- Community Associations, Legal Updates
- Indiana, Illinois
Association board members and property managers continue to see the impact the coronavirus is having on condominium, homeowner, and townhome community operations. Meeting attendance, amenity management, and event planning are just some of the issues that have arisen due to the spread of COVID-19.
Accordingly, it is imperative that association leaders encourage communication, cleanliness, and coordination to create a clean, safe environment during turbulent times. Below are a few examples where these “three C’s” can make a difference.
- Update contact information for communications – Maintain and confirm correct contact (and emergency contact) information for board members, managers, owners, residents, association employees and service providers. This will allow the Association to efficiently communicate important information regarding any virus updates specifically impacting their community.
- Electronic communication for Board meetings – Written and electronic communication methods may be utilized if board members and residents feel uneasy attending face-to-face meetings. For example, video chat and conference calls allow board members to participate in properly noticed, convened, and open board meetings to conduct association business.
- Electronic communication rules for annual elections – Board members may consider revisiting e-communication rules regarding notices, voting, and annual meetings. Consulting with the association’s legal counsel will clarify available options that comply with state laws and governing documents. This includes how the association can address absentee balloting, electronic voting, elections, and other critical association issues.
- Postponing and coordinating meetings – Board member, committee, and other meetings can be postponed or delayed for a reasonable period of time. Another option may be to reduce the frequency of board meetings typically held on a monthly or bimonthly basis.
- Cleaning common areas and coordination of Association employees and service providers – Some association properties contain large lobbies, gyms, pools, or other common amenities that require ongoing maintenance that must be performed by association employees and/or professional vendors. Board and management should consider initiating additional sanitation measures for common areas and heavily utilized amenity areas, as well. Boards should ensure disease prevention protocols are being implemented for both association and vendor employees in both a safe and compliant manner.
- Vendor relations – Due to increased concerns about communicable diseases such as the coronavirus, boards should require vendors to provide proof of virus prevention protocols utilized by the vendor and their employees while on Association property. Conversely, the Association can expect inquiries from vendors as to what protocols the Association has implemented in order for the vendor to protect their employees, as well.
The CDC website contains extensive and helpful information relating directly to multiple family housing communities such as condominiums and townhomes. The Board and Management should rely on and refer owners to these public health sources for answers to specific questions.
The following is a direct link to the Center for Disease Control’s webpage related to the coronavirus: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.
If KSN can answer any legal questions for or assist your Board, do not hesitate to contact our law firm. Please call 855-537-0500 or visit www.ksnlaw.com.
Since 1983, KSN has been a legal resource for condominium, homeowner, and townhome associations. Additionally, we represent clients in real estate transactions, collections, landlord/tenant issues, and property tax appeals. We represent thousands of clients and community associations throughout the US with offices in several states including Florida, Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.
Please note the material contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is established by your review or receipt of the information contained in this article. You should not act on the information discussed in this article without first obtaining legal advice from an attorney duly licensed to practice law in your State. While KSN has made every effort to include up-to-date information in this article, the law can change quickly. Accordingly, please understand that information discussed in this article may not yet reflect the most recent legal developments. Material is not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or up to date. KSN reserves the right to revise or update the information and statements of law discussed in the article law at any time, without notice, and disclaims any liability for your use of information or statements of law discussed on the article, or the accessibility of the article generally. This article may be considered advertising in some jurisdictions under applicable law/s and/or ethical rules/regulations. © 2020 Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit, A Professional Corporation.
