In December of 2009, I was unemployed, worried that my unemployment coverage was about to end, and interviewing with anyone who needed an associate with a few years’ experience who had no idea what she was doing. Mark Payne brought me in for an interview and after a couple of hours laughing about mutual acquaintances,
Lindsay S. Smith
Board Education – Legislative Update
With the legislative session in the rear view mirror, it’s time to discuss the changes and how they will impact you and your communities. All Board members of current clients are invited to attend our monthly education series at no cost. These classes occur every month on the third Thursday at 5:00 p.m., and are…
Tell Your Legislator: Vote “NO” on House Bill 1310!
I went to school at the University of Oklahoma, four hours south of the home of the Westboro Baptist Church. The Westboro Baptist Church has been, at times, infamous for the protests its members lodge at military funerals, colleges, and large public events. Members’ signs use offensive terms for LGBTQIA+ individuals, indicate that God hates…
A Childhood Dream Revived: Electronic Meeting Logistics
My most recent brush with the electoral process as a candidate occurred in 1989. I was primed and ready to be the Sergeant at Arms of my elementary school student council, and willing to campaign, press palms, kiss babies, and bribe the administration to make that dream a reality. Sure, I didn’t know what a…
Don’t Blame Me! I Didn’t Vote!
Many clients are facing difficult decisions related to COVID-19. Should we open the pool? Should we waive late fees? Should we tell that owner she needs to repaint her house? Service as a director on a community association Board is never easy, but the pandemic has created stark and binary decisions that are not easy…
Call Your Legislators! Senate Bill 20-211
In response to the economic destruction wrought by COVID-19, Senators Faith Winter and Julie Gonzales, and Representative Leslie Herod introduced Senate Bill 211 on June 1, 2020. SB 20-211 quickly made its way through the chamber and was referred to the Committee of the Whole today. It has not yet made its way to the…
Association Meetings During a Pandemic
Federal, state, and local responses to COVID-19 are changing quickly. Our COVID-19 related communications are based on the facts and guidance available today. Always look for the most up-to-date information when making decisions for your communities.
Social distancing restrictions and recommendations are likely to continue for some time. In light of this new reality, what…
“The first thing we do, let’s call all the lawyers.”
In Shakespeare’s Henry VI, Dick the Butcher suggests killing the lawyers in the context of a revolution. “Killing the lawyers” has been interpreted to either contemplate a nirvana in which annoying attorneys with their endless red tape are no longer around to stop normal people from living happy lives, or to lay the groundwork to…
New FHA Guidelines for Condominiums
On Wednesday, the Federal Housing Administration issued new guidelines for condominium project approval. Before the recession, condominium projects could obtain FHA certification, in whole or in part, and that certification did not expire. In 2011, the guidelines were changed to require re-certification every two years, and limited certification to the entire project. Gone were the…
Manager Licensure Passes – Ish
After much debate between interested parties, HB 1212 has passed and is on its way to the Governor in a form that is substantially different than existed on Monday. Rather than recreating Colorado’s manager licensure program, HB 1212 revives prior licensure legislation until September 1, 2020, and creates a stakeholder process to gather information from…