Question: Our association has a long-standing, posted rule prohibiting dogs due to a history of barking and noise disturbance. A new owner requested she be allowed to keep hers claiming it was a "therapy dog". The board denied her request and she moved it in anyway. Any thoughts?

Answer: While the board needs to make reasonable accommodations for seeing eye and hearing dogs, "therapy dog" is a new one and certainly a stretch. (Aren’t most pets kept for "therapy" reasons?) Since this pet owner had ample opportunity to know and understand the No Dogs rule and ignored it, it's right that the Board move forward with enforcement.

However, these matters can get very costly if contested. Pets are like family and this one may be willing to go the legal distance...hiring a lawyer, etc. If so, it may be prudent for the Board to settle based on a medical exception. Sometimes practicality is the better part of valor. Press here for a sample Pet Resolution.

Question: I want to start a homeowner association management company. Any advice?

Answer: What? Are you crazy? (Just kidding). Homeowner association management is probably the most challenging form of property management there is and you need the best training you can get.

The Community Associations Institute offers a variety of management resources and designations. I suggest you join the organization and get properly accredited. Also, get your state's equivalent of a property management license.

Question: Our Board Meetings always begin with a 15 minute "Homeowner Forum". The Board Secretary says including the homeowner comments in the Board Meeting minutes is not appropriate. Comment?

Answer: A Homeowner Forum is a wonderful way to include owners in the process. However, it is not technically part of a Board Meeting so the secretary is correct. But homeowner comments are noteworthy and should be recorded separately from the meeting minutes (unless the comments are inflammatory or libelous, of course). They, like the minutes, should be circulated to the other owners to encourage others to get involved.

For more on this subject, see www.regenesis.net

Published: December 13, 2000

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Richard Thompson owns Regenesis, a management consulting company that specializes in condominium and homeowner associations. He is a nationally recognized expert on HOA management issues. Regenesis publishes The Regenesis Report, a monthly newsletter for HOA boards, developers and managers. To subscribe, go to Regenesis.net. He can be contacted by email at .