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SimoneT (Florida)
Posts: 116
Posted:
For those that have not read our other threads. We are an HOA, and fall under the Florida Statute 720. We are waiting for our BOD to approve another Voting Meeting. If they do not, we want to get ready for a Recall. How do we go about doing this? What are the requirements, and how do we get the form(s) for a Recall?
SusanW1 (Michigan)
Posts: 5,202
Posted:
The recall would happen at a special meeting, specifically called for that purpose.

So find out what you have to do to have a Special meeting and put the recall motion for EACH member you want to recall on the agenda. That's the only business that can take place, except if you hold an election, too.

The process should be in your documents.

Next, you have to figure out what is going to happen to the vacancies that were created by the recall. Are you going to hold an election at this special meeting, too? Or let the remaining board members fill the vacancies.
PeterD3 (Florida)
Posts: 708
Posted:

It can be easy in Florida (IF YOU KNOW YOU HAVE MAJORITY H.O.SUPPORT):

No MEMEBERS meeting for a vote required!

Simply download the state reccommended ballot from the DBPR website.

Follow the instructions CAREFULLY on the form.

Collect 50% +1 ballots from the lots/homes. (Many more if possible to be safe should some be found invalid at Certification meeting.)

Mail Ballots and cover letter from the Homeowner's Representative via USPS Return Receipt Requested to the "Certified Agent" of the HoA.

ASSUMING there are no problems with the ballots to render them (and the recall) void ab initio the HoA has 5 business days to call a meeting to certify (or not) the Recall.

If they choose to NOT certify the recall then they MUST file for Arbitration under Florida Laws.

If they choose not to hold a meeting then the Recall is automatic by action of the law.
PeterD3 (Florida)
Posts: 708
Posted:
I hate long posts but... here is the current statute:

(I will post a link to the Recall ballot next.)

(10) RECALL OF DIRECTORS.—
(a)1. Regardless of any provision to the contrary contained in the governing documents, subject to the provisions of s. 720.307 regarding transition of association control, any member of the board of directors may be recalled and removed from office with or without cause by a majority of the total voting interests.
2. When the governing documents, including the declaration, articles of incorporation, or bylaws, provide that only a specific class of members is entitled to elect a board director or directors, only that class of members may vote to recall those board directors so elected.
(b)1. Board directors may be recalled by an agreement in writing or by written ballot without a membership meeting. The agreement in writing or the written ballots, or a copy thereof, shall be served on the association by certified mail or by personal service in the manner authorized by chapter 48 and the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure.
2. The board shall duly notice and hold a meeting of the board within 5 full business days after receipt of the agreement in writing or written ballots. At the meeting, the board shall either certify the written ballots or written agreement to recall a director or directors of the board, in which case such director or directors shall be recalled effective immediately and shall turn over to the board within 5 full business days any and all records and property of the association in their possession, or proceed as described in paragraph (d).
3. When it is determined by the department pursuant to binding arbitration proceedings that an initial recall effort was defective, written recall agreements or written ballots used in the first recall effort and not found to be defective may be reused in one subsequent recall effort. However, in no event is a written agreement or written ballot valid for more than 120 days after it has been signed by the member.
4. Any rescission or revocation of a member’s written recall ballot or agreement must be in writing and, in order to be effective, must be delivered to the association before the association is served with the written recall agreements or ballots.
5. The agreement in writing or ballot shall list at least as many possible replacement directors as there are directors subject to the recall, when at least a majority of the board is sought to be recalled; the person executing the recall instrument may vote for as many replacement candidates as there are directors subject to the recall.
(c)1. If the declaration, articles of incorporation, or bylaws specifically provide, the members may also recall and remove a board director or directors by a vote taken at a meeting. If so provided in the governing documents, a special meeting of the members to recall a director or directors of the board of administration may be called by 10 percent of the voting interests giving notice of the meeting as required for a meeting of members, and the notice shall state the purpose of the meeting. Electronic transmission may not be used as a method of giving notice of a meeting called in whole or in part for this purpose.
2. The board shall duly notice and hold a board meeting within 5 full business days after the adjournment of the member meeting to recall one or more directors. At the meeting, the board shall certify the recall, in which case such member or members shall be recalled effective immediately and shall turn over to the board within 5 full business days any and all records and property of the association in their possession, or shall proceed as set forth in subparagraph (d).
(d) If the board determines not to certify the written agreement or written ballots to recall a director or directors of the board or does not certify the recall by a vote at a meeting, the board shall, within 5 full business days after the meeting, file with the department a petition for binding arbitration pursuant to the applicable procedures in ss. 718.112(2)(j) and 718.1255 and the rules adopted thereunder. For the purposes of this section, the members who voted at the meeting or who executed the agreement in writing shall constitute one party under the petition for arbitration. If the arbitrator certifies the recall as to any director or directors of the board, the recall will be effective upon mailing of the final order of arbitration to the association. The director or directors so recalled shall deliver to the board any and all records of the association in their possession within 5 full business days after the effective date of the recall.
(e) If a vacancy occurs on the board as a result of a recall and less than a majority of the board directors are removed, the vacancy may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this subsection or in the association documents. If vacancies occur on the board as a result of a recall and a majority or more of the board directors are removed, the vacancies shall be filled by members voting in favor of the recall; if removal is at a meeting, any vacancies shall be filled by the members at the meeting. If the recall occurred by agreement in writing or by written ballot, members may vote for replacement directors in the same instrument in accordance with procedural rules adopted by the division, which rules need not be consistent with this subsection.
(f) If the board fails to duly notice and hold a board meeting within 5 full business days after service of an agreement in writing or within 5 full business days after the adjournment of the member recall meeting, the recall shall be deemed effective and the board directors so recalled shall immediately turn over to the board all records and property of the association.
(g) If a director who is removed fails to relinquish his or her office or turn over records as required under this section, the circuit court in the county where the association maintains its principal office may, upon the petition of the association, summarily order the director to relinquish his or her office and turn over all association records upon application of the association.
(h) The minutes of the board meeting at which the board decides whether to certify the recall are an official association record. The minutes must record the date and time of the meeting, the decision of the board, and the vote count taken on each board member subject to the recall. In addition, when the board decides not to certify the recall, as to each vote rejected, the minutes must identify the parcel number and the specific reason for each such rejection.
(i) When the recall of more than one board director is sought, the written agreement, ballot, or vote at a meeting shall provide for a separate vote for each board director sought to be recalled.
PeterD3 (Florida)
Posts: 708
Posted:
Florida HoA Recall ballot and instructions:

