The Department, in consultation with the Commission, must:
(a) research, assemble, analyze and disseminate pertinent data and educational materials about activities and programs which assist common ownership communities; plan and conduct educational and other programs, meetings and conferences to promote the operation of common ownership communities;
(b) maintain a master roster of homeowners' associations, condominiums, and cooperatives, their leadership, and their professional management companies if applicable;
(c) develop and maintain an information and referral system for all services in the County related directly to common ownership communities, and recommend other services when needed;
(d) maintain a collection of common ownership community association documents for use as a model and for reference;
(e) provide technical assistance to association governing bodies on matters such as transition, elections, rules adoption and enforcement, selection of association managers, storm water management and other services;
(f) develop and maintain a manual for the mutual benefit of common ownership communities and government agencies;
(g) develop and maintain an operations manual which will serve as a guide on operations to common ownership community leadership;
(h) advise common ownership communities and professional association managers of changes in the laws and regulations that affect their communities or operations;
(i) operate a dispute resolution process to furnish mediation and administrative hearings; and
(j) assist the Commission in carrying out its duties and in implementing Commission decisions under Article 2. (1990 L.M.C., ch. 33, § 1; 1994 L.M.C., ch. 9, § 1; 1996 L.M.C., ch. 13, § 1; 2005 L.M.C., ch. 26, § 1; 2010 L.M.C., ch. 49, § 1; 2016 L.M.C., ch. 10, § 1.)
Editor’s note—2005 L.M.C., ch. 26, §§ 2 and 3, state:
Sec. 2. Regulations. A regulation which implements a function transferred to the Office of Consumer Protection by this Act continues in effect until otherwise amended or repealed, but any reference to any predecessor department or office must be treated as referring to the Office of Consumer Protection.
Sec. 3. Transition. This act does not invalidate or affect any action taken by the Department of Housing and Community Affairs before this Act took effect. Any responsibility or right granted by law, regulation, contract, or other document, and which is associated with a function transferred by this Act from the Department of Housing and Community Affairs, is transferred to the Office of Consumer Protection.