Condo Media - September 2021 - 25

We believe client interaction and responsiveness is
very important. We try to be problem solvers, " he says.
THE CASE OF THE DISAPPEARING DEVELOPER
A case that required not just problem-solving and legal
skills, but also patience, attentiveness, and care, was that
of Reynolds Farm Way, an over-55 condo complex built
in and around sensitive wetlands in Westwood, Mass.
" Basically, the developer abandoned the project after
all of the units were sold, so the common-area infrastructure
was incomplete and was not in compliance
with DEP [Department of Environmental Protection]
orders of conditions, " Goldman reveals.
Unit owner Janet Baldassarre was a trustee of
the complex at the time. " We went to Howard in a
state of disarray, " she says. " We secured Howard
to help us in what we thought would be a negotiation
with the developer, but then it got more and
more intense. " Eventually, the town of Westwood,
which also had a vested interest in the outcome,
joined Goldman's client's side, adding welcome
support but also complexity to the case.
From transitioning the board from the developer to
Beacon Services has been relying on Goldman for legal
services for about 30 years, and Mooney praises the attorney's
availability. He recalls a time when, in the afternoon
of the day before Thanksgiving, one of his client properties
needed an emergency restraining order against a trustee.
Despite the holiday, " Howard acted within two days to
facilitate it successfully, " says Mooney. " He fi nds solutions. "
Mooney is also impressed by Goldman & Pease's
in-depth knowledge of condominiums and the fact that
Goldman is proactive about reaching out with updates and
information, such as changes in smoking rules, amending
bylaws, and rules on assessments and fi nes. " Whenever we
need it, Howard is both informative and pertinent to the
operation of a management company, " he says.
Goldman & Pease is also proactive about
educating clients about issues common
to condominium associations.
trustees elected by the unit owners and arranging for
mediation to ultimately reaching an agreement on the
brink of trial court, Goldman guided the association
successfully through the entire process. Along the way,
he was able to secure attachments approved by the court
on other properties of the developer; draft, negotiate,
and enforce the settlement documents; obtain sign-offs
on incomplete work by town engineers; and oversee
periodic release of funds from the escrow agreement.
" Between Howard and the town of Westwood, I felt fully
supported, " says Baldassarre, who was the trustee charged
with overseeing the construction process on behalf of the
association. " Howard was very accessible. For me, because
there was so much on my shoulders, that was so critical.
And he was very good about explaining things. "
She also appreciated Goldman's sensitivity to the
fi nancial strain on a brand-new complex that had not
yet had a chance to build up its reserves. " I really did
feel that he was very good about pulling in his younger
staff to do some of the more menial stuff, " she says.
" He's very good about delegating work out to them to
save us some money. "
A FIRM WHERE COMMUNICATION IS KEY
Jim Mooney, a senior property manager for Beacon
Services, a property management company in Boston,
Mass., also appreciates Goldman & Pease's respect for
their clients' fi nances. " One great thing is that he listens
to his customers, and he does what his customers want,
not what he can do to maximize profi ts, which is huge, "
Mooney says of Goldman.
The New England chapter of CAI is important in helping
Goldman & Pease stay current with condominium
law. Members of the fi rm actively attend chapter events,
participate in panel discussions, and have served on the
Attorneys' Committee, where they have the opportunity
to share cases that impact HOAs.
Goldman & Pease is also proactive about educating
clients about issues common to condominium associations.
" We have a strong working relationship with our clients.
They get a prompt and appropriate response, " Goldman
says. " We also try to educate ourselves and educate our
clients with regular client updates in calculated areas. "
Those updates usually take the form of articles that are
posted regularly on the fi rm's website, refl ecting issues of
the day. " It's often an example of a real-life situation to show
how it's impacted by the court's decisions, " Goldman says.
Two years ago, Airbnb short-term rentals were a hot topic.
Today, pandemic concerns such as Zoom meetings are addressed.
" We found, and our clients have found, that these
virtual meetings are more successful and more likely to get
a quorum. We also reminded our clients that this is a good
chance to update their condo docs to include provisions expressly
authorizing virtual meetings, " Goldman says. " That's
one example of the kind of article we do on a regular basis. "
It's all part of the service Goldman & Pease offers to
help avoid the kinds of confl icts that arise among people
living together in close quarters. But, more importantly,
the fi rm is ready to provide solutions when those problems
inevitably arise.
For more information about how Goldman & Pease can address
your association's legal needs, visit goldmanpease.com
or call (781) 292-1080.
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Condo Media - September 2021

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