2001 Feb
2001 Feb Vol. 21, No. 2
Focus on...Manager-Board Relations
An Insider's View
Remember the adage that 80 percent of the work is done by 20 percent of the people? The same appears to be true of boards throughout the city. Read More
National Cooperative Bank
Kings Village Corp. had mounting financial challenges. At the start of 1999, this housing co-op, one of the largest in Brooklyn, had more than half of its 777 apartments unsold. And of those, 75 were vacant. In fact, for five years, there had been no unit sales at all. On top of that, many unit owners had stopped paying their monthly maintenance, and vendors were not getting paid, putting the co-op $1.5 million in arrears. National Cooperative Bank’s (NCB) New York Real Estate Team was willing to help, but only if specific steps were taken. It would take a well-orchestrated effort to put things right. Read More
In a Class of Thier Own
"It’s probably the last remaining profession to make house calls!" says Eugene Marabello, president of The Superintendent’s Club of New York, an organization dedicated to filling a gap in the knowledge base of multi-family building maintenance personnel. Marabello speaks of one of the most valuable positions in your co-op or condo, that of superintendent. Read More
Be Safe, Be Secure
Your home is your haven, your sanctuary, the one place where you can feel comfortable, safe, and secure. At least, that’s what a home should be. But according to the National Safety Council, no fewer than 15 household accidents resulting in serious injury occur every minute. And while just "being careful" is certainly better than nothing at all, being aware of and taking precautions to guard against the most common types of household danger is an even more prudent way to ensure that you and those who live with you don’t become part of this frightening statistic. Read More
Your Rights and Obligations
Your roof terrace leaked and the neighbor below you sued for damages. Do you have any recourse? The heating system in your apartment failed to work and the managing agent sent you the bill for its repair. Do you have to pay? You bought a dog for your child, and six months later the board has demanded that it be removed from the building. Do you have to comply? Read More
Do-It-Yourself Management
To self manage or not to self manage? It’s akin, in some respects, to the half-century old question of manual versus automatic transmission. Sure, the automatic is easier to drive, but the manual provides more control. And sometimes a co-op or condo board–just like a sports car driver–wants a little more control. Read More
What's the Agenda?
Board meetings provide the time and space for co-op and condo leaders to establish and direct building operations. "Every board has its own distinct group personality," observes Howard Schechter, a partner in the Manhattan law firm of Schechter Brucker, PC, "and it’s important to fit the format of the meeting to the personality of the group." For example, some boards are very effective in the most informal of settings, and can meet in someone’s apartment and make decisions over coffee and cake. Others may need a more rigid structure, such as a meeting room within the building or at management’s offices, to stay focused. "The most successful boards are those in which the members put their personal feelings aside and treat each other with respect even if they disagree," says Schechter. To make sure your meetings are on the productive side of the coin, keeping them running smoothly and efficiently, it is important that the board follow certain guidelines. Read More
The Board/Manager Team
Much has been written recently about the management industry indictments, the role of the managing agent and how to monitor management. Little has been said, however, about what it takes to make a board/manager relationship work. The managing agent and board of directors are a team working together to operate the building in the most efficient, yet highest quality manner possible. Like any team, they must rely on one another and know what the other needs and expects in order to work effectively. Read More
The Board/Manager Team
Much has been written recently about the management industry indictments, the role of the Read More
