CommonSense Continued from page 5
on board members comes from trying to balance responsibility and authority—when there is too much of one, and not enough of the other. That stress sometimes leads to individual board members avoiding their responsibilities or abusing their authority— always a bad situation for everyone. Understanding the imbalance of responsibility and power in a homeowner’s association will at least insulate board members from the stress of believing that they must find an answer to every problem. Like so many things in life, it would be nice, but not always possible. Recognizing that the system is inherently imperfect will let board members get down to the real business of making the most of what they have.
Tyler Berding is a founding partner of Berding & Weil, a construction defect and homeowner association law firm and a former member and the immediate past president of the ECHO board of directors.
MINIMUM WAGE INCREASES IN 2007
I
n September 2006, Governor Schwarzenegger signed into law an
increase in the minimum wage in California from $6.75 per hour to $7.50 per hour, effective January 1, 2007. The minimum wage will increase again on January 1, 2008 to $8.00 per hour. These increases will affect the budgets of many associations. Vendors used by associations, such as landscape companies, painters, roofing companies, pool maintenance, housekeeping, etc., may be increasing their fees to their clients. Boards should take this into account in their budgets. JANUARY 2007
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ECHO JOURNAL