Renovations again?!

Started by MaureenM5 • 4 replies • 1217 views

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MaureenM5 (Washington)
Posts: 9

Posted:

Hello All,

I am a resident of a 250+ homeowners association (single family homes). A board member has decided our pool house needs renovations. This is cosmetic and making it look pretty.

1. The owners have zero information mailed to them (meeting minutes or past budgets), etc.
2. The HOA just (last month) replaced old falling down kid toys. $8k
3. The last pool house remodel was 3 years ago. 40k

So, here I am a resident who has gone to every meeting minus Decembers (the last held, I was sick). I go to this month's meeting and whoa... we are remodeling? The board is going to have a closed "special meeting" to go over bids from an architect. The project may cost 10-25k?! Oh and they are going to email each other in order to talk about these issues and vote at that time?

Can I do something to stop this? WA state has an open meeting law and they do not care if I remind them They told me that I was screamed at and told I was Your ticking me off." By the President because I actually nicely stated that the should have this in an open meeting. Also, I was told, "I get ticked off when people tell me what to do". Meaning... tell them what to do (in regards to the Bylaws and CCRs).

HELP!

Thank you,

MaureenM5 (Washington)
Posts: 9

Posted:

Hello All,

One additional note. If they board votes in this "special meeting" /closed meeting only open to the BoD and book keeper... The reserves (money market account) would drop from 60k to 40k for 250+ homes with a in ground pool, sport courts etc and huge grass field.

This seems to be a major drain on the reserves. Especially since our dues are less than 40.00 per month.

P.S. the newletter is a joke so far only 2 issues this year and no mention of any projects.. mysteriously missing any HOA updates. Oh, and the newsletter person is the book keepers spouse and has said focefully that they will not give it up.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
M

SusanW1 (Michigan)
Posts: 5,202

Posted:

Maureen - have you seen the Reserve Fund calendar?

Perhaps it is time for certain things to be done, they have been saved up for, and the board is getting ready to start the needed project.

MaureenM5 (Washington)
Posts: 9

Posted:

Hi Susan,

The items they want to do are not needed as we just did these 3 years ago. They just want to improve on them more. In addition, they have no idea what a Reserve Fund Calendar is nor do they care. If you bring up Reserve Study you get a defense statement that "those are a waste of money." This is my 3rd HOA and never have I had a board bunker in like this. Also, I have served on a board before and this is astounding.

Thanks,

M

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059

Posted:

Maureen,

Many Boards think reserve funds is one huge pot of money that is to be used on certain items. You and I know that the funds are (or should be) actually allocated to certain areas so Board members are aware that overspending in one area can impact another or create a need for a special assessment.

You might want to approach the board by asking:

How will this impact the amount of money set aside for the roads?

Perhaps we should consider a special assessment for this work since it was just done three years ago?

Basically going after the same result from a different angle so they the Board thinks it's their idea.

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