Page 16 - CooperatorNews NY November 2021

Providing Practical Legal Advice and Representation to Cooperative and Condominium Associations for More Than Forty Years • General Counsel • Residential and Commercial Real Estate and Leasing • Real Estate and Commercial Litigation • Mortgage Financing • Commercial, Corporate and Business Law • Comme • Mitchell-Lama Housing • Transfer Agent Services • Construction Law and Gas Conversions Jack Lepper: jlepper@kll-law.com Ronald Gold: rgold@kll-law.com Adam Finkelstein: afinkelstein@kll-law.com Fran Lawless: flawless@kll-law.com Fran L 16 COOPERATORNEWS — NOVEMBER 2021 COOPERATORNEWS.COM Cesarano & Khan, PC Certified Public Accountants PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TO THE COOPERATIVE AND CONDOMINIUM COMMUNITY Reporting on Financial Statements • Tax Services Budgeting & Consulting • Election Tabulation Services For additional information, contact Carl M. Cesarano, CPA 199 JERICHO TURNPIKE, SUITE 400 • FLORAL PARK, NY 11001 (516) 437-8200 and 718-478-7400 • info@ck-cpas.com cesarano &khan1_8 use this_:cesarano &khan 4 7/22/15 4:59 PM Page 1 Death is a reality here; it’s an aging com- munity. But everyone helps each other out. We need the community feeling.” Michael Valente of BRIGS, a real es- tate management firm based in Boston, agrees that many residents in the associa- tions he manages are still fearful of group activities. “Some are still afraid to leave their houses. But those who are not,” he says, “are beginning to use the clubhouse and the pool. Book clubs, movie clubs, and card clubs are meeting. These events are posted on community website calen- dars, and notices are sent by email to the residents or through our web portal to let them know. We are encouraging masks, and some clubs are requiring them. If vaccinated, no mask is required.” Finally, Greco suggests that boards consider consulting with therapists to get some good ideas about how to bring back social interaction and how to ap- proach residents in a helpful way. Con- sider bringing counselors to a commu- nity event; give people an opportunity to talk about how the last 20 months have been for them. Perhaps a printed memo and some in-person situations where res- idents can ask questions, vent, etc. with mental and physical health profession- als. If that doesn’t seem like a fit for your building, then perhaps a resource list of support professionals, organizations, or hotlines posted to the building website or chat group could be useful. One thing is for sure: the past 20 months have been difficult. Hopefully the next 20 can be used to get back on a positive pathway, both for individuals and their communi- ties. n A.J. Sidransky is a staff writer/reporter for CooperatorNews, and a published novelist. He can be reached at alan@yrinc.com. REBUILDING... continued from page 15 a D&O policy that properly protects all directors and officers against personal li- ability for decisions they make as board members. 8. When possible, encourage unit own- ers to review their existing homeowner’s insurance policies to make sure they have adequate coverage for their personal property, betterments, and maintenance obligations. 9. Always be guided by sound business judgement, act for the benefit of all unit owners, and do your best to keep your buildings and other structures in good and updated condition. 10. Pay careful attention to complaints from residents about structural issues, water seepage, and leak concerns, and make sure that the property manager logs those complaints so they are prop- erly addressed. If unit owners are already experiencing seepage issues, make sure to address those issues promptly. If your association has sustained dam- age due to high winds, flooding, or sew- age backup, the time to take steps to pre- vent such damages is now. No association wants to be embroiled in avoidable litiga- tion. Board members should work closely with their managing agents and attorneys so they don’t have to endure recovering from another catastrophic storm. n Michael J. Willner, Esq. is a partner in the Community Association Law and Business Litigation practice areas at Curcio Mirzaian Sirot LLC in Roseland, NJ. Contact him at MWillner@cmsllc.law. PROTECTING... continued from page 10 Paving The Way... • Concrete Specialists • Decorative Sidewalks • Color Tinting • Stamping • Acid Stain • Structural Steel • Waterproofing • Fireproofing • Landmark Buildings • Parking Garages • Structural Concrete • Granite & Brick Pavers • Caulking • Granite Curbing • Steel Face Curbing • Sidewalk Violations Removed Serving Manhattan for over 40 Years Approved Phone: 718-858-4668 Fax: 718-243-9354 171 Dwight Street Brooklyn, NY 11231 www.EtnaContracting.com ECI Since 1966 CONTRACTING INC. Complete Restorations & Rebuilding of Sidewalk Vaults Certified Waterproofing Systems: Kemper Liquid Plastics Siplast WR Grace BIC # 2562 Consumer Affairs #11335626