CAI-NJ July 2021

MANAGEMENT TRENDS... from page 46.

by contractor. Particularly concerning examples include, repairing benches in the common area, replacing equipment in the clubhouse, performing an electri- cal or HVAC repair, making adjustments to pool equipment. These tasks have a high potential for: 1. Injury to the person performing the task 2. Damaging the common element 3. Causing injury to residents or guests using the common elements. Before conducting any “self-help” projects a good practice is to check with the association insurance car- rier/agent and/or the association attorney. Another important guard against liability is to retain an accredited community manager for the operation and administration of the communi- ty. Having an accredited manager should be considered as a need not a preference. Liability issues should always be considered in the perfor- mance, advice and recommendations of the manager working on behalf of the board. In some adult communities, where the board wants to be involved in the day-to-day operations, there is often confusion when the board’s practice is to give the manager direc- tion of how to proceed in performing their job. The relationship between the board (which often sees itself as “an employer” rather than as a “client”) and the manager should be one in which the manager is viewed as the professional retained to provide rec-

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