with 63 chapters worldwide 13-acre prop- components, and the correct ter- minology and lin t e l s — n o t ‘lentils’— are the support beams above openings like ing me not only to engage more clearly communicate board actions and decisions in monthly reports. Hang Tough What I’ve learned over the years is that even beyond the community in which you CooperatorEvents Expos at the NY Hil- live is a broader community dedicated to ton and Javits Center, where I met more serving the multifamily industry. In ad- dition to the resources this publication learned about the industry, and sat in on cation is also essential to a healthy com- provides in print, online, and at its annual seminars about reserve planning, prob- trade shows, there are other organizations lem residents, and energy efficiency. “sugarcoat” a building’s or association’s fi- and associations throughout the nation (Readers take note: CooperatorEvents’ in- and beyond that give support and guid- ance to boards and homeowners in co-op, the opportunity to learn straight from the favorable to other homeowners or share- condo, and HOA communities. In my first board year, Durant gave me ing and administration. Register for free of owners on limited income,” continues information to sign up for the Council in your region today! www.expos.yrpubs. of New York Cooperatives and Condo- miniums (CNYC) Housing Conference where I took classes on understanding is an online resource that aggregates news out the year; many are free to members. Dan Wurtzel, president of property throughout the U.S. and Canada. cessful boards than 40,000 members. Marilyn Brainard, are those that member of the CAI Government & Public are familiar with the build- ing’s bylaws and other gov- erning docu- ments. They are also acutely vigilance and action are on any board. aware of their fiduciary obli- gation in mak- ing decisions to physical property as one of the most align the best important responsibilities of a director, interests of the especially when lives may be involved,” cooperative or says Brainard. “This usually means hiring condominium qualified business partners to report to above any in- dividual inter- ests.” He notes housing. Not only \\\[should boards\\\] accept that large, national management firms like First- themselves through their website and as- sociated events. Durant also informed me about the ration and the natural degrading of some of our service providers and vendors, person Expos are back this fall, giving you especially—if the news might seem un- experts in all aspects of multifamily liv- com) The Community Associations Net- dos, and HOAs. There, boards and ser- on legislation, events, and issues pertain- ing to association living and governance The Community Associations Insti- tion, resources, and advocacy to its more Affairs Committee, expresses the impor- tance of orienting new board members to the critical role they play in the health and safety of their community’s structures and residents. The recent tragedy in Surfside, Florida, underscores just how important “Board members—in all associa- tions—are expected to use recognized experts to examine the integrity of the the board and members of the association the soundness of structures providing the report’s recommendations, but \\\[they should\\\] commence action for correc- condominium associations are especially vulnerable due to the buildings’ configu- original construction products over time.” You Got the Right Stuff Thorough and transparent communi- munity. Boards should not hold back or nancial or physical status, even—perhaps holders. “If an association is composed Brainard, “the board needs to express the importance of keeping the integrity of their units. Recent programs by the fed- NEW KIDS ON THE... continued from page 1 “Board members—in all associations—are expected to use recognized experts to examine the integrity of the physical property as one of the most important responsibilities of a director, especially when lives may be involved.” —Marilyn Brainard