Open meetings?

We discuss delinquent accounts without mentioning the Lot number or the members name.

The treasurers report gives some detail: x lots 30 days behind, x lots 60 days, etc.
Unless the Board is considering escalating collection actions by sending the issue to the attorney, there is no need to discuss anything about the delinquent accounts and no need for the other Board members to know who specifically is behind. Until that happens, the Treasurer will simply follow the Associations written collection policy.

If an owner wants to discuss waiving fines or entering a payment plan, the Board enters into executive session.

Now I should mention that we typically don't have that many owners showing up to Board meetings. Additionally, we don't have that big of a delinquency rate. This year we had 1 lot get to the point of having to consider escalating collection efforts (which occurs after 120 days) and once they knew the board was considering this (as they were invited to the meeting) they paid in full.

Our policy is:

30 days late - written notice
60 days late - second written notice
90 days late - third written notice sent by certified mail
120 days late - item placed on agenda and member invited to attend meeting to discuss the issue (but they are not required to attend).

Marilyn:

My advice and preferred method is as others have said.

Prior to the BOD Meeting convening there is an open session where members can comment, ask questions (not always answered), make suggestions, etc.

Once the meeting commences, members can only observe. They cannot comment unless asked to do so by the BOD.

Unpaid dues are discussed in general as part of the meeting. How many, what is owed, actions being taken, etc. No identification is given so nothing is confidential.

If confidential/legal information is to be discussed it is saved for the end of the meeting and the BOD goes into an Executive Session. Members are not allowed to attend the Executive Session.

Hope this helps.

I think that at one time, it is likely that most Board meetings were closed.
However, as more and more States are adopting open meeting requirements, that the practice is reversing and there are more open meetings than closed.

Iowa has no open meetings law except for an annual meeting.

In Florida, all meetings are open with the exception of meetings where homeowners facing legal action for nonpayment of dues and other issues that involve our attorney, and I believe also issues regarding association employees.