http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/lsc/documents/recall_agreement_ballot.pdf
SimoneT (Florida)
Posts: 116
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By PeterD3 on 03/21/2012 1:28 PM
I hate long posts but... here is the current statute:

(I will post a link to the Recall ballot next.)

(10) RECALL OF DIRECTORS.—
(a)1. Regardless of any provision to the contrary contained in the governing documents, subject to the provisions of s. 720.307 regarding transition of association control, any member of the board of directors may be recalled and removed from office with or without cause by a majority of the total voting interests.
2. When the governing documents, including the declaration, articles of incorporation, or bylaws, provide that only a specific class of members is entitled to elect a board director or directors, only that class of members may vote to recall those board directors so elected.
(b)1. Board directors may be recalled by an agreement in writing or by written ballot without a membership meeting. The agreement in writing or the written ballots, or a copy thereof, shall be served on the association by certified mail or by personal service in the manner authorized by chapter 48 and the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure.
2. The board shall duly notice and hold a meeting of the board within 5 full business days after receipt of the agreement in writing or written ballots. At the meeting, the board shall either certify the written ballots or written agreement to recall a director or directors of the board, in which case such director or directors shall be recalled effective immediately and shall turn over to the board within 5 full business days any and all records and property of the association in their possession, or proceed as described in paragraph (d).
3. When it is determined by the department pursuant to binding arbitration proceedings that an initial recall effort was defective, written recall agreements or written ballots used in the first recall effort and not found to be defective may be reused in one subsequent recall effort. However, in no event is a written agreement or written ballot valid for more than 120 days after it has been signed by the member.
4. Any rescission or revocation of a member’s written recall ballot or agreement must be in writing and, in order to be effective, must be delivered to the association before the association is served with the written recall agreements or ballots.
5. The agreement in writing or ballot shall list at least as many possible replacement directors as there are directors subject to the recall, when at least a majority of the board is sought to be recalled; the person executing the recall instrument may vote for as many replacement candidates as there are directors subject to the recall.
(c)1. If the declaration, articles of incorporation, or bylaws specifically provide, the members may also recall and remove a board director or directors by a vote taken at a meeting. If so provided in the governing documents, a special meeting of the members to recall a director or directors of the board of administration may be called by 10 percent of the voting interests giving notice of the meeting as required for a meeting of members, and the notice shall state the purpose of the meeting. Electronic transmission may not be used as a method of giving notice of a meeting called in whole or in part for this purpose.
2. The board shall duly notice and hold a board meeting within 5 full business days after the adjournment of the member meeting to recall one or more directors. At the meeting, the board shall certify the recall, in which case such member or members shall be recalled effective immediately and shall turn over to the board within 5 full business days any and all records and property of the association in their possession, or shall proceed as set forth in subparagraph (d).
(d) If the board determines not to certify the written agreement or written ballots to recall a director or directors of the board or does not certify the recall by a vote at a meeting, the board shall, within 5 full business days after the meeting, file with the department a petition for binding arbitration pursuant to the applicable procedures in ss. 718.112(2)(j) and 718.1255 and the rules adopted thereunder. For the purposes of this section, the members who voted at the meeting or who executed the agreement in writing shall constitute one party under the petition for arbitration. If the arbitrator certifies the recall as to any director or directors of the board, the recall will be effective upon mailing of the final order of arbitration to the association. The director or directors so recalled shall deliver to the board any and all records of the association in their possession within 5 full business days after the effective date of the recall.
(e) If a vacancy occurs on the board as a result of a recall and less than a majority of the board directors are removed, the vacancy may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this subsection or in the association documents. If vacancies occur on the board as a result of a recall and a majority or more of the board directors are removed, the vacancies shall be filled by members voting in favor of the recall; if removal is at a meeting, any vacancies shall be filled by the members at the meeting. If the recall occurred by agreement in writing or by written ballot, members may vote for replacement directors in the same instrument in accordance with procedural rules adopted by the division, which rules need not be consistent with this subsection.
(f) If the board fails to duly notice and hold a board meeting within 5 full business days after service of an agreement in writing or within 5 full business days after the adjournment of the member recall meeting, the recall shall be deemed effective and the board directors so recalled shall immediately turn over to the board all records and property of the association.
(g) If a director who is removed fails to relinquish his or her office or turn over records as required under this section, the circuit court in the county where the association maintains its principal office may, upon the petition of the association, summarily order the director to relinquish his or her office and turn over all association records upon application of the association.
(h) The minutes of the board meeting at which the board decides whether to certify the recall are an official association record. The minutes must record the date and time of the meeting, the decision of the board, and the vote count taken on each board member subject to the recall. In addition, when the board decides not to certify the recall, as to each vote rejected, the minutes must identify the parcel number and the specific reason for each such rejection.
(i) When the recall of more than one board director is sought, the written agreement, ballot, or vote at a meeting shall provide for a separate vote for each board director sought to be recalled.

