Community Matters

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 of Community Matters we’ll be discussing payment processing. Every community association receives payments – for monthly assessments, fees, or other payments. Modern technology has greatly expanded payment options available to community associations. My guest today is Nicole Skaro, Vice President and Association Financial Partner with Alliance Association Bank. Nicole covers the states of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania and has a strong understanding of the Community Association Industry and the specific needs of management companies, individual managers, and community associations. Nicole is also a member of the board of directors of the CAI Pennsylvania & Delaware Valley Chapter. For more information on Alliance Association Bank, visit their website. Community Matters is now 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.

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 of Community Matters we’ll be discussing why deferred maintenance is important to a community association and why it should be included in the association budget. My guest for this episode is Brandon Femia, RS, with Kipcon, Incorporated, an engineering consulting firm that specializes in community associations. Brandon performs reserve studies, transition studies, deferred maintenance schedules, cost estimates, operating manuals and physical and financial assessments for community associatoins. Brandon holds CAI's Reserve Specialist designation. For more information on Kipcon, please visit www.kipcon.com. Community Matters is now 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.

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 of Community Matters we’ll be discussing Reserve Studies – specifically, updates that were adopted in 2017 to CAI’s national Reserve Study Standards. My guest for this episode is Mitch Frumkin, president and founder of Kipcon, Incorporated, an engineering consulting firm that specializes in community associations. A Licensed Professional Engineer in eighteen states, Mitch holds CAI Reserve Specialist designation. He is also a past president of Community Associations Institute and the Pennsylvania & Delaware Valley Chapter. For more information on Kipcon, please vist www.kipcon.com. Community Matters is now 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.

On May 7, 2018, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf signed House Bill 595 into law. Now known as Act 17 of 2018, the legislation assigns the investigation and mediation of certain complaints regarding Pennsylvania planned communities, cooperatives, and condominiums to the Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. The legislation also recognizes the importance of dispute resolution procedures within each community association. CAI worked closely with the Bill’s prime sponsor, State Representative Rosemary Brown, whose 189th legislative district in Monroe and Pike Counties in the Poconos region, includes a very high concentration of community associations. Representative Brown is my guest today in this podcast where we’ll discuss the reasons behind the Bill and what she hopes to accomplish with the legislation. Community Matters is now 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.

Welcome to this edition of Community Matters podcast, where we discuss issues important to managing and governing condos, cooperatives and homeowner associations. CAI members – including management companies and community associations that are employers - are subject to numerous state and federal laws that govern the workplace. Compliance with these employment laws is critical to avoiding litigation. We'll be reviwing these laws in this episode with Philip Voluck, owner of the national law firm Kaufman Dolowich and Voluck. For the last 40 years, Phil has represented employers, including community associations, who have been faced with claims of discrimination or wrongful termination by former employees, rejected applicants, and other parties. For more information on the firm, please visit their website. Community Matters is now 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.

In this episode of Community Matters Podcast for condos and homeowners associations, we’ll be talking about pest control, dealing with summer pests and how you can keep your condominium, home and common areas free of pests. Today's guest is John DiDomenico, with A. Amendt Pest Control, a 63 year old family owned business. A. Amendt Pest Control is a full service company handling termites, bed bugs, roaches ants, rodents and wildlife for commercial and residential customers throughout Delaware, Montgomery, Chester and Philadelphia Counties and Southern NJ. Community Matters is now 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.

Nearly every planned community has stormwater management ponds, and some have more elaborate lakes and other water ways. In this episode of Community Matters podcast, we'll be discussing how a community association can effectively manage lakes and ponds in a sustanable way without the use of chemicals. Today's guest is John Phelps, an Environmental Scientist with SOLitude Lake Management. John has over a decade of experience in water and land management throughout the Delaware, Pennsylvania and the rest of the Mid-Atlantic. John has worked on major land-development projects, conducted threatened and endangered species surveys, and played an integral role in efforts to reduce nutrient loading and sustainably manage harmful algal blooms in community lakes and ponds. Community Matters is now 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.

The topic of privacy has been in the news recently for many different reasons, mostly related to social media, data breaches and other online privacy issues. But privacy takes on many different forms and many questions arise related to homeowner and resident privacy in a community association setting, where residents may gather in common spaces such as clubhouses, pools, lobbies, mail rooms or at association sponsored events. Issues of privacy in these situations can present themselves in many forms that many individuals may not think about. In this episode of Community Matters podcast, we’ll be exploring these issues and examining common scenarios in which you might not think the issue of privacy is a big deal. Our in this episode is Jamie Cooperstein, CEO of J. Cooperstein Hospitality Consulting, LLC. In her work, Jamie she uses the principles of AAA “Five Diamond” service, which shaped her career, to educate employees who work behind or supervise those that work at front desk counters, host stands, customer service windows, in lobbies or over the phone. Jamie uses a blend of interactive exercises, role playing and team building to coach clients on the necessary components of service excellence. For more information on her services, visit www.jcoopconsulting.com. Community Matters is now 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.

