Community Matters

What will housing of the future look like? The housing landscape, indeed the entire way we live, work and play – is changing. In today’s episode of Community Matters, we’ll explore these issues, along with how technology will impact housing of the future, with our guest Robert C. Griffin, Esq, with the law firm Griffin Alexander, which in Community Association law and Landlord/Tenant Law in the st...

Southeast Pennsylvania is ground zero in the invasion of the Spotted Lanternfly. The insect is literally taking over. Hardly a day goes by when we don’t hear about this invasive pest on the news or see them swarming around our homes and workplaces. In this episode of Community Matters, we’re talking with Rick Close, Senior Consulting Arborist with The Davey Tree Expert Company, about this invasive...

Solar energy is a hot topic these days, including in community associations. In today’s episode of Community Matters, we’ll be talking about new trends in solar roofing, explore the costs, and explore the relationship between solar energy and roofing. Today's guests are Joe Santucci, Senior Project Consultant with G. Fedale Roofing & Siding, and Chris Fisher, Solar Business Development and Marketi...

Do community associations have the power to regulate, or even ban, smoking? And if so, should your community consider this and how should you approach what could be a very controversial move by your board and management? We’ll be talking about these questions in this episode of Community Matters with our guest Stefan Richter, Esq., with the Doylestown, PA law firm Clemons Richter & Reiss. Stefan i...

The latest episode of Community Matters podcast takes off in a very different direction that previous episodes. In this interview, we chat with Ryan Fleming, Director of the Habitational Group with JGS Insurance, about ways to find that critical balance between work and life. How do you find the dividing line? How do you deal with different personalities and establish a mindset for work vs. life?...

With the advent of sites like AirBnB, VRBO and others, short terms rentals have exploded, and a new industry has been spawned. The impact of short term rentals are far reaching for condominiums and homeowner associations. We'll explore these impacts and how community associations can manage them in this episode of Community Matters podcast. Today's guest is Scott Reidenbach, Esq., founding princip...

Welcome to this edition of Community Matters podcast, where we discuss issues important to managing and governing condos, cooperatives and homeowner associations. The topic for this episode is lake and pond management – we’ll be talking about techniques to manage your communities lakes and ponds. We’ll touch on why aeration is important for your lakes and ponds, controlling harmful algal blooms, w...

Welcome to this edition of Community Matters podcast, where we discuss issues important to managing and governing condos, cooperatives and homeowner associations. Our guest in this episode is John M. Hershey, AIA, a LEED Accredited Professional, Licensed Architect, Reserve Specialist, and President of J. Hershey Building Consultants, a consulting, design and construction management firm with offic...

Welcome to this edition of Community Matters podcast, where we discuss issues important to managing and governing condos, cooperatives and homeowner associations. In this episode of Community Matters we’ll be discussing the many areas where community associations can be exposed to liability, and how associations can avoid these claims. My guest today is Edward Hoffman, Jr., a Partner and Co-Founde...

Welcome to this edition of Community Matters podcast, where we discuss issues important to managing and governing condos, cooperatives and homeowner associations. In this episode of Community Matters we’ll be discussing payment processing. Every community association receives payments – for monthly assessments, fees, or other payments. Modern technology has greatly expanded payment options availab...

Welcome to this edition of Community Matters podcast, where we discuss issues important to managing and governing condos, cooperatives and homeowner associations. In this episode of Community Matters we’ll be discussing why deferred maintenance is important to a community association and why it should be included in the association budget. My guest for this episode is Brandon Femia, RS, with Kipco...

Welcome to this edition of Community Matters podcast, where we discuss issues important to managing and governing condos, cooperatives and homeowner associations. In this episode of Community Matters we’ll be discussing Reserve Studies – specifically, updates that were adopted in 2017 to CAI’s national Reserve Study Standards. My guest for this episode is Mitch Frumkin, president and founder of Ki...

