How to writes a truthful, cynical letter of resignation

Started by AlexM1 • 11 replies • 2336 views

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AlexM1 (Oklahoma)
Posts: 287

Posted:

I want to write a truthful but cynically true, letter of resignation. The letter to indicate that another board member
is totally immpossible to work with... who does not live here(but on the Board) and from another country. That board msember's decisions
is wrecking the whole place and I do not want to be part of the aftermath. The owners(voters) put him on the Board so now they must
live with it with what will bse considerably higher assessments.

JohnB26 (South Carolina)
Posts: 1,569

Posted:

is it possible, juuuust possible, that the assessments will increase because, with the member in question 'aboard', the association is now funding what should have been funded all along ????????????????

many many many HOAs are grossly underfunded and will face either special assessments, receivership, special tax distric status (voted in by all residents of voting age, not necessarilly by actual members), or MAJOR increase indues to 'catch-up'

my HOA is facing within 10 years:

500,000+ for road replacement

200,000-700,000 'lagoon' & pond dredging

175,000 pool relining and new deck

95,000 siding on clubhouse & other buildings

70,000 gate & guardhouse repairs

etc.

126 private homes (average value $130,000) ~ annual assessment of $864 ($57/mo)

reserves = 165,000 after 27 years since inception

we are a 55+ community with the attitude:
why should i pay, i may not be here tomorrow !

i am the 'rogue' director who is pushing to triple the assessment (must pass a 2/3 vote - haha) or else i will petition for receivership

AM I POPULAR?? YOU BET I AM!! NOT

JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By JohnB26 on 08/08/2013 2:12 PM
is it possible, juuuust possible, that the assessments will increase because, with the member in question 'aboard', the association is now funding what should have been funded all along ????????????????

many many many HOAs are grossly underfunded and will face either special assessments, receivership, special tax distric status (voted in by all residents of voting age, not necessarilly by actual members), or MAJOR increase indues to 'catch-up'

my HOA is facing within 10 years:

500,000+ for road replacement

200,000-700,000 'lagoon' & pond dredging

175,000 pool relining and new deck

95,000 siding on clubhouse & other buildings

70,000 gate & guardhouse repairs

etc.

126 private homes (average value $130,000) ~ annual assessment of $864 ($57/mo)

reserves = 165,000 after 27 years since inception

we are a 55+ community with the attitude:
why should i pay, i may not be here tomorrow !

i am the 'rogue' director who is pushing to triple the assessment (must pass a 2/3 vote - haha) or else i will petition for receivership

AM I POPULAR?? YOU BET I AM!! NOT

John

Thanks.

A sad but true tale for many associations.

JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265

Posted:

For comparison sake.

We are a 113 standalone, private home association. Public (dead end) road with several cul-de-sacs. No pool. No clubhouse. No gate. No parks. One spring fed/retention pond. Little common area. All landscaping and external home shell maintenance done by the HOA. Our dues are $600 per year ($67.8K total). About 50% of our budget goes to landscaping. After 5 years in operation we have $52K in our reserve fund or about (funded yearly with about 15% of budget). I think we operate tight fisted and we need a dues increase for a better cushion. Our BOD can raise dues 5% a year with no vote. I advocate we should.

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

Shoot yourself in the foot much? Gee I am going to quit because a board member wants to raise dues or makes questionable decisions? I'd rather be a member with only a vote and no board powers instead? Why give up your board position when you have more power in that position?

I've learned people's actions speak louder than words. Your letter will just make you look as cynical as your letter. Do you really want that?

A HOA is ONLY funded by it's members FOR it's members. Are the costs increasing because of extravagance items or to meet the bills? A HOA is a non-profit and should only spend as much as it brings in. What are the frustrations you have?

Former HOA President

MatthewW4 (Arizona)
Posts: 500

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By JohnC46 on 08/08/2013 2:54 PM
For comparison sake.

We are a 113 standalone, private home association. Public (dead end) road with several cul-de-sacs. No pool. No clubhouse. No gate. No parks. One spring fed/retention pond. Little common area. All landscaping and external home shell maintenance done by the HOA. Our dues are $600 per year ($67.8K total). About 50% of our budget goes to landscaping. After 5 years in operation we have $52K in our reserve fund or about (funded yearly with about 15% of budget). I think we operate tight fisted and we need a dues increase for a better cushion. Our BOD can raise dues 5% a year with no vote. I advocate we should.

If I have done my math correctly, you have less than $500 per home in reserves but your association is responsible for all exterior shell maintenance. You will not get much work done for $500.

I agree, your board needs to raise assessments.

JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265

Posted:

Matt

I am on my 3rd drink and I have an early tee time tomorrow....LOL

I did gloss over things. 5 years ago we had only the first home of the 113 built. As of today, we have 9 lots/homes of the 113 to sell. I did extrapolate some figures out.

