Condo Media - June 2019 - 24

FACT Fiction
or

FACT Fiction:
or

"SECURITY TECHNOLOGY IS
EXPENSIVE AND I HAVE TO
INSTALL THE BEST SYSTEM WITH
THE MOST BELLS AND WHISTLES
TO MAKE AN IMPACT."
There's no doubt that security-related
technology such as cameras and access
control systems can become expensive
when performing a new installation over
a large area. However, like many other
budget items, these technologies come
in varying degrees of sophistication and
costs. While I would never support the
idea of installing inadequate or outdated
equipment at a property, I do often suggest to properties that they first work to
identify what their actual needs are, what
their expectations are and what they're
trying to achieve with the technology
they're considering. This exercise will
help ensure you're looking at equipment
that is a best fit for your needs. A very
good example of this would be related to
the use of video cameras. Cameras range
in price from $50 for a simple camera
you may buy on Amazon to more than
$5,000 for a highly sophisticated camera
with tremendous capabilities that
requires installation and maintenance by
a certified and authorized vendor. There
is a significant difference in performance
and abilities between these two cameras
and the many options in between them.
Working with a security hardware integrator, an independent consultant and
possibly even a manufacturer's representative, you will be able to identify the
equipment option that is most appropriate to meet the needs and expectations
of your property and in many cases, do so
without committing to the most expensive option out there.

FACT Fiction:
or

"RESIDENTS DON'T PLAY A ROLE
IN A SECURITY INITIATIVE AT A
PROPERTY. IT'S NOT THEIR JOB."
Residents play a tremendous role in a
successful security program at a proper-

24

CONDOMEDIA June 2019

for periodic review and updating.
ty and this component
However, written policies and proceis often overlooked.
dures will benefit a property in many
Your resident populaways. Related to security respontion is often on-site when
sibilities, they will establish a
board members, on-site
clear and finite expectation for
managers, staff or portfolio manall to follow when addressing
agers may not be, and residents
issues such as accessing guests
travel throughout the property
into the building, controlling keys
during the course of their daily
and checking the property. Additionactivities and will often have eyes in
ally, most formal training programs are
places where others may not be. Finally,
directly based on the program's policies
residents are exceptionally aware of
and procedures. This is done to ensure
what is normal and typical for their
that board members, resident volunteers
home and are very well-positioned to
and staff newly coming into positions are
report "unusual activity." It is important
starting with an established and accepted
for residents to understand their role
body of knowledge rather than simply
in your program and how best they can
whatever is passed on to them by the perassist. Ensuring residents contact the
son they are training with on any given
appropriate party which may include
day. Finally, a complete, well written and
onsite staff or board members imupdated set of policy and procedures
mediately upon observation of unusual
could benefit the property greatly while
activity or the local police in the event of
defending against a civil action or potencriminal activity, can have a tremendous
tial insurance claim.
impact on these types of events and can
lead to their swift resolution. Having these
Written policies and procedures are the
basic instructions
along with appropriate
foundation of any strong security program
phone numbers available in your resident
at a property. Memorializing these
handbook or welcome
package is a great place
instructions can be an arduous task and
to start. Periodic reminders in newsletters
once established, time must be allotted
or communications
for periodic review and updating.
from the board or
management office are
a great ongoing reminder.
In closing, I would suggest that we
regularly revisit our thinking on these
and other security-related myths that
or
may be part of our dialogue. Stopping
the conversation to dig further into a
topic always takes more time and effort.
"ALL OUR BOARD MEMBERS,
However, having the most accurate and
RESIDENT VOLUNTEERS AND
complete understanding of a security
STAFF KNOW WHAT THEY
issue will allow you to develop the best
SHOULD BE DOING RELATED
possible solutions and recommendations
TO SECURITY. WE DON'T NEED
to bring that issue to a swift resolve.
TO HAVE WRITTEN POLICIES
OR PROCEDURES."
Written policies and procedures are the
n CHRISTOPHER R. LANNI CPP,
foundation of any strong security proCMCA, AMS IS THE FOUNDER AND
gram at a property. Memorializing these
PRESIDENT OF SECURE RESIDENTIAL
instructions can be an arduous task and
SERVICES, LLC.
once established, time must be allotted

FACT Fiction:
Condo Media - June 2019

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