Page 4 - NY Cooperator April 2020

4 THE COOPERATOR — APRIL 2020 COOPERATOR.COM COVID-19 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS F A S T AT YOUR PROPERTY www.veritasmanagement.com 1995 Broadway, NY, NY 10023 Tel: 212.799.2365 At Veritas, we’re always just a hop, skip or subway ride away, making responsive service a priority. In a digital age, we’re on top of technology. But we also handle things the old-fashioned way; we’re at your property in person, when you need us. Co-op, Condo and Rental Management • Online Services Project Management • Sales and Leasing • Compliance and Filings • Emergency Services • Staff Supervision Connect your property to Veritas Call us to learn more Th e COVID-19 pandemic has brought disclosed to the other residents. If a board unique and challenging situations to each of learns someone has decided to self-quar- us. Our cooperative and condominium cli- ents, and their managing agents, have been People self-quarantine for many reasons, and boards may ban large gatherings, or limit the apartment, etc. Boards could be subject to working diligently to keep pace as this crisis may not pose an immediate or imminent number of people who will be permitted into damages for stopping projects and disrupt- unfolds. First and foremost, we hope that you danger. Regardless of what the residents are an apartment for an event, we have seen no ing the lives of owners, especially if the board and all of your families are safe and well. We have been advising our clients on par- ticular situations as they arise and will con- tinue to be available to do so. Below are our mouth, nose, and eyes. thoughts on issues which have arisen repeat- edly over the past few days. Of course, boards need to use their best judgment for their par- ticular building. We are here to answer any questions you have. Q. If a resident tests positive for COVID-19, or is self-quarantined, should we tell the other residents and sta ? A. Residents should be notifi ed if the with individually. board or management receives notifi cation that someone tests positive for COVID-19 in the building. However, the name and apart- ment number of the resident should not be antine, the board should not disclose this. their elderly parent who lives alone. While fi nishing a project so they can reside in the told, they must continue to act appropriately: such governmental guidelines which recom- wash hands with soap oft en, use disinfectant mend limiting all guests to multifamily dwell- on surfaces, and keep hands away from their ings. However, encouraging residents not to ing projects for which contracts have already Q. Should employees make service calls in- side apartments? A. Before making a service call, staff is case basis based on a number of consider- permitted to ask residents if they are sick or ations. have been exposed to the virus. We believe that, rather than put staff in that position, the board may want to direct that all service calls be suspended. Emergencies must be dealt Q. Can we ban all non-residents from the building? A. It is very impractical to ban all non-resi- dents. For example, a child might want to visit tracts with their contractor, be dependent on invite non-residents into the building is cer- tainly a sensible idea. As to banning certain suggest you discuss the consequences with non-residents (such as dog walkers, tutors, counsel before suspending operations. nannies, etc.), it certainly would be prudent, but boards must consider each on a case-by- Q. Should our building immediately stop all renovation projects in the building? A. We believe a board may have the right a delivery, a building staff member can leave to stop renovations during this time, but do- ing so is not without risk. While a board could non-doorman buildings, the resident should waive any monies to which it is entitled in its be required to come down to the lobby of the alteration agreement with the owner due to a delay in a project, the owner may have con- allowed other guests in the building or did not stop building-wide projects. As to build- been signed or that are legally mandated, we Q. What should we do about deliveries? A. We recommend that no delivery per- sonnel be permitted past the entrance of the building and that in most cases residents pick up their packages or food packages in the lob- by or outside of the building. If a resident has the package outside of the apartment. For continued on page 18 COVID-19 For Condos, Co-ops & HOAs BY ANDREW P. BRUCKER, PETER MASSA, AND DALE DEGENSHEIN Q A& Keeping up with the Crisis