I purchased a co op around 6 months ago and I noticed black soot around the house the last few weeks. Other owners told me that they are having the same problem and that this happened to the 2 years ago and it became progressively worse. The boiler was fixed then but now it is starting again. When we complain to the board, they tell us the boiler is fine and to go through our insurance to get our apartments cleaned! I fear this situtation is going to get worse as it did in the past and I am also concerned with what I am breathing in! Any advice?????
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I found this on the Department of Finance website. My co-op never gives us this information. It just says Star/Abatement (one amount) on the monthly statement. It would be great to request this type of breakdown especially 60 days in advance.
“Cooperative apartment corporations must provide to each eligible tenant-shareholder a written statement detailing the full amount of the STAR exemption (or STAR-related savings) including information regarding how the amount was calculated, and how the exemption or saving is being credited to the tenant-shareholder. Such a written statement must be mailed to each eligible tenant stockholder within 60 days of the corporation’s receiving the exemption of savings.”
A contractor came to give an estimate on work on our apt. He said-" you do realize I will have to give money (a bribe not a tip) to the Super? To me, this is unacceptable. The super has a big free apt and lots of benefits and this sort of extortion is unethical. What can we do??
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Last year my co-op was late in distributing the Star credits. To make up for this they divided the late credits over the remaining months and applied them in addition to the current years Star credits.
This year, the star credits and Abatement stopped in December 2013.
Some cooperators who were approved for the Enhanced Star program back in March 2013, which runs from July 2013 through June 2014 were expecting an increase in their applied credits, however this did not happen.
Instead the E-Star recipients were told it was their responsibility to contact the Department of Finance and find out what the additional dollar amount would be. Once they received this information they needed to bring it to the manager and the additional credits would be applied to their maintenance statement retroactively.
Some of the cooperators followed these instructions and presented the information they received from the D.O.F. to the manager. They were then told, “It was a mistake”.
The additional credits would be take affect and be retroactive once the city applied them to the co-op.
Now the E-Star recipients were told the star and abatement credits would begin in February 2014, however they would only receive credits from January 2014 through December 2014. There would be no adjustment for the 7 months the Enhanced Star credits were not received.
On the acceptance letter for the Enhanced Star it states the following:
Your property qualified for the following property tax exemptions(s). The exemptions(s) will begin on July 1, 2013
• Enhanced Star
Are Star credits retroactive? Is this ethical?
Just a quick question - we're trying to form a new interviewing committee; however, we want the composition of the committee to be Board members as well as shareholders, to ensure a level of fairness and transparancy in the selection process. Has anyone else in the forum attempted this? If so, how has it worked out for you?
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Hello - seeking advice ASAP. It's been known for years that the previous President of the coop had personally maintained a petty cash account for keys, fobs, and misc. expenses; however, has been reluctant to transfer responsiblities and management of said account to our new management company, due to primarity her stubborn and bully-ish demeanor. The President was ousted at the last annual shareholder's meeting and to this day has yet to relinquish the account, only to give a certified check to the corporation for the supposed amount that was in the account. As the new President, I strongly suspect that the ex-president not only didn't close the supposed account but actually co-mingled any corporate funds into a personal account, since the certified check came from their name, personally.
Has anyone had a similar situation with a previous Board member in relinquishing corporate account information and if so how did you go about ensuring that all documentation, including financial informaiton, was transferred to the new Board. Thanks!
Hi - I wish to add my wife and kids (not adults) to my lease and/or stock certificate. (I bought the apt before marriage.) Our lease states apts may be transfered without any approval (financial or otherwise) to immediate family including adult children. Please note: this is not a full transfer (my name is to remain on the lease) - it is merely adding names to the above documents. Can some tell me how this might work? Thanks
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Is it possible to create a board position for Governance? (i.e. Director - Governance). This is a position that would ensure that the board has and follows proper processes and procedures and governs itself in a professional and ethical manner?
Thank you
Does your coop allow for vertical combinations of apartments owned by shareholders on successive floors of the same building?
> Join the conversationI am a member of a 48 unit co-op where board members have used racial remarks. Recently they tried to discriminate against an applicant. What recourse do I have to protect myself if there is a discriminatory action against the board.
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Hi Marianne,
Find out what fuel the boiler uses. If #6 or #4 fuel oil, that fuel will be banned soon and your co-op will have to replace the boiler (or boiler's burner). If #2 fuel then I agree that if sounds like it or a neighbor's boiler might be to blame.
Regardless, put pressure on the Board to tell the owners what the scope of the issue is and when it will be fixed.
Good luck
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