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ADVICE PLEASE !

Started by PattyB1 • 7 replies • 1491 views

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PattyB1 (Kentucky)
Posts: 40
Posted:
I am the VP on our 4 member board.The other three have not talked to me since early November.Before then it was still like pulling teeth to get any info. from them.I'm also the Watch Captain for our neighborhood and the first week in Nov.,I discoverd we had a convicted child molester in our subdivision.He was regesterd and the police knew where he was.Before Thanksgiving,we had a Board meeting and I told them all about it.I was verbally spanked by all 3 of them and they left.The secretary called me 2 days later to inform me she has made posters and will be passing them out to every house.I would have helped,but I didn't know what they were doing.We had our last Association Meeting on Dec.17th and I couldn't attend,the first meeting I've ever missed.I emailed the Board and asked how the meeting went, also what was discussed.The President emailed me back and told me he's not going to tell me anything simply because I want the information.I have know idea what is going on within the Board,but whatever they choose to do, they'll do,without my involvement,can they do that?Will I also get the blame if they do something wrong even if I wasn't involved?Patty B1
KathleenB (California)
Posts: 7
Posted:
Patty,

What's the background on this? Why has the Board "suddenly" stopped speaking with you? Make sure the minutes reflect that you were absent if you are worried about getting balmmed for decisions made without you there.

Also, the Association should not get involved in posting up flyers about registered sex offenders. It's an area that your attorney or management company should have told you not go into. Of course, homeowners may and I'm all for that. But the Association always wants to protect it's members from possible legal consequences. Just FYI.
PattyB1 (Kentucky)
Posts: 40
Posted:
To make a long story short, the 3 of them are close friends and they took their offices with no opposition.I was the only one elected.This has been going on since July of this year. They wanted a friend of theirs on the board.I've only missed 1 meeting so if I can get a copy of the minutes,I'm sure it will say I wasn't there.Thank you.PattyB1
HaroldS (Arizona)
Posts: 906
Posted:
A four member board is different, usually they are odd numbers so there can't be a tie vote, but yours has the 3 votes they need to do pretty much what they want to in this term. Obviously your members chose you over their crony when given a choice, so that speaks volumes and should humble the other board members. You need to drum up some other members to run next time against those three so they won't get elected unopposed.
There have been discussions here about other board members in your situation, but I'm at a loss as to what keyword to use to search for them.
You seem concerned about your vulnerability - are they making decisions that could come back to bite all of you? If you vote "no", be sure that your vote is recorded by name in the minutes and demand a copy. Harold
HaroldS (Arizona)
Posts: 906
Posted:
A four member board is different, usually they are odd numbers so there can't be a tie vote, but yours has the 3 votes they need to do pretty much what they want to in this term. Obviously your members chose you over their crony when given a choice, so that speaks volumes and should humble the other board members. You need to drum up some other members to run next time against those three so they won't get elected unopposed.
There have been discussions here about other board members in your situation, but I'm at a loss as to what keyword to use to search for them.
You seem concerned about your vulnerability - are they making decisions that could come back to bite all of you? If you vote "no", be sure that your vote is recorded by name in the minutes and demand a copy. Harold
JereW (Arizona)
Posts: 1
Posted:
Hi Patty:

I'm in a similar situation. I was elected to our Board of Directors in late August. No one on the Board ever briefed me on issues I had to ask a lot of questions and figure it out myself. I discovered that they are delinquent on federal and state tax returns and corporate reports for the last three years and there is an outstanding tax lien on the common parcels. I'm getting flack for asking questions and trying to resolve these issues. There are five on our Board. Four of them are buds and have been working together for years. The President is a dictator and it seems that everyone is afraid of her. My only recourse, if they don't meet their corporate obligations, is to take the information to the community. Does anyone else have any experience with this type of situation?
PattyB1 (Kentucky)
Posts: 40
Posted:
I want to thank everybody for their comments so far.You know,we don't get paid for this, we volunteer and try to do good things for our neighborhoods.This is my neighborhoods first HOA so, I thought we should focus mainly on getting organized. I don't even know if we have insurance,they will not discuss it with me.Anyway,thank you all.Patty
BrianB (California)
Posts: 2,820
Posted:
patty, remind them that such things as proof of insurance, common documents, financial records, etc. are (almost always) required by law to be available for inspection/review by owners, let alone board members. stick to your guns, ask to see the information, and keep asking.

put your requests in writing, and give deadlines (reasonable, like 10 days, next meeting, etc.). Document in writing the results (i saw the records, or the information was not brought, etc.). Document document document. that may get their attention.

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