Page 16 - CooperatorNews NY January 2021

16 COOPERATORNEWS — JANUARY 2021 COOPERATORNEWS.COM We handle all sprinkler system inspections and violations. • Sprinkler System Design and Installation • Maintenance, repair and service • Flow and Pressure tests • Violation Removals • Monthly Inspections • Stand Pipes and Fire Pumps Big Apple Fire Sprinkler Co. Inc. 64-20 Laurel Hill Blvd. Woodside NY 11377 • 718-205-8580 • Fax 718-205-4590 Email: alevitt@bigapplesprinkler.com = Big Apple Fire Sprinkler_Oct2011.qxp:Layout 1 9/20/11 2:07 PM Page 1 haul was seamless,” says Weinstein, “because demic. All their vendors are family-operated we dealt with them directly—no middle-man businesses, and there was no interruption in in the form of a manager. Nothing was lost in services this past spring or summer. Neigh- communication or translation.” In terms of COVID-19 and how it’s affected bors—especially the elderly —and even when their property and its management, Weinstein some conflict arose over younger community says, “We’ve had to make some adjustments. members wanting the association’s indoor There’s more foot traffic, as everyone is home pool open, the issue was eventually resolved. and everything is getting delivered, so we’re getting the building cleaned twice as much dates and those of the local Board of Health. as before. We also are seeing more repairs re- sulting from more wear-and-tear. Early on we week before, but was expanded to daily clean- had issues with members not wearing masks ing and sanitization, including the clubhouse. or sanitizing properly, but we got it under con- trol quickly and there haven’t been any issues cation forms, and the board required waiv- since. In terms of payments and collections, ers from pool users. The Sandwich Board of everything was done online remotely even Health inspected the pool and clubhouse, and before the pandemic, so that hasn’t changed. initially advised against opening it for use— Seventy-five percent of our members pay via but the board went back to the drawing board direct payment online, and 25% slip a check and was eventually able to map out protocols under the treasurer’s door. He makes depos- its and payments online, through his phone. amenity could be opened with minimal risk. There isn’t any physical compo- nent to our cash flow items at all.” Weinstein says the board does all their meetings on the Zoom video conferencing platform. New England Strong High View condos, located on Cape Cod in Sandwich, Massachusetts, is a unit walk-up condominium association at 96-unit condominium community. The units 1618 West Wallen Avenue in Chicago. The are located in four three-level garden apart- ment style buildings that were constructed in and became a condominium in 2006. phases between 1974 and 1982. The property is not age-restricted, and features a clubhouse. of the community’s response to and manage- Ursula Price is High View’s treasurer, and ment of the pandemic. “The most difficult has served as such since 1993. She says that part was figuring out what the guidelines were when the property converted to condomini- um ownership, it had a contracted manage- ment company. The association changed mayor have said are often different; for exam- companies several times, but the residents ple, right now we are in lockdown in Chicago, (several of whom were professionals in ar- chitecture, engineering, or real estate them- selves) were unhappy with the management demic changed some of the things we do con- companies—mostly because of deferred cerning cleaning of common areas. We had to maintenance. Residents with relevant, ap- plicable experience took over the board and ing. They come twice a week to do the stair- ended the management relationship. Since then, says Price, “Self-management We did it ourselves before the pandemic on has served us well. The dynamic of the prop- erty has changed. With the pandemic, people one, to protect owners and incur less liability are home much more, and they notice things” for the association. The decision was based on like maintenance projects left too long with- out being addressed. “This has caused some whole taking a decision together. conflict. Younger owners want more work done to improve the look of the property.” For example, Price continues, “There’s counter each other on the stairs, but masks are been an issue with landscaping—some con- tention between older and younger residents. posted everywhere. In the courtyard, the city We have 12 acres—but our landscaper hasn’t permitted 50 people or less, but people don’t had the staff needed to do the work, and the older people don’t want to spend the money.” That said, Price adds that they haven’t had any other vendor problems during the pan- bors have also stepped up to help neigh- The board abided by the governor’s man- Maintenance on the pool had been five days a The association’s attorney drafted indemnifi- that satisfied the health inspectors that the The pool has been open since S ep t em b er, and according to Price, “Ev- eryone wears a mask, and it’s never an issue.” Midwestern Practical Jose Ro- driguez is the president of a three-story, 26- building also features a courtyard and garden, “It’s gone pretty smoothly,” says Rodriquez for prevention of spread, and compliance with city and state rules. What the governor and but nearby suburbs are open.” Rodriguez goes on to say that “the pan- hire someone who could do COVID clean- wells and sanitize, which is an added expense. a volunteer basis, but now we’ve hired some- our attorney’s advice, and the community as a “We have both back and front stairs,” Ro- driguez continues, “so \\\[residents\\\] rarely en- required in the common areas, and signs are SELF-MANAGEMENT... continued from page 14 “We had the experience we needed in the building... We felt confident that they could cover the basics.” —Benjamin Weinstein