No meetings

Started by SherriK • 7 replies • 1337 views

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SherriK (Maryland)
Posts: 3

Posted:

I am an owner of a condo which is controlled by an HOA. I recently rec'd a notice that the monthly fees were increasing again. We have not had an owners meeting in over 4 years. I have tried repeatedly to request an annual meeting however the Vice President claims the secretary who is in charge of setting such meeting travels frequently and is trying to get one scheduled. Each time I receive an increase it only shows expenses and never shows income. Each time I question these statements I am told various excuses, ie. a common area washer/dryer was recently replaced or the snow removal fees were much higher than budgeted. By the way the washer/dryers are coined operated and no one can tell me where that money goes. What is my first step in getting back some control?

SusanW1 (Michigan)
Posts: 5,202

Posted:

Insist that the board give you an Annual Financial Report AND set the date for the next Annual meeting.

Look over all the minutes of the meeting and see if a monthly fianancial report is being given to the board.

Sounds like you are going to have to do a one on one for each of the board members to get something going and your questions andswered, since the President and Sec. are giving you the run around.

Anyone sane on that board?

SherriK (Maryland)
Posts: 3

Posted:

No one is sane on this board and to top it off the Pres and VP are husband and wife.

MaryA1 (Arizona)
Posts: 388

Posted:

Sherri,

The only way to make change is to get the members together to confront the board with all the complaints. If that doesn't work then perhaps a recall is in order. As for the secretary traveling frequently and having time to schedule an annual meeting is just a cop out -- one of the other board members can take on this resp. It appears that the board doesn't want an annual meeting because they want to remain on the board. IMO, it's time for them to go!!!

JonD1
Posts: 2,350

Posted:

Sherri:

Just how many units are on your property? Is this a year round residence?

How long have you owned there?

Were these Board members elected? When? And is there anyone willing to do the job they now occupy?

Working backwards if you were to remove this Board who then would do that job? If the other owners have allowed this to go on years will anyone step up to get involved and perhaps replace the current Board members?

That question should be answered before you go forward with any attempt to remove them.

While there is blame to be placed on the Board, I find some other people at fault also. Where are the rest of the owners? How have they allowed this to go on for so long.

Any Board can do whatever they wish when the property owners allow it. So for me the bottom line is the blame lies there rather than with the Board. What the Board is doing MAY be wrong but who has allowed it to happen?

JeanneK3 (Maryland)
Posts: 562

Posted:

Sherri:
An annual meeting of homeowners is required by Maryland law. If that hasn't happened, you should file a complaint with the Office of Consumer Affairs, OAG. See www.marylandhomeownersassociation.info for more information. You also need to check your governing documents to see if a both a husband and wife can serve on the board; usually this is not allowed unless each owns a separate unit. And I agree with others, you need to become familiar with your bylaws and Maryland law and inform your neighbors that the board is acting illegally. Perhaps others will run for the board if they understand how mismanaged your association is.
Jeanne

NameW (Virginia)
Posts: 74

Posted:

Clearly not holding the annual meeting is wrong and should be a subject of a complaint to the regulators. Likewise the failure to provide an annual financial report showing the money coming in as well as the money going out. You could probably figure out much of the annual income by multiplying your assessments times the number of units. How does that stack up against the outgo?

SherriK (Maryland)
Posts: 3

Posted:

This whole situation isn't getting any better. Requested a financial statement and was given a 6 line paper with total fiscal year expenses. When I asked where is the income from this was told well it's just the monthly dues. There is an on-site laundry facility and that monies is to be shown as income, I was told it varies from month to month. At which point I demanded a complete financial report for the previous 3 years. Of course that is going to take some time to obtain. Demanded a meeting and was told they will try to get one in January.

Best part, Condo President and his wife the VP own 7 unit (24 total) and they wanted to increase monthly dues by $75 but decided against it. I asked when this board meeting was and if I could see a copy of the minutes. Of course, she claims we didn't take minutes it was just me, my husband and the accountant!!!!!

This is going to get very ugly in the upcoming year.

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