Board Member Limitations

Learn this phrase and start all conversations and correspondence with it: "Speaking as a fellow homeowner and not as a Board Member, I think.....

Larry's opinion also is true in CA, where I interpret a specific civil code as stating that directors (& others) have the right to express themselves at meetings. But NC may be different??

Sorry, that got garbled ...what I meant to post was:

My suggestion would be: prior to the board voting on any issue you should feel free to express your opinion. Once the board votes on the matter your vote becomes a matter of record in the minutes of the board meeting. If the vote went against your personal opinion you should refrain from expressing your disagreement publicly. Of course, if you resign from the board or you are campaigning for reelection to the board, discussing your opposition to the previous board decision is perfectly OK. Just my opinion.

You got on the board because the people who voted for you liked what you had to say once you got there. You do represent the HOA as a whole but lets not take that to extremes. You are also a homeowner/member of the HOA and if you don't like what your board is doing, speak up. You may want to talk to other members for their opinions to see if they support yours, but if it's outlandish or outlawed, by all means express an opinion.

A HOA is ONLY operated by it's members for it's members. It's what the owners want that the HOA is to do. They can even change the documents if the rules no longer fit. Which takes a majority of general membership NOT the board.

Remember that in a Board position you were elected to handle the DAILY operations of the HOA on the behalf of the general membership. Most members are apathetic and just want "Someone" to do the work. Your just that "someone" that is doing it. So yes you will be criticized for your decisions and called names on occasion. You will also be threatened to be sued. (Practice the response "Go for it, we will see you in court" and move on.) Don't let your personal life get overtaken by your board life. Your still a neighbor, an homeowner, and a person who has to live/obey the rules of the HOA. Make it what you want with the powers you have.

The best advice I ever got as President/Board member: Remember that the money in the HOA is NOT your money, it is EVERY member's money. You as a board member or officer are in charge of spending it on the behalf of EVERY member. It is best to discuss openly what you all want or need to spend the money on instead of behind closed doors. It's the hardest thing to do, comprehend, and to put into action. You will find everyone has an opinion on how to spend the money. You and your board's job is to make sure it is spent responsibly on the bills and the needs. You don't go buying everyone dinner and gift cards if the plants are dying at the front entrance... Your HOA is a non-profit and is to spend all of it's money on operation costs and reserve accounts for future big items. "Saving HOA money" means something different. It means applying the money not spent on one thing on another that is needed. Don't go and try to save the HOA budget but spend it wisely on the things that are needed to make the HOA work. Good luck!