Condo Association Management Blog

As long as this is not a violation of state law, there is probably nothing wrong. BTW, what is she watching -- common areas only I hope. Have there been complaints of trespassers; illegal activities???

It seems to me that the nature of today's privacy laws suggest it foolish for any individual to monitor anything without approval of the Board, especially to a personal laptop. However, it is a derelict of duty not to employ survellance cameras and taping of all ingress & egress paths for security purposes. At condo expense and Board approval.

We have security cameras all over the place. As far as I am concerned, it is unnecessary, and a violation of my privacy. I think that someone one in the office or on the Board is paranoid. I'm 74, and don;t need these cameras watching me. I've wondered how much they spent on all this security.

Interesting perpective. In the development I live in, our older residents have applauded the planned installation of security cams in such common areas such as the exercise room. I personnally find it difficult to understand why cams in common areas would be a problem, when these are places already in open view of anybody who is walking around.

I like security cameras but they are often used to see who is talking to who, who is walking around with who. Really we don't need them except: the pool for sfety reasons, entrances to the HOA. Maybe the gyms. Not everywhere.

cameras are fina and dandy but can the president have it also in her country when she leaves? It seems really odd but it seems also she may be breakning homeland security in some way.how to handle a situation like that is a problem.  
 

In our condo in Florida we have security cameras everywhere.  
The only time they are reviewed is if there has been a problem and they then review the tapes. 
When the tapes are reviewed there has to be two board members present and the time and reason for the review is noted in a log book.

As long as the Board approved it and the vote (with details) is recorded in the minutes, I'm not sure why there would be a problem.

I personally am not paranoid about a cam recording who I am speaking with on condo grounds. Associations with cams in common areas need to follow local privacy laws, and many have added their own requirements on how to use the recordings. So far, my fellow residents have been unanimous in their support of our cams. As to viewing Cams from outside the USA, I would be more worried that a HOA/BOD President spends a lot of time away from the Assocation, period. How involved can they be in the property? In Florida, a BOD member that misses for BOD meetings is automatically thrown off the Board.

We have video and audio surveillance cameras that are used in the clubhouse and office along with video only in pool and tag reader in entrance. This has lead to several arrests for vandalism and theft. Our local police dept. has been given the url for viewing our property on the web. As President I initiated this and it has served us well. We have a sign on our entrance stating that property is under surveillance. If members have a problem with this then let them find somewhere else to live.

security cams now-a-days is a good idea what with the crime rates high and issues of damage by others to common elements. anything that could aid law enforcement is a help. however, recording to the presidents own personal laptop just doesn't sound like a good idea to me. possible invasion of privacy issues and to what purpose does this serve the association? if the recording is needed by law enforcement, how on earth does that person get the information to them? if this president is recording this to their personal system, then they should pay for the entire cost of the installation and maintenance. my board would never allow a personal video system as this. the system should be kept on site and be able to be accessed by the board and law enforcement. 
 
another questions enters my mind here, why on earth did your board vote in an absentee board president? absentee board members only serve to slow down the workings of the board and the day to day operation of the association; especially an absentee president. you need to question the board and have them re-evaluate this situation in favor of live-in permanent year round residents.

Cebo's comments regarding the need for Srcuity Cameras make sense--so does the argument that they invade our privacy. So, we could vote either for or against, but we do not agree with his remark about Absentee Board Members. Yes, the President should be a full-time resident, but snowbirds should not be prevented from serving. After all, they pay the same maintenance, and in many states they pay more taxes. Their interests are very much the same as full-timers, with very slight differences. They should be represented.  
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Many people think that we should take advange of today's digital world, as with the security cameras; and conference calling to hold Board Meetings is a possibility too.

LEB: "If members don't like this let them find another place to live." --- what an attitude! Take it or leave it. That's bully-talk if I've ever heard it. Oh, yes, I have heard it, when I lived in the Bronx ghetto. That attitude really shows class. And a democratic way of thinking too.

The Board of Directors are respomsible for providing for the security o9f the favility they manage. Yjheir determination to install video surveillance camers may or may not require a majority vote of approval from the council of unit owners. This determination depends on bylaw provisions. Regardless their instgallation can be challenged at any tiem by organizing the unit owners opposed and forcing the Board to conduct another vote of the council of unit owners.

MY complex is in the middle of one of the worst neighborhoods, so I feel cameras are very welcome. At least they can get a clue if I am found dead in the parking lot. 
 
It was so bad, that the Police Department offered an undercover trailer with cameras to get an idea of who was doing what. The Board refused to listen to me or the Police Department or to vote one way or the other. 
 
 
 
This lack of action forced the police to rent a unit at the complex in back of us, another one across the street from the front of the complex, and use the County building on another side entrance to "spy" unknowingly on all the residents. This forced an action called "police abatement" where a judge's order is requested and the complex is forced to clean up the property under penalty of law.  
 
The police abatement worked, but cost the complex a lot of money that could have been used eleswhere. Always remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

I agree with cebo! In fact, out bylaws do not allow any non-resident owners to serve on the Board. How can one possibly take part in making decisions to help ensure the quality of life of a condo community if they don't live in that community?? It's insane to allow non-resident owners to make decisions that affect resident owners given that they themselves are likely not affected by these decisions!

We have motion activated cameras (12 of them) all over our complex at important areas due to vandalism and theft. We have them at each of our gates, either end of our driveways, in our laundry room (somebody broke into the coin box on all of our washers and dryers, we now have new ones that use cards), at our pool and rec room (we had kids from the hood hanging out in our pool area late at night smoking pot). 
 
 
 
I consider this a necessity. I'm on the board and we all voted unanimously for it, and all the residents applauded it. We have a wireless network set up and can all access the video via internet, so we can check recordings, send any pictures of offenders to the police, etc. 
 
 
 
We had a break in the day after Christmas (someone got into one of our walking gates and then snapped the chain to our driveway gate, opened it by hand and brought his van in and stole a resident's scooter. We have it all on video and he has already been identified and the video sent to the police. 
 
 
 
We're in Los Angeles and NEED this camera system.

Our association recently installed a security cameras for common areas and toward the entrance and parking areas. Because many of them face the pool and the majority of the board members are men (except me) I voted against and rec'd support - to have the camera's in place so if there was destruction to common elements we could have tapes of the area - but will not allow them to have them on the internet. So it doesn't have to be web based. I would make sure the board passed the usage of the cameras and have it taken off line.

Is it against the law in Fl to have conversation recorded with out your knowlege..our POA records at random with our knowledge...pool entry ways etc..there is no sign ot ntice you are being recorded..HELP! asap

I was told the president of my HOA in San Antonio, TX. watches live video of our children in their swimwear?  
A neighbor told me when they went in his house he had it up on his big screen. I asked the management company and the lady told me he does it to watch our lifeguards. Our lifeguards were fired years ago. I think it should be done by a third 
party and only reviewed if there is an incident. What do you think?