Hello!

Wow!!! Did you write all of this, or did you copy/paste? Either way, thank you so very much for all the time and effort. This is great information. Thank you again for the website. You are great! ;)
PeterD3 (Florida)
Posts: 708
Posted:
Cut and Paste.
MartinH2 (Florida)
Posts: 24
Posted:
PeterD3, good job.
Our BOD went through the threat of a recall election last year.
It failed because of the craziness of those doing the recall.
Where in Florida are you?
I live in Delray Beach.
It seems to me that this site needs a state specific forum page.
The laws in each state are vastly different.
PeterD3 (Florida)
Posts: 708
Posted:
Boynton.
TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,062
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By MartinH2 on 03/22/2012 5:28 AM
PeterD3,
It seems to me that this site needs a state specific forum page.
The laws in each state are vastly different.

I can certainly see the benefit in such an option.
The down side would be that many might only visit the section for their specific State. This would potentially limit the answers to questions asked and potentially minimize learning opportunities.

JanetB2 (Colorado)
Posts: 4,219
Posted:
Hi Simone:

Here are some other instructions to go with what Peter posted:

Chapter Title: SUBSTANTIVE RULES FOR RECALLS IN HOMEOWNERS' ASSOCIATIONS.

https://www.flrules.org/gateway/ChapterHome.asp?Chapter=61B-81

The last word document in the list 61B-81.003 gives more details regarding Peter’s information for Recall by Written Agreement. Also, as Peter noted be sure to follow all instructions very, very carefully otherwise it can invalidate and will then be time and effort down the tube.

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836
Posted:
Here is the #1 requirement for a recall...People to run for office. It is great to be determined to recall a board but you have to have people to replace them. Even they will be under scrutiny for why they want the job....Endless loop...

Former HOA President
PeterD3 (Florida)
Posts: 708
Posted:
Currently you can remove less that the majority without naming replacements. However the remaining BoD can just appoint other 'volunteers' you may not agree with.

If you wish to remove more than a majority or all of them then there is a spot on the same ballot to name replacements and regiters votes.

Keep in mind those recalled are free to run again next election.
SimoneT (Florida)
Posts: 116
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By PeterD3 on 03/23/2012 5:03 AM
Currently you can remove less that the majority without naming replacements. However the remaining BoD can just appoint other 'volunteers' you may not agree with.

If you wish to remove more than a majority or all of them then there is a spot on the same ballot to name replacements and regiters votes.

Keep in mind those recalled are free to run again next election.

Hello PeterD:

We want four removed. We have four to replace them. We will be ready for next year.
SimoneT (Florida)
Posts: 116
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By PeterD3 on 03/21/2012 1:30 PM
Florida HoA Recall ballot and instructions:

http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/lsc/documents/recall_agreement_ballot.pdf

Hello PeterD:

This is exactly what we needed. Thank you so much for this info.
SimoneT (Florida)
Posts: 116
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By JanetB2 on 03/22/2012 7:32 PM
Hi Simone:

Here are some other instructions to go with what Peter posted:

Chapter Title: SUBSTANTIVE RULES FOR RECALLS IN HOMEOWNERS' ASSOCIATIONS.

https://www.flrules.org/gateway/ChapterHome.asp?Chapter=61B-81

The last word document in the list 61B-81.003 gives more details regarding Peter’s information for Recall by Written Agreement. Also, as Peter noted be sure to follow all instructions very, very carefully otherwise it can invalidate and will then be time and effort down the tube.


Hello JanetB:

This is very good information. Thank you for your time, and dedication.

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