Alyssa Gautieri

How to Get a Pickleball Program Started in a Community

July 27, 2019 by Alyssa Gautieri

By Alyssa Gautieri

Pickleball — a court sport which uses perforated plastic balls and composite or wooden paddles about twice the size of ping-pong paddles (ranging in price from $50-$150) — is now considered to be the fastest growing sport in America. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) 2018 Pickleball Participant Report, pickleball currently has 3.1 million players in the U.S. — an increase of 12 percent over the previous year. The sport has also had a 650 percent increase in numbers over the last six years. [Read more…] about How to Get a Pickleball Program Started in a Community

Why Do Dogs Bark? Helping Dogs Adjust to Condo Living

June 25, 2019 by Alyssa Gautieri

By Alyssa Gautieri

You’ve recently moved to a condo and your dog is having difficulty adjusting to community association living. There are many more people around than when you lived in a regular single-family home. There are also many more dogs around. Your dog starts barking like crazy. Maybe you’ve received complaints about your dog barking while you were at work or out running errands. [Read more…] about Why Do Dogs Bark? Helping Dogs Adjust to Condo Living

What Do We Do With These Potholes?  Handling Potholes within Community Associations

June 2, 2019 by Alyssa Gautieri

By Alyssa Gautieri

Now that winter is behind us, many people may notice their roads have some extra bumps when driving or riding a bike through the roads in their communities. A pothole, which is a depression in road surface, in a parking lot or on side street can often lead to driving and biking accidents, and result in injuries within a community association. Potholes also tend to lower the curb appeal of a community association, so even the sight of a pothole is likely to cause angst and irritation among community members. [Read more…] about What Do We Do With These Potholes?  Handling Potholes within Community Associations

Do Board Members Have a Fiduciary  Responsibility to Express Their Opinion?

April 8, 2019 by Alyssa Gautieri

Whether it is regarding finances discussed in a board meeting, an unethical board member or the specifics behind a majority vote, a board member does not have a legal or fiduciary responsibility to speak out or express their opinion on matters pertaining to the association, according to David Byrne, an attorney with Ansell, Grimm & Aaron, PC in Princeton, New Jersey, and Chairperson of the firm’s Community Association Law Group.

Bats, Deer, Foxes, and More: Managing Wildlife Issues Within Communities

March 13, 2019 by Alyssa Gautieri

With many community associations being built within wooded areas, or on the sites of former farms, it seems that the presence of wildlife is more common within these communities. Some residents and managers see deer as a nuisance when they gobble up expensive landscaping, and foxes may instill a level of fear in those who unexpectedly come in close proximity to them, such as when taking out the trash or going to their mailbox.

Drawing the Line on Becoming a Micromanaged Manager

February 21, 2019 by Alyssa Gautieri

Whether it’s due to a failure to work within their designated role, a pattern of inappropriate behavior, or a tendency of micromanaging, board members may overstep the boundaries that are expected of them. In the case where a board member’s malpractices interfere with the job of a manager, what authority does the manager have? Which actions may he or she take?

Acquiring a Loan for Your Community Association

February 13, 2019 by Alyssa Gautieri

Whether it’s for a planned project or an unexpected repair, it has become increasingly popular for associations to borrow money to pay for capital repairs within a community. Associations fund their reserve accounts on an annual basis for future repairs based on reserve reports conducted by engineers. Reality, though, has a way of intruding into perfect scenarios, and many association boards and managers find themselves scrambling to find palatable funding options for capital projects and emergencies that arise from leaking pipes or extreme weather related events.

What is a Manager’s Role in Creating a Healthy Environment Within an Association?

January 31, 2019 by Alyssa Gautieri

Whether it’s showing favoritism to a homeowner, being forceful in an unnecessary situation, or causing a disruption during a meeting, board members may create potentially inappropriate or unethical situations within a community association. In a situation where a board member is causing friction within a community, does the manager have an obligation to take action?

Dealing with Residents Who Have Alzheimer’s or Dementia

September 23, 2018 by Alyssa Gautieri

A friendly resident within a condominium has begun to notice that one neighbor has been exhibiting strange behavior — such as leaving groceries in the hallway hours after returning home and forgetting residents’ names during small talk. One day while sitting in their unit, the resident begins to smell gas. They walk over to the neighbor’s unit, and notice the door was left unlocked. As they slowly open the door, the smell intensifies. With worry, they quickly alert management. What happens next?

Common Practices Surrounding Home-Based Businesses in Condos and HOAs

August 6, 2018 by Alyssa Gautieri

From raising chinchillas and giving guitar lessons, to running a small online store, home-based businesses can often become a detriment to community associations. Whether it’s causing extensive noise, overcrowding the parking lot or creating safety hazards, home-based businesses often disturb members within a community. This has led many community associations to create and enforce rules surrounding home-based businesses.