{"id":4485,"date":"2018-12-07T06:36:25","date_gmt":"2018-12-07T14:36:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.caionline.org\/?p=4630"},"modified":"2018-12-07T06:36:25","modified_gmt":"2018-12-07T14:36:25","slug":"hanging-the-stockings-with-care-developing-a-holiday-decoration-policy-that-doesnt-turn-into-a-lump-of-coal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jerrybice.com\/wordpress\/hanging-the-stockings-with-care-developing-a-holiday-decoration-policy-that-doesnt-turn-into-a-lump-of-coal\/","title":{"rendered":"Hanging the stockings with care: Developing a holiday decoration policy that doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t turn into a lump of coal"},"content":{"rendered":"
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With their celebrations, gifts, and good wishes, the holidays are a time to be thankful and festive. Often that means decorating your home, office, and even car. But in some community associations, a resident’s seemingly innocent act of holiday cheer can be interpreted as a malicious disregard for association rules.<\/p>\n

How can your association avoid a dispute over holiday decorating? By considering both your residents’ rights to celebrate and your association’s ability to institute architectural guidelines that protect and enhance its aesthetic characteristics. Developing a policy doesn’t have to be a complicated or controversial process.<\/p>\n

“Rather than adopt a rule under pressure, why not take the time to think it through before the need arises?” attorney Lucia Anna \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Pia\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Trigiani writes in her book,\u00c2\u00a0Reinventing the Rules: A Step-by-Step Guide for Being Reasonable<\/a><\/em>. “Anticipating your association’s future needs and establishing rules for them now puts you in a proactive rather than reactive position.”<\/p>\n

The rulemaking process should involve the entire community:<\/p>\n

Committees.<\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0The responsibility of researching and drafting the initial policy may fall on the architectural or rules committee, which should poll the board as well as residents to discover their preferences.<\/p>\n

Professionals.<\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0Consult with your community manager and attorney. These experts might know of other associations that have dealt with the same problem, and they also can help make sure your policy is consistent with your association’s governing documents as well as state and local laws.<\/p>\n

Residents.<\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0After the committee has drafted the initial policy and the board has reviewed it, it’s time to go back to your residents for feedback. Distribute copies of the proposed language for everyone to review. If applicable, incorporate resident concerns and suggestions into the final policy.<\/p>\n

As for how your association handles decorations on common areas, amenities, or community buildings, you might consider the following:<\/p>\n