CAI-NJ Sept.2017(1)

S E P T E M B E R , 2 0 1 7

“R

esidents of that darned Homeowners Association are coming tonight to com-

plain about taxes again. Those old retired folks have nothing better to do

than come here and gripe!” While the Mayor is speaking, the HOA

President is saying, “Those people are supposed to represent us, yet they keep

raising our taxes and don’t provide any services for us. I’ll remind them tonight

that we have two hundred voters ready to throw the bums out!”

Unfortunately, this dysfunction is all too common. Our democracy and

political system are designed to discuss and debate to resolve differenc-

es civilly. But civility requires honest communication,

cooperation, and compromise. The New Jersey

Chapter of CAI (CAI-NJ) and its Legislative

Action Committee (“LAC”) are working to

enable constructive cooperation with our

municipal governments.

What does LAC do that can help associations

strengthen relationships with their municipalities?

Many legislative and legal matters that are as important

to local elected officials as they are to common interest communities (“CIC”). For instance, the

proposed Bear-Proof Trash Container legislation was one we

are firmly opposed, as did the League of Municipalities (the

“League”). The bill would have required municipalities and

CICs in almost every county of the state to utilize very expen-

sive bear resistant trash containers. Individual residents faced

costs of approximately $100 per container and CIC, com-

mercial and municipal containers much more. The League

and LAC worked hard to keep this law from being enacted.

Virtually every community in the state must address the

Common Interest

Communities and

MUNICIPALITIES –

Conflict and Quarrels

or Cooperation and

Collaboration?

Paul Raetsch,

Horizons at Woods Landing HOA

Paul Raetsch spent most of his career with the U.S.

Department of Commerce, Economic Development

Administration. He retired in 2007, after serving eight

years as Regional Director of the Philadelphia Regional

Office.

He is immediate past President of the Horizons at

Woods Landing Home Owners Association, and has

been a Director of the Northeast Pennsylvania Alliance

(NEPA), Workforce Wayne, Lacawac Foundation, and

the Lakeland Colony Corporation HOA.

Courtesy CAI-NJ.

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