On May 7, 2018, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf signed House Bill 595 into law. Now known as Act 17 of 2018, the legislation assigns the investigation and mediation of certain complaints regarding Pennsylvania planned communities, cooperatives, and condominiums to the Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. The legislation also recognizes the importance of dispute resolution pro...

Welcome to this edition of Community Matters podcast, where we discuss issues important to managing and governing condos, cooperatives and homeowner associations. CAI members – including management companies and community associations that are employers - are subject to numerous state and federal laws that govern the workplace. Compliance with these employment laws is critical to avoiding litigati...

In this episode of Community Matters Podcast for condos and homeowners associations, we’ll be talking about pest control, dealing with summer pests and how you can keep your condominium, home and common areas free of pests. Today's guest is John DiDomenico, with A. Amendt Pest Control, a 63 year old family owned business. A. Amendt Pest Control is a full service company handling termites, bed bugs...

Nearly every planned community has stormwater management ponds, and some have more elaborate lakes and other water ways. In this episode of Community Matters podcast, we'll be discussing how a community association can effectively manage lakes and ponds in a sustanable way without the use of chemicals. Today's guest is John Phelps, an Environmental Scientist with SOLitude Lake Management . John ha...

The topic of privacy has been in the news recently for many different reasons, mostly related to social media, data breaches and other online privacy issues. But privacy takes on many different forms and many questions arise related to homeowner and resident privacy in a community association setting, where residents may gather in common spaces such as clubhouses, pools, lobbies, mail rooms or at...

Summer weather conditions - storms, heat and humidity - can have a serious impact on homes, buildings and community associations. In this episode of Community Matters Podcast, we’ll be discussing how stormy weather in the warm summer months, flooding, and high humidity can affect your property and lead to mold growth and what can be done to mitigate and prevent this type of damage to your property...

Drones are suddenly everywhere these days. In this episode, we'll be discussing drones and how they can be effectively used in community association inspections, maintenance and engineering work. Our guest today is Miles Abrams with The Falcon Group. Miles is responsible for the safe and effective delivery of drone services at The Falcon Group. One of the first remote pilots licensed in the state...

In 1978, lead paint was banned in the United States. But just because there was no lead paint used in new construction after 1978 doesn't mean there's no more danger from lead paint. In 2011, Congress enacted a new law, enforced by the EPA, called the Renovation Repair and Painting Act, which states that any home built prior to 1978 is assumed to have lead pain and must be treated as such. In this...

Welcome to this edition of Community Matters podcast where we explore issues and provide information important to the management and governance of condos, cooperatives and homeowner associations.  In this episode, We’ll be exploring some maintenance issues - specifically roof and siding maintenance and replacement for homes and, in particular, multifamily housing projects including condominiums an...

Welcome to this edition of Community Matters podcast. Many condo and homeowner associations have water damage – leaks, floods, etc. In this episode, we discuss water damage claims, including what is covered by your insurance policy, whose insurance covers a loss affecting more than one unit and how you should be dealing with the insurance company. Our guests are Brian Friel, a partner with Smith I...

Welcome to this edition of Community Matters podcast. The topic for this episode is Fair Housing in community associations. This topic comes up very often in questions from community associations, homeowners and managers. Our guest today is Edward Hoffman, Esq., a Partner and co-founder of the law firm of Barrow Hoffman , with offices in Warminster and Center Valley, Pennsylvania. Ed regularly rep...

Every community association has rules and in this episode of Community Matters podcast, we will be talking about why rules must be enforced in a consistent manner. Our guest in this episode is Edward Hoffman, Esq., a Partner and co-founder of the law firm of Barrow Hoffman , with offices in Warminster and Center Valley, Pennsylvania. Ed regularly represents and counsels homeowners associations, co...

In this episode of Community Matters podcast, we'll be discussing transition – the transition of a newly built community from developer to homeowner control. This is a critical time for all communities under construction and the success, or not, of the transition period will set the tone for the first homeowners that take up residence in the new community association. Our guest today is David Daha...