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ARE THESE TEMPORARY CHANGES TEMPORARY?
By
Eric Glazer, Esq.
Published April 20, 2020
So here we are, several weeks into the pandemic, and we continue
to meet, but no longer in person, face to face. I have had
phone calls, group conference calls and video calls with
clients. I have been able to still teach hundreds of directors
by video conference. Of course, I have not physically attended
a meeting in person in what feels like months now.
So is this the way it’s going to be? Will this be the new
norm? Even when the State of Emergency is eventually lifted,
the statute still allows board members to appear at Board
meetings through the use of technology. But is this what we
want to do? Or, do we go back to the way it has always been, in
person meetings?
Here is what I have learned and quite frankly, what I believe
the court system has learned. Technology has allowed work to
continue, and important things to get accomplished without the
need to meet in person. The courts have been doing an amazing
job of continuing with hearings through video conferencing.
While the wheels of justice may turn a little slower now, make
no mistake, they continue to roll. I’m very happy and proud
that our court system continues on during this crisis.
I have told clients over the years that they can save money on
attorney’s fees if they had their attorney appear at board
meetings via Skype, Zoom, Go To Meeting or the like.
Understandably, there was always some push back. There was
always fear that it wouldn’t work out. Well, that fear should
now be gone. The technology works very well and Boards should
think about using it more often going forward.
But, is this the wrong approach? Our heads are already buried
in our phones and laptops all the time. Our kids have become
slaves and zombies to their hand held devices. Do we now want
to substitute the use of our devices in place of face to face
meetings? Do we need yet another excuse for not being with each
other in person? Wouldn’t we rather see our neighbors in
person, speak to them, god forbid shake hands?
So what do you think? Where are we headed after this? Virtual
meetings or in person ones? What would you rather see?
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About
HOA & Condo Blog
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Eric Glazer graduated from
the University of Miami School of Law in 1992 after
receiving a B.A. from NYU. He has practiced community
association law for more than 2
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decades and is the owner of Glazer
and Sachs, P.A. a seven attorney law firm with offices in
Fort Lauderdale and Orlando and satellite offices in Naples,
Fort Myers and Tampa.
Since 2009, Eric has been the host
of Condo Craze and HOAs, a weekly one hour radio show that airs
at noon each Sunday on 850 WFTL.
See:
www.condocrazeandhoas.com.
He is the first attorney in the
State of Florida that designed a course that certifies
condominium residents as eligible to serve on a condominium
Board of Directors and has now certified more than 10,000
Floridians all across the state. He is certified as a Circuit
Court Mediator by The Florida Supreme Court and has mediated
dozens of disputes between associations and unit owners. Eric
also devotes significant time to advancing legislation in the
best interest of Florida community association members.
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