Page 18 - CooperatorNews New York January 2022

18 COOPERATORNEWS — JANUARY 2022 COOPERATORNEWS.COM ATTORNEYS Abrams Garfi nkel Margolis Bergson, LLP 1430 Broadway, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10018 212-201-1170 • www.agmblaw.com Barry G. Margolis, Esq. • Robert J. Bergson, Esq. Himmelfarb & Sher, LLP • (914) 682-0040 Cooperative and Condominium Law—Real Estate Closings One North Broadway, Suite 800, White Plains, NY 10601 Contact: Ronald A. Sher, Esq. • Norman D. Himmelfarb, Esq. Law@himmelfarb-sher.com • Direct Dial: 914-461-0220 ACCOUNTANTS ARCHITECTS SERVICE DIRECTORY  Over 30 years of coop & condo experience  Hands on Personal Attention Timely Service  Contact: Gary Adler, CPA Sarah Haar CPA   www.bassandlemer.com 516-485-9600 adler@basslemer.com Contact: Lauren Ziemba, CPA Sarah Haar, CPA lziemba@basslemer.com n n FSI ARCHITECTURE Restoration Preservation Investigation Interior Design 307 7th Ave, #1001 New York, NY 10001 FSI.NYC 212.645.3775 110 E. 42nd Street, 17th Floor New York, New York 10017 Robert J. Braverman, Scott S. Greenspun (212) 682- 2900 www.braverlaw.net rbraverman@braverlaw.net sgreenspun@braverlaw.net Braverman Greenspun, P.C. ATTORNEYS Abrams Garfi nkel Margolis Bergson, LLP 1430 Broadway, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10018 212-201-1170 • www.agmblaw.com Barry G. Margolis, Esq. • Robert J. Bergson, Esq. Him Coo One Conta Law@ Belkin Burden Wenig & Goldman, LLP Specializing in all aspects of Cooperative and Condominium Law including Landlord/tenant proceedings. Copy of Monthly Newsletter available upon request. (212) 867-4466 contact: Aaron Shmulewitz/Daniel Altman ashmulewitz@bbwg.com/daltman@bbwg.com www.bbwg.com w 462 • • Lan Real • Zon Rig Contact: Three 48 New Y A full service real estate law firm serving the cooperative and condominium community Eric M. Goidel, Esq. egoidel@borahgoldstein.com (212)431-1300, Ext.438 Manhattan: 377 Broadway l New York, NY 10036│(212) 431-1300 Queens: 108-18 Queens Blvd│Forest Hills, NY 11375│(718) 263-6611 www.borahgoldstein.com ARCHITECTS architecture interior design engineering project management forensic investigations 307 7th Avenue, Suite 1001, New York, NY 10001 Tel. 212.645.3775 Fax. 212.645.4099 Form Space Image ARCHITECTURE PC Contact: Gary Adler, CPA Sarah Haar CPA   516-485-9600 adler@basslemer.com Re Pro 2 J H Ans C R Te Please submit Pulse items to Darcey Gerstein at darcey@cooperator.com 18 THE COOPERATOR — JUNE 2020 New York Residents Notice Mail Delays During Pandemic While “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these cou- riers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds,” as the United States Postal Service’s motto goes, CBSNewYork reports that the organization has experi- enced delays in service as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic—and New Yorkers are noticing. CBSNewYork reports that according to some Bronx residents, they haven’t re- ceived their mail—including packages, bills, and medications—in almost a week. Maryann Monte, a retiree who lives in an apartment building in Kingsbridge, indi- cated that she received an email from her building stating that their local post of- fi ce has been “inactive, apparently due to numerous employees’ COVID-19 related exposure and/or diagnosis.” At one Riverdale co-op, says CBS, rumors have been circulating that coro- navirus has ripped through the local post offi ce, resulting in noticeable mail delays. Co-op resident Kevin Ploth tells CBS, “I’ve noticed, along with some of my neighbors—we have a mailman who we know by name, and the last we saw of him was Th ursday of last week.” When CBSNewYork reached out to USPS regarding the delays, a spokesper- son’s response was, in part, “\\\[W\\\]e con- tinue fl exing our available resources to match the workload created by the im- pacts of the ongoing coronavirus pan- demic.” In other words, completion of ap- pointed rounds will not be “stayed” by the pandemic—yet—but it may be less “swift ” than the delivery times to which we’ve be- come