ChristinaR (Maryland)
Posts: 99
Posts: 99
Posted:
Does anyone know enough about the MD HOA Laws to help with the following questions?
Should the 2009-2010 BOD be voting on the 2011 budget at the annual meeting PRIOR to elections?
Is there any kind of Statute that they should be following as to bidding out contracts for vendors?
Over 30% of our opperating budget goes to Landscaping
Over 20% goes to Management
This is a 102 Townhouse HOA.
Our annual elections are tonight and the BOD has been discussing for weeks an increase of 5% in assesments, which will bring them to $550+ per unit annually. We have about 2-3 acres of Open Space and 3 areas of planting in our Landscaping contract and it is $18,000 (as of 2009)...we, the homeowners, have asked them to bid out the Landscaping contract comparing apples to apples, but were told 'so and so does a great job and has also just agreed to lower their contract.' My problem is with the intense heat we had this year, and lack of rain, we paid a $1,700 monthly check to a company that came by twice in 3 months because there was no need for them to. There are other Landscapers that offer services based on # of visits per month and such instead of a monthly fee. We are also told that "the current company goes 'above and beyond' and we actually pay him less than the stated budget amount, but offer him bonuses, which is why the budgeted amount is inflated." But I have requested financial records and found that all this 'above and beyond' they talk about at meetings is actually line item charged on TOP of the monthly fee and then additional 'bonuses' are still issued. I feel like this contractor is getting kick backs for normal work and the BOD isn't even trying to save the Members money by checking all these line item charges against other contractors. One perfect example is a sign at the entrance to our community. It doesn't actually belong to the HOA, but we maintain it. We have been told that the contractor does not charge for this, yet when it comes down to the line items, he certainly does charge us for every plant he puts in up there, every bag of mulch...all of it. An expense, I suggested we approach the Owner of the sign about, to see if he would even consider helping if not taking over the maintenance of the sign. The BOD told me that since our guy does such a great job, there was no need to look into this.
I understand it's a gamble going with a pay per service (what if it rains more, grass grows faster, it will cost more to maintain) and thats where maybe we decide, just like all the state and county municiples had to this year, that we won't mow as often because we simply can't afford it!
We already have over 15% of our homes in arrears and I feel like an increase will only make matters worse and that we should do what ever we can to avoid an increase, even if that includes cutting back on items that are, in a sense, luxuries.
The 2009-2010 BOD has on the agenda for tonight's meeting that they will approve the 2011 budget prior to the start of the actual Annual Meeting & elections. This has never been done in our HOA in the last 10 years of existance. The budget is approved at the first Monthly Meeting of the new BOD. But it's not in our documents, so I'm assuming they can do this if they want?!?!?
And I'm pretty sure they are trying to rush this through approval tonight, so that they don't have to send the new budget with the increase shown out for the 30 day review, which will be required by law as of October 1, 2010. I have no proof of this, but this reflects the way our BOD opperates.
I have no intention of running for the BOD again, and I know I shouldn't complain, but there are directors on 2 and 3 year terms that act illegally, harass other BOD Members, contractors, and homeowners and the recall process is just something I don't have the time nor energy to initiate. Everyone says, you start it and we'll help, but I sincerely don't have the time with a 2 hour commute each way to work. I know that this might be the response I get to this post, but it's simply not an option.
Should the 2009-2010 BOD be voting on the 2011 budget at the annual meeting PRIOR to elections?
Is there any kind of Statute that they should be following as to bidding out contracts for vendors?
Over 30% of our opperating budget goes to Landscaping
Over 20% goes to Management
This is a 102 Townhouse HOA.
Our annual elections are tonight and the BOD has been discussing for weeks an increase of 5% in assesments, which will bring them to $550+ per unit annually. We have about 2-3 acres of Open Space and 3 areas of planting in our Landscaping contract and it is $18,000 (as of 2009)...we, the homeowners, have asked them to bid out the Landscaping contract comparing apples to apples, but were told 'so and so does a great job and has also just agreed to lower their contract.' My problem is with the intense heat we had this year, and lack of rain, we paid a $1,700 monthly check to a company that came by twice in 3 months because there was no need for them to. There are other Landscapers that offer services based on # of visits per month and such instead of a monthly fee. We are also told that "the current company goes 'above and beyond' and we actually pay him less than the stated budget amount, but offer him bonuses, which is why the budgeted amount is inflated." But I have requested financial records and found that all this 'above and beyond' they talk about at meetings is actually line item charged on TOP of the monthly fee and then additional 'bonuses' are still issued. I feel like this contractor is getting kick backs for normal work and the BOD isn't even trying to save the Members money by checking all these line item charges against other contractors. One perfect example is a sign at the entrance to our community. It doesn't actually belong to the HOA, but we maintain it. We have been told that the contractor does not charge for this, yet when it comes down to the line items, he certainly does charge us for every plant he puts in up there, every bag of mulch...all of it. An expense, I suggested we approach the Owner of the sign about, to see if he would even consider helping if not taking over the maintenance of the sign. The BOD told me that since our guy does such a great job, there was no need to look into this.
I understand it's a gamble going with a pay per service (what if it rains more, grass grows faster, it will cost more to maintain) and thats where maybe we decide, just like all the state and county municiples had to this year, that we won't mow as often because we simply can't afford it!
We already have over 15% of our homes in arrears and I feel like an increase will only make matters worse and that we should do what ever we can to avoid an increase, even if that includes cutting back on items that are, in a sense, luxuries.
The 2009-2010 BOD has on the agenda for tonight's meeting that they will approve the 2011 budget prior to the start of the actual Annual Meeting & elections. This has never been done in our HOA in the last 10 years of existance. The budget is approved at the first Monthly Meeting of the new BOD. But it's not in our documents, so I'm assuming they can do this if they want?!?!?
And I'm pretty sure they are trying to rush this through approval tonight, so that they don't have to send the new budget with the increase shown out for the 30 day review, which will be required by law as of October 1, 2010. I have no proof of this, but this reflects the way our BOD opperates.
I have no intention of running for the BOD again, and I know I shouldn't complain, but there are directors on 2 and 3 year terms that act illegally, harass other BOD Members, contractors, and homeowners and the recall process is just something I don't have the time nor energy to initiate. Everyone says, you start it and we'll help, but I sincerely don't have the time with a 2 hour commute each way to work. I know that this might be the response I get to this post, but it's simply not an option.