http://ccfj.net/wordpress Fairness in Associations is the Goal. Please help CCFJ achieve it! Sat, 21 Mar 2009 23:58:35 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en A Bill before the Florida Legislature (HB1365) would grant extremely broad powers to condominium boards following damage to the condominium property caused by a significant event, such as a hurricane. The powers granted are so broad as to: Permit a single director to appoint and grant director authority to anyone (not even ... http://ccfj.net/wordpress/?p=22 Last year, then Florida Governor Job Bush, vetoed SB1556/HB0543 because it "changes the default provision of requiring the consent of all unit holders for termination in existing law and permits voluntary termination in virtually any circumstance, thereby diminishing security in ownership of private property". The developer's lobby is back this year ... http://ccfj.net/wordpress/?p=21 Two bills (HB1373 & SB2816) currently before the Florida Legislature will, if passed, appear to bring some long overdue protections to individual condominium owners in Florida. But we can be sure that the powerful legal and service provider lobbies will work hard to oppose the bills, or dilute their effectiveness - ... http://ccfj.net/wordpress/?p=20 On 20 Apr 2006, the Lake Place Condominium Association was served with 26 recall ballots signed by owners unhappy with three of their directors. Since their Board of Directors ignored this recall, these owners filed a Petition for Arbitration on 28 Apr with the Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR). Not ... http://ccfj.net/wordpress/?p=19 Condominium and Homeowners Associations are required by Florida statute to give notice to owners of board meetings, and permit owners to attend such meetings. But what defines a Board "meeting"? What if the directors exploit the convenience of E-mail to conduct their detailed discussions, and then gather infrequently for board meetings ... http://ccfj.net/wordpress/?p=18 In May, 2006, two owners of condominiums at Lido Towers in Sarasota filed a complaint with the Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR) citing violation of Florida Statute 718.112(2)(c), which guarantees (condominium) owners the right to speak to agenda items at board meetings. The complaint arose out of a letter ... http://ccfj.net/wordpress/?p=16 Actually, it’s a shame that we homeowners have to ask for a “Homeowners’ Bill of Rights” in “The Land of the Free” – the United States of America. Even our Supreme Court recognized (quote): “Special respect for individual liberty in the home has long been part of our culture and ... http://ccfj.net/wordpress/?p=15 In the article "Will AARP Bill of Rights Help FL Condo & HOAs?" it was predicted that "our Florida legislators will congratulate themselves with having the forsight to adopt these laws - and take no further action". Well, Condo lawyer Gary Poliakoff did it for them! In his letter to the ... http://ccfj.net/wordpress/?p=13 In the small town of Washington, CT (Source: New Milford Spectrum), a Finance Board of 6 people has been penalized by the State for using public funds to influence the outcome of a referendum (Source: New Milford Spectrum, 08/18/16). In a widely distributed mailing, the Board was found to have advocated ... http://ccfj.net/wordpress/?p=12 AARP recognized the plight of Condo & HOA owners nationwide when it published "A Bill of Rights for Homeowners in Associations".  The document is designed as a guide for state legislatures who are developing laws for such associations. But will this Bill of Rights bring relief to the Florida Condo or ... http://ccfj.net/wordpress/?p=11