Condo Media - January 2020 - 46
For the Record
Associations must maintain documents
[by Gary M. Daddario, Esq., CCAL]
As sure as unit owner disputes are
part of condominium life, so are the
related requests for records. Most owners who have formed the belief that their
association's board is engaged in a conspiracy theory or criminal enterprise also
believe that a review of the association's
records will provide proof of their allegations. Alternatively, disgruntled owners
who wish to challenge a board rule, the
outcome of an election or the validity of
a newly adopted amendment to an association's governing documents will often
begin with a request for records in an
attempt to identify an error or omission.
Such examples provide good reasons as
to why good record-keeping is important
for associations. Other reasons include
compliance with the governing documents and applicable law.
RECORD RETENTION
REQUIREMENTS
The basics regarding an association's
required record keeping may be found
46
CONDOMEDIA January 2020
in the governing documents of the particular community. I recommend that
boards and property managers begin development of any record-keeping policy
with review of the governing documents
and an understanding of the relevant
language therein. Compliance with the
governing documents, however, is only
the first step.
Next, it is important for an association's record-keeping to be in compliance with applicable state law. Requirements will, of course, vary from state to
state. By way of illustration, however,
the Massachusetts Condominium
Statute (Chapter 183A) requires that
all association records be retained for a
period of at least seven years. Further,
Chapter 183A explicitly requires that
an association's records be maintained
within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. As an additional example, New
Hampshire's Condominium Act (RSA
356-B), requires that the officer's affidavit regarding notice of a meeting must
be available for three years. Similarly,
New Hampshire requires that proxies
be retained for three years.
In my opinion, associations should
maintain records for as long as possible given any limitations on physical
space (which may be worked around
using technology if "hard" copies are
transferred to digital files). You never
know when it might be helpful or even
necessary for a future board to review a
document to understand what was done
in the past or the reasons why a particular course of action was undertaken.
Records may also be of assistance to the
association if the validity of an action,
decision or amendment is challenged,
or to defend the board in the event of a
lawsuit against the association.
ACCESS TO RECORDS
Closely related to the issue of record retention is the issue of access to records.
Here again, a sound policy begins with
compliance with any requirements of a
Condo Media - January 2020
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Condo Media - January 2020
Contents
Condo Media - January 2020 - Cover1
Condo Media - January 2020 - Cover2
Condo Media - January 2020 - Contents
Condo Media - January 2020 - 2
Condo Media - January 2020 - 3
Condo Media - January 2020 - 4
Condo Media - January 2020 - 5
Condo Media - January 2020 - 6
Condo Media - January 2020 - 7
Condo Media - January 2020 - 8
Condo Media - January 2020 - 9
Condo Media - January 2020 - 10
Condo Media - January 2020 - 11
Condo Media - January 2020 - 12
Condo Media - January 2020 - 13
Condo Media - January 2020 - 14
Condo Media - January 2020 - 15
Condo Media - January 2020 - 16
Condo Media - January 2020 - 17
Condo Media - January 2020 - 18
Condo Media - January 2020 - 19
Condo Media - January 2020 - 20
Condo Media - January 2020 - 21
Condo Media - January 2020 - 22
Condo Media - January 2020 - 23
Condo Media - January 2020 - 24
Condo Media - January 2020 - 25
Condo Media - January 2020 - 26
Condo Media - January 2020 - 27
Condo Media - January 2020 - 28
Condo Media - January 2020 - 29
Condo Media - January 2020 - 30
Condo Media - January 2020 - 31
Condo Media - January 2020 - 32
Condo Media - January 2020 - 33
Condo Media - January 2020 - 34
Condo Media - January 2020 - 35
Condo Media - January 2020 - 36
Condo Media - January 2020 - 37
Condo Media - January 2020 - 38
Condo Media - January 2020 - 39
Condo Media - January 2020 - 40
Condo Media - January 2020 - 41
Condo Media - January 2020 - 42
Condo Media - January 2020 - 43
Condo Media - January 2020 - 44
Condo Media - January 2020 - 45
Condo Media - January 2020 - 46
Condo Media - January 2020 - 47
Condo Media - January 2020 - 48
Condo Media - January 2020 - 49
Condo Media - January 2020 - 50
Condo Media - January 2020 - 51
Condo Media - January 2020 - 52
Condo Media - January 2020 - 53
Condo Media - January 2020 - 54
Condo Media - January 2020 - 55
Condo Media - January 2020 - 56
Condo Media - January 2020 - Cover3
Condo Media - January 2020 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201911_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_200904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_200912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_200911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_200910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_200909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_200908
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com