Page 44 - NY Cooperator Expo April 2019

44 THE COOPERATOR —APRIL 2019 COOPERATOR.COM our See us at Booth 317 guards are required when the entry age for using a swimming pool is over age 18, or a person over age 18 accompanies a mi- nor. Even still, an association should post a sign such as “No lifeguard on duty—Swim at your own risk.” And if the association chooses to hire a lifeguard, then he/she must be properly certified. 2. Prepare strong rules and policies and strictly enforce them. 3. Stick to inspection and maintenance plans for both regular upkeep and annual inspections. Maintain rescue equipment, as well as lighting, fencing, pool and door alarms, and an outside phone for emergen- cies. 4. Review your insurance coverage an- nually, making sure it’s adequate to cover any specific and unique risks. Your general casualty policy may not cover all of the dif- ferent common area amenities your com- munity has, such as clubhouses, a pool, storage areas, parking facilities, tennis courts, gyms or playgrounds. 5. In case of an accident or mishap, contact emergency assistance if needed, followed immediately by your insurance carrier and your attorney. Once that’s done, association staff should protect the area and let the professionals take over. Finally, if your association is consider- ing putting in a gym, spa or other amenity package, here is some expert advice: “If you’re going to put in a gym,” says Woll- man, “put in one with adequate equipment. The space has to be well equipped enough for the residents to actually use it.” “Be careful,” Hamilton adds. “Hire a professional to design the facility and plan it out.” In the end, there’s no point in spend- ing the money if it won’t improve your residents’ lives and raise the values of their units. n A J Sidransky is a staff writer/reporter with The Cooperator, and a published novelist. HYGIENE... continued from page 15 can tackle any necessary interior work. Maistre suggests that a board look to clean carpets; strip, deep-clean and/or polish tiles in entryways and lobby areas; touch up paint on walls, doors and trims; clean light fixtures, interior windows and air ducts. “The latter, along with marble floor tiles, should be handled by profes- sionals,” he makes sure to point out. “Any elevators should be inspected, and fire safety and suppression measures should be taken care of,” adds Cabrera. Boards should also brace themselves – because as soon as the weather turns, it’s moving season. “Spring is usually busy for people moving in and out of properties, so association staff should prepare heavily- SPRING... continued from page 17 trafficked service areas by installing fresh corner guards and ensuring that elevator pads are in good condition to better pro- tect the cabs,” says Butler. “These steps can save thousands of dollars in repairs after the moving season is over. “Also, the rain that comes with spring can often result in wet lobbies with slippery conditions,” Butler continues. “In-house staff should replace worn lobby floor mats, inspect seals around common area win- dows and doors, and confirm that build- ing drainage systems are free of debris or blockages.” Springtime is lovely – but it can also be a lot of work. By planning ahead, pri- oritizing tasks, and delegating to commit- tees of committed residents, your building or HOA can make seasonal cleanup easier and smoother – and spend more of your time enjoying the return of sunshine and warmer weather. n Mike Odenthal is a staff writer/reporter for The Cooperator. be easily located.” Scott J. Sandler, Managing Partner at law firm Sandler, Hansen & Alexander, LLC, in Middletown, Connecticut “Connecticut’s version of the Common Interest Ownership Act contains an exten- sive provision that addresses the ability of owners to inspect and copy association records. Most association records must be open to the owners for inspection. The as- sociation is not required to synthesize or compile any information just because an owner wishes to see it, but to the extent a record exists, it would generally be avail- able for the owners to inspect. “The association may not permit own- ers to inspect personnel, salary, and med- ical records relating to specific individu- als, unless waived by the persons to whom such records relate; or information the disclosure of which would violate any law. “Additionally, the association may choose to withhold contracts, leases, and other commercial transactions to pur- chase or provide goods or services cur- rently being negotiated; existing or po- tential litigation or mediation, arbitration or administrative proceedings; existing or potential matters involving federal, state or local administrative or other formal proceedings before a governmental tri- bunal for enforcement of the declaration, bylaws or rules; communications with the association’s attorney which are otherwise protected by the attorney-client privilege or the attorney work-product doctrine; records of an executive session of the executive board; or individual unit files other than those of the requesting owner. “Finally, the association may charge a reasonable fee for supervising an owner’s ACCESS... continued from page 19