Journal Notes—September 2019

Journal Notes—September 2019

by Michael Hamline, Editor / Published September 2019

This September issue features the Florida Community Association Professionals (FCAP) Service Provider Directory on page 41. FCAP is the only Florida-specific statewide member organization dedicated to serving the community association industry. With more than 2,700 members located throughout Florida, FCAP was formed in 2012 to bring together managers, board members, and service providers for promoting professional growth through learning. Training is offered in the form of “CEUs From Home” or the more rigorous Florida Advanced CAM Studies (FACS) course. The FACS online courses are divided into eight modules, which can be taken individually as time allows, but they must be completed within 12 months of starting.

The Certified Florida Community Association Manager (CFCAM) professional designation is obtained after much rigorous study. In fact, the program requires the student  to answer approximately 800 multiple choice questions, distributed throughout the curriculum, covering the 175 study resources. Small wonder that this is described as the “Master’s Degree” for those in the community association industry.

Also, the FCAP Directory, lists the service provider members under a main service category with their contact information for easy follow-up. The 2019 FCAP Service Provider members bring their training and experience with them and help make that problem-solving information available.

This month also features several important legal articles. Michael J. Gelfand, Esq., writes on page 14 in his Florida Law column about a church that had a leaking roof but took too long to file their complaint in violation of the four-year statute of limitations. The lesson to be learned for community associations is “know your deadline to file a lawsuit.”

Lilliana Farinas-Sabogal, Esq., with the Becker law firm addresses the steps to take or a smooth election process. Her article is on page 18.

On page 24 in his Condominium and HOA Q & A column, Ryan Poliakoff with Backer, Aboud, Poliakoff & Foelster defines a material alteration as opposed to a maintenance exception.

Lindsey Thurswell Lehr is with Siegfried Rivera. In her article on page 28, she describes a conflict in an HOA community over on-street parking. It is alleged that the ban on street parking has not been enforced until recently, and this is causing conflict.

Finally, Jeffrey Rembaum with Kaye, Bender Rembaum details on page 32 a conflict caused by a condominium community terminating one laundry vendor and transitioning to another.

FLCAJ wishes everyone a Happy Labor Day!

Editor