The gist of my post was our dues to potential obligations versus the other John from SC (the less handsome of the John's from SC) dues to obligations. Similar amount of homes similar amount of dues, similar amount of home value, etc. but a way different amount/potential of potential costs.

Our home external shell maintenance costs are not as large and complex as some might expect. The HOA covers normal wear and tear only. Damage from negligence is not covered. I hit my garage door, the repair is on my dime. We went down that exact road with one owner when we asked him to replace his damaged garage door. Storm, fire, flooding, etc. damage is not covered as each home is required to have insurance against such including the HOA as a secured third party. The HOA as a secured party was another road we had to go down and we still get questions about such from insurance agents.

Hope this clarifies.

MatthewW4 (Arizona)
Posts: 500

Posted:

John (the more handsome one from SC),

My own home is about 1300 square feet, mostly masonry construction, standard asphalt shingles. We bought it as a foreclosure two years ago and as one might expect, maintenance had been, uh, deferred (as the realtors like to express it). Last year we had to put on a new roof for about $6,000. We just had the home painted last week to the tune of about $3,000.

While your expenses are low right now, you can expect to re-roof in about 15 years. Assuming similar sized homes and the economy that comes with one big job, it will likely set you back about a half million. Long before that you will likely need to paint and that is likely to run anywhere from 100K to a quarter-million.

Assuming all 113 homes are paying their $600/year and that 15% of that goes into reserves (now at 52K), the math for the next fifteen years projects that you will have a total of $204,550. [113 x $600 x .15 x 15 = $152,550 plus $52,000 = $204,550]. If your association is responsible for roofing and painting, your current level of reserve funding is not sufficient to get the job done.

SteveM9 (Massachusetts)
Posts: 3,699

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By AlexM1 on 08/08/2013 1:54 PM
I want to write a truthful but cynically true, letter of resignation.

Why bother....... No one will read it. No one will care. The only change you can make is staying on the board and working through your issues. If you quit, they have won.

JonD1
Posts: 2,350

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By AlexM1 on 08/08/2013 1:54 PM
I want to write a truthful but cynically true, letter of resignation. The letter to indicate that another board member
is totally immpossible to work with... who does not live here(but on the Board) and from another country. That board msember's decisions
is wrecking the whole place and I do not want to be part of the aftermath. The owners(voters) put him on the Board so now they must
live with it with what will bse considerably higher assessments.

I am sorry Alex but seems to me you are taking the easy way out and kicking the dog when you leave means little.

Yes, most Boards do have the occasional zipper head. Sadly, the world is full of them. But, YOU have a clear choice. Let them win and take over and destroy your property OR make up your mind to not give in to them.

Writing a letter as you walk out will provide a good feeling for perhaps 5 minutes. In the long run is does NOTHING.

So is your home worth putting up a fight for? Or are you willing to let this person who you disagree with now have free rein o do as they see fit?

And who pays the price? he others owners and YOU.

I joined a Board with 8 members or working together to serve their own needs and wants while doing nothing for the property. In the end, ALL of them left, were forced out, or removed from office one way or the other.
I'm still here. Was that the easy way out for me? Hardly, but running away and leaving them in charge was no an option for me.

Your nasty letter will be remembered for less than 5 minutes. The fact you threw in the towel YOU will have to live with forever....

Your choice.

JohnB26 (South Carolina)
Posts: 1,569

Posted:

...or...perhaps...HE is right and YOU are WRONG...goodbye and good riddance?

you ran, you were elected, DO YOUR JOB PROPERLY

if you feel strongly on a certain point ... have it recorded in the minutes

"Mr. President (when recognized) I wish to have XYZ recorded in the meeting minutes."

at the next meeting CHECK THE MINUTES before voting to record/accept them

if the BOD will not take, accept, and record minutes as per corporate law ~ petition the appropriate court to appoint a corporate receiver who will be DIRECTLY accountable to the legal system

ONE director operating PROPERLY on a (rogue)corporate board has ENORMOUS unused power since he has the entire civil and corporate ON HIS SIDE ~ use it

the APPROVED minutes are OPEN TO THE CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP in all 50 states under corp. law

if you feel it necessary - PUBLISH THEM BY MAIL TO ALL THE MEMBERS

ps. all of the above would require actual work, time, and dedication on your part

soooooo ....... are you a quitter .... or ..... a doer ?

KevinK7 (Florida)
Posts: 1,343

Posted:

You are on the board! You have the ability to make positive changes or minimize damage. It would be a lot difficult to fix things or prevent harm if you were not on the board. Believe me. I couldn't get involved with my BoD because they wouldn't let me (or anyone for that matter). You got elected. I say mobilize your supporters and fight it out with you being their guy on the inside.

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