Selecting and Negotiating with Vendors
As we approach spring and look forward to the annual spring walk-through and start planning maintenance, repair and replacement projects for the coming year, boards and managers will be faced with a number of decisions, as well as bids and proposals from various vendors and contractors. How do you choose the right vendor and how […]
Cooperatives and fair housing
Both the Federal Fair Housing Act (“FHA”) and the Minnesota Human Rights Act (“MHRA”) contain provisions that prohibit discrimination in housing on the basis of a person’s membership in a protected class. Protected classes include, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status and disability. Under the MHRA, creed, marital status, status with regard to […]
Running your association like a successful business
Whether you are a brand new board member serving for the first time or a seasoned veteran or property manager, you need to understand one very simple but vital concept about your community association – it is a business and needs to be run like one. It is no mistake that the association is formed […]
Maintaining a handle on your association’s maintenance obligations
As we approach spring and look forward to the annual spring walk-through and start planning maintenance, repair and replacement projects for the coming year, boards and managers should take a step back and ask themselves one simple but important question: Which maintenance obligations belong to the association and which are the responsibility of the individual […]
Replacement Reserves – FAQs
The following information was reviewed and confirmed to be current as of December 2020. By now, most people involved in the operation of common interest communities in Minnesota have heard that the statutory requirements for replacement reserves have been amended and that the new amendments become effective starting with the fiscal year commencing on or […]
Enforcing your association’s governing documents
Governing documents that are clear, concise and drafted in accordance with applicable statutes are much easier to enforce than those that are vague, poorly drafted and/or conflict with statutes or other governing documents. The following are some tips for enforcing your association’s governing documents. Enforcement Policy and Procedure. Every community association should establish its own […]
Understanding and interpreting your association’s Governing Documents
In order to understand your community association and how it operates, you need to first understand and become familiar with its governing documents. Once you understand these documents and the various rights and responsibilities of the association and its members, you will be better able to enforce the governing documents and to identify areas in […]
Negotiating with vendors
Ok, so now that you have assembled your team of professionals that will assist your association in carrying out its various functions and responsibilities, how can you be sure that you are getting what you need from these various vendors? Here are a few tips to keep in mind when negotiating with your team. First […]
Amending your association’s Governing Documents
Why Amend the Governing Documents? Associations considering an amendment to one or more of their governing documents will want to begin with an analysis of the community association’s existing documents, including identifying specific goals for any amended governing documents. If there is nothing to improve, there is nothing to gain. The governing document amendment process […]
2011 Community Association Legislative Update
A number of bills were introduced in the Minnesota legislature in the 2011 session that impact community associations. Those that were enacted into law (effective August 1, 2011) include some technical amendments to the Minnesota Common Interest Ownership Act (“MCIOA”) to clarify some of the amendments that were made in 2010 and a provision specifically […]