accustomed in the 21st century. CBSNewYork notes that while the Centers for Disease Control and Preven- tion (CDC) and the World Health Orga- nization (WHO) say there’s no evidence of the virus spreading through contact with mail or packages, at least one study has shown that coronavirus can remain on surfaces such as cardboard for up to 24 hours. Th erefore, it is recommended that any packages be left outside the home for at least that time period, and to clean any surfaces with which the package comes in contact. And—of course—wash your hands aft er handling any mail or packag- es, or anything else received from outside of your home. n because at some point, you arrive at ONE POINT One Point Brokerage is an independent insurance brokerage offering a comprehensive suite of risk transfer and insurance solutons to New York Cooperatves, Condominiums, and Real Estate owners since 1965. 450 Park Avenue South, 8th Floor • New York, NY 10016 Todd M. Ross • tmr@onepointib.com •212.696.0101 • www.onepointib.com FOR 50 YEARS , OUR DEDICATION TO SERVICE HAS BEEN AUTOMATIC 1-800-THE-WASH AUTOMATICINDUSTRIES.COM The positive difference that only people can make 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 Estate, a luxury brokerage representing mul- tiple large South Florida developments, and a board member of the Miami Downtown De- velopment Authority, tells real estate publica- tion Mansion Global that she sees more co-op and condo buyers paying out-of-pocket to have such research done as they look to pur- chase a home or investment property. “Th e lesson learned from this horrible tragedy,” says Cervera, “is that closer atten- tion needs to be made to the maintenance of these buildings, and condo associations have to make sure they’re properly funded to meet the maintenance needs. I think that we will emerge stronger and safer as a result of this since there will be stricter guidelines and more caution around building inspections.” A New Year’s Resolution With 2022 likely to see more enhanced inspection laws, tighter oversight, and ac- celerated maintenance schedules, establish- ing and maintaining a healthy reserve fund should be very much top of mind for every co-op, condo, and HOA in the country. Th e pros emphasize that this does not necessarily equate to a budget percentage or a set yearly contribution. It has to be tied to a reserve study, conducted every fi ve years or so, that details the useful life of all of the association’s or corporation’s major capital elements— roofs, sidewalks, elevators, mechanicals, til- ing, carpeting, fencing, etc.—and how much money to put aside each year so that when that element needs to be replaced, the funds are there to do it timely and well. Todd Walter, Great Lakes Regional Ex- ecutive Director of national engineering fi rm Reserve Advisors, lays this issue bare: “Th e fi duciary responsibility of the board of direc- tors is not to save people money,” he says. “It’s to maintain the investment of the owners. We want to make sure people pay for the use each year they live in their unit—each year they use that elevator, or they get fl oor protection from that rug, they’re paying for the use. In general, associations that have reserves avail- able to take on projects in a timely manner, and with a scope of work that doesn’t cut corners, are far better off —and are far better run—than the associations that have to rely on special assessments, because the money is not available to take on a project in timely manner.” Ultimately, this might be the most impor- tant takeaway for boards, managers, and own- ers/shareholders: make it a new year’s resolu- tion to conduct a professional reserve study and follow its recommendations. Whatever the economic conditions, a healthy reserve is a boost to property value. And coming out of these last couple of years, we know that di- sasters do happen; there’s no excuse for being unprepared in the future. n Darcey Gerstein is Associate Editor and a Staff Writer for CooperatorNews. THE YEAR (P)REVIEW continued from page 17