Potted plants are a great way to improve outdoor space and add color to a balcony or patio. However, many people do not realize the latent fire hazard that potted plants pose. In fact, we learned of this issue last summer when a fire that started in a potted plant on a second floor wood […]
Only You Can Prevent Potting Soil Fires Read More »
On February 12, 2013, a new budget and tax reform plan known as House Bill 59 was introduced. Under the proposal, Ohio’s sales tax rate would have been lowered from 5.5% to 5%. To make up for the lost revenue resulting from the lowered tax rate, all service transactions would have been taxable unless specifically
Ohio Community Associations Dodge a Sales Tax Bullet Read More »
Most board members understand what a reserve study is and the beneficial role it plays in managing the financial future of the community association. Another study that comes up for recently constructed associations and is equally as important is the transition study. A reserve study analyzes the capital items that the association is responsible for
Transition Study, Reserve Study. What’s the Difference? Read More »
Kaman & Cusimano is pleased to announce our spring seminar series: Effective and Efficient Board Meetings Topics to be discussed include: 20 Suggestions for More Efficient Meetings Open vs. Closed Meetings Outbursts From Owners Parliamentary Procedures Email Decisions Timed Agendas – Limiting Endless Discussion Board Ethics/Confidentiality This seminar is offered during the months of April
Seminar: Effective and Efficient Board Meetings Read More »
The Ohio Senate has introduced Senate Bill 51 that affects all condominium and homeowner associations within Ohio. If passed, this legislation prohibits all community associations, through their rules or recorded declaration provisions from restricting the display of blue star banners, gold star banners, and other service flags. This prohibition is in addition to the restriction on associations
Legislation Introduced Protecting Service Flags Read More »
The Department of Energy enacted new federal regulations requiring high-efficiency furnaces, which were set to be implemented in May of 2013. The impact on some community associations could have been significant in that the regulations required re-venting of furnaces. Specifically, under the new regulations, a furnace could not use a vent that went straight up
High-Efficiency Furnace Regulations Cancelled Read More »
In January, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released its long-awaited federal Qualified Mortgage (QM) standards. The new federal guidelines, which are required by the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (commonly known as the Dodd Frank Act), establish minimum requirements for all mortgage loans. Under the QM standards, lenders are required to prove
Federal Government Releases Qualified Mortgage (Ability to Repay) Guidelines Read More »
A tenant within a condominium association was engaging in nuisance activities, including shooting a gun outside while intoxicated. The association provided the owner with notice to remove the tenant from the property but the owner failed to do so and an eviction action was filed. At trial, Kaman & Cusimano successfully argued that the tenant
Successfully evicted a tenant creating a nuisance on the property Read More »
Kaman & Cusimano successfully argued that an owner must remove her pit bulls as a result of violations of the association’s rules mandating immediate clean up after pets. An owner at an association had two pit bulls and failed to immediately clean up after the dogs. In addition, one of the pit bulls attacked another
K&C obtained order that owner must remove pet Read More »
An owner within a homeowners association purchased two lots with the original agreement to pay assessments for both lots. For tax purposes, the owner combined both lots but then refused to pay assessments for each lot. Kaman & Cusimano successfully negotiated back payments for both lots and legal fees in the amount of $15,000, with
