Cooperator - Articles - Board Operations

A Look at What Lies Beneath

no@spam.com (Greg Olear) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:04:08 EDT

New York is often called a “vertical” city because its finite borders impose strict limits on expansion. In Manhattan particularly, the only way to build is up. This verticality goes both ways, however—for all the towering skyscrapers aboveground, there’s an equally vast and Byzantine system of structures below the pavement. Gotham’s undercarriage is a honeycomb of steam tunnels, sewage mains, disused subway stations, and odd, empty spaces that city workers simply call “voids”—some of which are accessible to the public, some of which have been locked or sealed up for decades.

Taking Corrective Action with Employees

no@spam.com (Lisa Iannucci) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:03:16 EDT

Lee Iacocca once said that if you want a sound company, “You start with good people, lay out the rules, communicate with your employees, motivate them and reward them. If you do all those things effectively, you can’t miss.”

Preventing Damage from Ice and Snow

no@spam.com (Andrew Amorosi, PE) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:02:28 EDT

At first glance, concrete obviously seems like a very dense material. In reality however, it absorbs water, behaving more like a sponge. This can easily be observed on a summer day. Pour water on a sidewalk, and you can actually watch the water penetrate and be absorbed by the surface of the concrete. This isn’t a bad sign; quality concrete should contain air voids, and should be somewhat absorbent—but it does underline the importance of caring for your concrete properly to avoid problems when it comes to ice and snow.

Property Values, Loans at Risk

no@spam.com (Bruce Weltin) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:00:21 EDT

As of November 2, new lending guidelines from HUD mean that FHA loan requirements will be significantly tightened for condominium sales.

A Look at the South Bronx

no@spam.com (Jonathan J. Levin) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:16 EDT

“So you think hip-hop had its start out in Queensbridge?”

According to seminal rap artist and South Bronx native KRS-One, you are mistaken. In fact, according to his aptly titled 1986 track, “If you popped that junk up in the Bronx, you might not live.”

Keeping it Healthy in Today's Tough Economy

no@spam.com (Stephanie Mannino) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:58:15 EDT

In today’s harsh economic times, maintaining a healthy reserve fund is more important than ever. A co-op or condo’s reserve fund can be used to cover any number of emergency expenses from sudden repairs to legal costs. In addition, a reserve fund can be used for ongoing maintenance projects or for anticipated future repairs.

The Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters Society

no@spam.com (Stephanie Mannino) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:57:07 EDT

The Malvern, Pennsylvania-based Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters (CPCU) Society is a community of credentialed property and casualty insurance professionals formed in 1944 to promote ethical practices and continuing education among insurance professionals.

Resolving Disputes with Shareholders

no@spam.com (C. Jaye Berger, Esq.) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:56:22 EDT

Shareholders often find themselves “butting heads” with the board of directors at the co-op buildings in which they live. Often the disputes, which arise are disagreements over a shareholder’s personal agenda, and a board not allowing them to proceed forward with their plans.

Knowledge is Power

no@spam.com (Keith Loria) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:55:38 EDT

When you’re a superintendent or a member of a building’s support staff, your educational background is not always that important when you’re hired, as long as your experience is enough to impress those doing the hiring. But once you do have the job, most industry professionals suggest that continuing your education is an important step in continuing to be successful.

Scaling Back on Budgets and Plans

no@spam.com (Keith Loria) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:54:55 EDT

It’s no secret that in this economic climate, everyone is trying to find a way to save money. For the city’s co-op and condo communities, this has meant a great deal of scaling back on budgets, cutting some projects and reshuffling plans for renovations, major capital improvements and even regular maintenance work in some cases.