DonP4 (Florida)
Posts: 6
Posts: 6
Posted:
We currently have a member of a 900 home HOA who was a past president, and treasurer, who was could no longer run for the BOD because of a prior felony conviction.
The public reasons stated for the resignation was that the member no longer had the time to dedicate to the HOA (possibly because some did not know of the felony conviction).
Since the resignation, and with the aid of some other members on the BOD, the member was asked to become the bookkeeper (the elected treasurer didn't have time to perform the duties and another BOD member volunteered but was not allowed by a majority vote. As a result the member was hired as the bookkeeper (at a substantial fee) and since has added new responsibilities as Registered Agent (paid for extra), Telephone answering machine respondent (paid for extra), lawn maintenance contractor (without contract, month to month, higher fee than past contractors plus additional expenses for hauling debris, not charged by any previous contractors).
The Landscape committee had received 3 competitive bids for the lawn services (7 miles of perimeter) but the officers of the BOD never allowed the committee to present them. In fact a BOD Packet was given to the person in question and magically she bid after that less than the other bids.
Has since added the paid routine of picking up official mail. Has keys to the HOA records repository while some Directors on the BOD were not allowed to enter upon several requests. Was able to get proxies for the new 2013 election pre-approved before any other members (this swung the election) while other members were chastised for holding up the line.
Since there an no laws in Florida other than arbitration we would have to pay for a lawyer directly for representation and again indirectly for the representation of the HOA!
Several records reviews were requested and after many months of going through many disorganized documents it has been revealed that there are quite a few expenses that were paid without submission to the BOD nor approved. Some of these are quite expensive. Contracts were signed without the BOD even being aware of them!
What can be done to curtail some of these actions without exposing ourselves to an expensive and drawn out affair. Where have the rights of homeowners gone? We are at the mercy of some control individual that will stoop to any means to maintain the grip on the association?
The public reasons stated for the resignation was that the member no longer had the time to dedicate to the HOA (possibly because some did not know of the felony conviction).
Since the resignation, and with the aid of some other members on the BOD, the member was asked to become the bookkeeper (the elected treasurer didn't have time to perform the duties and another BOD member volunteered but was not allowed by a majority vote. As a result the member was hired as the bookkeeper (at a substantial fee) and since has added new responsibilities as Registered Agent (paid for extra), Telephone answering machine respondent (paid for extra), lawn maintenance contractor (without contract, month to month, higher fee than past contractors plus additional expenses for hauling debris, not charged by any previous contractors).
The Landscape committee had received 3 competitive bids for the lawn services (7 miles of perimeter) but the officers of the BOD never allowed the committee to present them. In fact a BOD Packet was given to the person in question and magically she bid after that less than the other bids.
Has since added the paid routine of picking up official mail. Has keys to the HOA records repository while some Directors on the BOD were not allowed to enter upon several requests. Was able to get proxies for the new 2013 election pre-approved before any other members (this swung the election) while other members were chastised for holding up the line.
Since there an no laws in Florida other than arbitration we would have to pay for a lawyer directly for representation and again indirectly for the representation of the HOA!
Several records reviews were requested and after many months of going through many disorganized documents it has been revealed that there are quite a few expenses that were paid without submission to the BOD nor approved. Some of these are quite expensive. Contracts were signed without the BOD even being aware of them!
What can be done to curtail some of these actions without exposing ourselves to an expensive and drawn out affair. Where have the rights of homeowners gone? We are at the mercy of some control individual that will stoop to any means to maintain the grip on the association?