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N O V E M B E R , 2 0 1 6
MANAGEMENT
TRENDS
A
s community managers, our instincts are regular-
ly tested while making decisions on the fly and
tackling all sorts of problems as they occur. Putting
out “fires” as some like to say. This leads to some stressful
days, months, who am I kidding, careers... While we can’t
prevent every issue from occurring, we can use the systems
we have available to us and proactively put plans in place
for larger disasters, so that we are as prepared as possible
when they inevitably do occur.
Understand Your Fire Safety Systems
Whether you’re managing a townhome community, high-
rise building, or home owners association, communities
generally have fire safety equipment that the association
is responsible for. These systems may include fire alarm
monitors, sprinklers, pumps and hoses, as well as hydrants.
Know what systems you have, who services them and gen-
erally how they work. For instance, if condo units include
common sprinklers, know where they are located and if it’s
a wet or dry system. Another important item to know is how
long the battery backup will last on your fire alarm monitors
should the power go out. Your fire protection vendor and
municipal fire official are natural resources for questions
you may have. Ensure that all systems are tested annually
or as suggested and in compliance with municipal require-
ments. While municipalities will dictate necessary repairs,
it is smart to keep up with any vendor suggested repairs
as well. A simple matrix or checklist is a useful tool to keep
track of who services what, as well as when inspections
were last done and next due.
Deter Crime with Security
Understanding your association’s security systems is
important as well, and many of the same points made
Planning to Keep Your Community Safe
By Jeff Cirkus, CMCA, AMS, PCAM
Associa — Community Management Corp.
© iStockphoto.com
above apply. Understanding the systems in place including
their purpose and limitations is step one. Know how key
fobs are programmed for residents and how visitor man-
agement is handled. Whether your association has security
cameras, key fobs, gates, or security guards, these systems
are meant as deterrents until the police arrive.
When evaluating the effectiveness of an existing system
or considering new ones, learn from the experience and
mistakes others have made. Avoid entry systems with codes
where possible as they are not the most secure. Never use
a dummy camera system, this will provide a false sense
of security and could put the association at risk of a law-
suit. Gate systems, while expensive to maintain, are very
effective and can add value to homes within the commu-
nity. Lastly, virtual guards are an inexpensive and effective
deterrent in certain instances. A virtual guard cannot be
CONT I NU E S ON PAGE 58
"While we can’t prevent every issue
from occurring, we can use the
systems we have available to us and
proactively put plans in place..."