Summer weather conditions - storms, heat and humidity - can have a serious impact on homes, buildings and community associations. In this episode of Community Matters Podcast, we’ll be discussing how stormy weather in the warm summer months, flooding, and high humidity can affect your property and lead to mold growth and what can be done to mitigate and prevent this type of damage to your property. Our guest today is Robert Tabasko, Business Development at Rolyn Companies, a commercial property restoration and remediation company that specializes in mold remediation. For more information on services offered by Rolyn, please visit their website at www.rolyncompanies.com.  Community Matters is now 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.

Drones are suddenly everywhere these days. In this episode, we'll be discussing drones and how they can be effectively used in community association inspections, maintenance and engineering work. Our guest today is Miles Abrams with The Falcon Group. Miles is responsible for the safe and effective delivery of drone services at The Falcon Group. One of the first remote pilots licensed in the state of NJ, he has extensive prior professional experience in information systems and media production, is a volunteer firefighter in his local township, and active in the regional drone racing community. For more information on services offered by The Falcon Group, please vist their website at www.thefalcongroup.us. This episode is sponsored by the law firm of Ansell Grimm & Aaron with offices located in Princeton, Ocean and Woodland Park, NJ, Newtown, PA and White Plains, NY. The firm specializes in multiple practice areas including community association law. Find out more at www.ansellgrimm.com. Community Matters is now 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.

In 1978, lead paint was banned in the United States. But just because there was no lead paint used in new construction after 1978 doesn't mean there's no more danger from lead paint. In 2011, Congress enacted a new law, enforced by the EPA, called the Renovation Repair and Painting Act, which states that any home built prior to 1978 is assumed to have lead pain and must be treated as such. In this podcast, we'll discuss this law and EPA regulations impacting older single family homes and, on a much larger scale, condos and homeowner associations. Our guest for this episode is Martin Bahner, with CertaPro Painters of Central Bucks County. Martin has extensive experience in painting renovations, having been a CertaPro franchisee since 2005. Martin has won multiple awards over the years and is a long-time member of CAI and is a chapter Gold Partner for 2018. For more information, click here to email Martin Bahner. For more information on the EPA regulations, visit the EPA site at this link. Community Matters is now 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.

Welcome to this edition of Community Matters podcast where we explore issues and provide information important to the management and governance of condos, cooperatives and homeowner associations.  In this episode, We’ll be exploring some maintenance issues - specifically roof and siding maintenance and replacement for homes and, in particular, multifamily housing projects including condominiums and homeowner associations. Our guest in this episode is Joe Santucci, the Senior Project Consultant & Insurance Mediator for G. Fedale Roofing located in Newport, Delaware. G. Fedale Roofing is a member of CAI and is a family owned business that has been serving all of Delaware, South Jersey and Southeast Pennsylvania for more than 13 years. Community Matters is now 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.

Welcome to this edition of Community Matters podcast. Many condo and homeowner associations have water damage – leaks, floods, etc. In this episode, we discuss water damage claims, including what is covered by your insurance policy, whose insurance covers a loss affecting more than one unit and how you should be dealing with the insurance company. Our guests are Brian Friel, a partner with Smith Insurance Associates and a past president of our CAI chapter, and Jeff Krimstock, president of Benjamin Cobrin & Company and chairman of the CAI Managers Committee. Both Brian and Jeff have a long history of involvement in CAI and working with community associations. Community Matters is now 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.

Welcome to this edition of Community Matters podcast. The topic for this episode is Fair Housing in community associations. This topic comes up very often in questions from community associations, homeowners and managers. Our guest today is Edward Hoffman, Esq., a Partner and co-founder of the law firm of Barrow Hoffman, with offices in Warminster and Center Valley, Pennsylvania. Ed regularly represents and counsels homeowners associations, condominiums and planned communities on full range of issues including litigation, governing document drafting, amendments and revisions, transition issues, covenant enforcement, assessment violations and collections Ed is also a member of CAI’s Pennsylvania Legislative Action Committee and speaks frequently at educational programs on issues important to community associations.  Community Matters is now 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.

Every community association has rules and in this episode of Community Matters podcast, we will be talking about why rules must be enforced in a consistent manner. Our guest in this episode is Edward Hoffman, Esq., a Partner and co-founder of the law firm of Barrow Hoffman, with offices in Warminster and Center Valley, Pennsylvania. Ed regularly represents and counsels homeowners associations, condominiums and planned communities on full range of issues including litigation, governing document drafting, amendments and revisions, transition issues, covenant enforcement, assessment violations and collections Ed is also a member of CAI’s Pennsylvania Legislative Action Committee and speaks frequently at educational programs on issues important to community associations. Community Matters is now 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.