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AlexL1 (Florida)
Posts: 305
Posted:
Is there such a thing as a HOA Advisory Committee? This means, a committee of condo unit owners that advises the HOA Board from time to time on issues...... on decisions made by the HOA on various issues, and/or advises the HOA on issues prior to the HOA having made any final decisions on any issues.
MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836
Posted:
Sounds like rendunancy to me. HOA stands for Homeowner's Association in which every homeowner is a member. The Board of the HOA are homeowners (members) that are elected from the membership to represent the majority of homeowners in daily operations of the HOA.
If there was a HOA advisory board then who would make it up and why? The HOA is already made up of the HOA members. There can be COMMITTEES that may participate in reviewing the actions of the HOA board if that is indeed desired. The members NOT being Board members but those concerned members who want to participate in reviewing actions WITH the board. Most of the time I just call this "Meetings"...

Former HOA President
DonnaS (Tennessee)
Posts: 5,671
Posted:

Alex,

I don't understand why you feel a need for such a committee. What you need to have is communications. A newsletter or website works really well to get information to and from the members. Committees work only as an extension of the Board and at it's discression.

It is the Boards fudituary duty to make the decisions on any and all issues. Members meetings are places for the members to express their concerns. I could imagine a committee becomeing too opinionated and trying to influence a Board so my opinion is no to such a group. IMHO
SusanW1 (Michigan)
Posts: 5,202
Posted:
I like Advisory Committees - and so do the members that are on it.

This "committee" does not meet, rather it's just an indivudual's willingness to be put on a list if the board needs any advice or seeks outside consultation. Examples would be realtor, politician, carpenter, parliamentarian, landscape or master gardener, electrician, mechanic, etc. Many are Members of the HOA who just want to help out when really needed.

Just someone to call . . .
RobW (California)
Posts: 279
Posted:
I can envision a situation in which an HOA is over 30 years old (easy to do, since mine is 36 years old). I can also envision that a 30+ year old HOA might not have a single Board member who has lived there longer than 10 years. And yet, there could be people living in the community who go all the way back to the beginning.

A committee of "elder statesmen" whose collective experiences and knowledge can be tapped when major issues arise that the community has successfully solved in the past could be a good thing.

A Board can also create a committee "on the fly" that has a single purpose. An example: review the job the management company is doing, and make recommendations to the Board. Former Board members and HOA presidents would be logical candidates. This very thing is currently happening where I live.

Rob
JanetB2 (Colorado)
Posts: 4,219
Posted:
Hi Susan:

I love that idea!!! It would give homeowners who have experience in certain areas a feeling of helping and participating. It also would give a board someone to consult who would potentially have the HOA’s best interest in mind, instead of outside consulting from someone who may be looking at lining their own pockets.

I can see why you would like this type of committee.

JonD1
Posts: 2,350
Posted:
Alex:

Just wondering have you approached your Board with this idea?

And what was their response?

And the way you see it who would decide when the advisors needed to be heard from?

Would that be something you would have to run past the advisors every time?

Just to make sure the Board got it right?

I would like to hear your Board's feelings on this suggestion.
AlexL1 (Florida)
Posts: 305
Posted:
The major intent is/was to get homeowners a chance to be "part of" something instead of always finding fault. Even a complaining person is changed once on the Board......they begin to see things in a different light..... An advisory committee would or could(if manipulated correctly) could result in a similar way.
AnnD2 (Connecticut)
Posts: 76
Posted:
I don't have a lot to add to the previous comments, except that I think this sort of thing might be a good idea, if there isn't much participation among the majority of owners. Otherwise, the way most laws, bylaws and Robert's Rules are written any interpretation of a matter has to be left up to the entire membership. So, even if this committee did give advice, at least at the annual meeting, there would need to be a discussion and approval of this advice by the entire membership. (There is quite a lot on committees, their role and acceptance of their recommendations in Robert's Rules which can be accessed online at www.robertsrules.com)

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