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DavidB35 (Texas)
Posts: 19
Posted:
There are six Board members(we know an uneven number is desired but lack of community involvement is a problem)
I have in the past year been asked if I would be active on our Board. I was approached by four members who said they are having difficulties with the treasurer in particular.. I said yes. I might have gotten in to a nest of fire ants...
This is my observation. As I am the newest member, I do not wish to push, but am at a loss as to figure a solution.
There are four women, two men. There has been trouble with one member only, the treasurer, a female. When she took post, she said she would do financial only-did not want to be involved with anything else. The pres explained that she would be involved in several aspects by just being in a member position.. She has refused to respond to emails. She does not respond to phone calls. When asked if she will get financial info ready for our monthly meetings, her response was "the bills are online-let them add/subtract the numbers themselves". She has been a member for 1 1/2 years and the other members say she still has not walked the grounds as the rest do as a group every other month. She is rude in emails. She does not come up with scenarios of ways we can transfer/(whatever may apply) , so that we can do better in our financing. At monthly meetings she will get up to leave even if the meeting is not over,"I will stay until 7pm but not a minute longer-I don't have all night". (Meeting starts at 5pm). The list goes on and on.
I was asked if I could encourage her to be more receptive, not so rude, be more open to participating as a group member.
After being around her I have tried gently to have her be more involved, be nicer to people-IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!,
We would love to ask her to resign, but there is not one single owner who will be willing to step in. NADA. ZIP.
We do not know what to do.
Thank you.
CarolR11 (Colorado)
Posts: 2,563
Posted:
It sounds, DavidB, that she's more than merely rude--she's not doing her job as treasurer!

Review your bylaws and you probably will see that the Board may, with a majority vote, remove her from her position as treasurer. She still would be on the Board because, BUT review your bylaws again, if the membership elected her, only the membership may recall her as a director.

From what you've written, she might resign from the Board anyway if removed as treasurer. It's very possible that your HOA and your Board will be better off without her negative attitude.
JanetB2 (Colorado)
Posts: 4,219
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By DavidB35 on 03/27/2014 8:24 AM
We would love to ask her to resign, but there is not one single owner who will be willing to step in. NADA. ZIP.

Hi David ... What you stated here is sad, but happens so often anymore. Reason I find it irritating is if an individual is going to purchase a property within an HOA then they should be willing to step up to the plate and take their fair turn at serving.

If no one is willing to step up to the plate, then the board can choose to hire an outside accountant or management company. Maybe when the members have to pay higher assessments to cover the additional costs, you will have less apathy.

Also as Carol noted check your documents to determine if the board can remove the current Treasurer from the "Officer" position down to just a board member and have someone else on the current board take the title of Treasurer.
LarryB13 (Arizona)
Posts: 4,099
Posted:
David,

In addition to what others have said, do not be bothered if she resigns and no one is willing to take her place. One of your association's problems is that it has too many board members. There is no reason to have more than five seats on a board.

JanetB2 (Colorado)
Posts: 4,219
Posted:
Larry has a very good point!!! How large is your community? If it is less than 50 units you should only need 3 BOD directors. If you have apathy then now might be a good time to address this issue and change your bylaws, prior to your next elections.
CarolR11 (Colorado)
Posts: 2,563
Posted:
Same question from me, DavidB: How many homes or units in your HOA? Do your have a property manager? Do your governing docs (probably bylaws) require 7 directors, or are they more flexible than that?
JeffT2 (Iowa)
Posts: 880
Posted:
In many bylaws, the treasurer does not have to be a board member. So let her resign as a director from the board, but remain as treasurer. She will not have to do long board meetings and other duties. In return, ask her to prepare the needed financial reports.

If your bylaws state that the treasurer has to be a director, then do the same thing informally by not requiring that she come to board meetings. Giving her some time away from the board sounds like a win-win, as long as she can do the treasurer duties.
TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,062
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By DavidB35 on 03/27/2014 8:24 AM

We would love to ask her to resign, but there is not one single owner who will be willing to step in. NADA. ZIP.

We do not know what to do.

What you need to do is have someone step up and perform the duties of the Treasurer.

If nobody, including yourself, are unwilling to step up and do this, then the issue will continue.

I serve as Treasurer and it does take a lot of time if there isn't help. If time constants are an issue, perhaps some of the work can be delegated to an independent contractor (for a cost of course).
DavidB35 (Texas)
Posts: 19
Posted:
Thank you all for your thoughts and comments...
Our community is just over 200 units.
Our laws state that the treasurer is a Board member.
Yes, as I have found out, being on the Board is very time consuming! Sometimes 30 hours/week.
I believe the treasurer thought the position was only approving checks....
You are correct, she will not change her attitude, sigh...
I am at the point of possibly asking our lawyer to speak with her about her duties to our community.
I will have to think this out carefully...
Thank you.
JohnB26 (South Carolina)
Posts: 1,569
Posted:
hire a book-keeper and have the treasurer only actually sign the checks

the majority of the board HAS this authority

if she quits - thank god - select another treasurer to sign checks

(the book-keeper can't steal, as they would NOT be a signatory on any account)

case closed
JohnB26 (South Carolina)
Posts: 1,569
Posted:
Dave

our posts crossed

actually, the t's duties are care custody and control of the funds

NOT necessarily the actual 'grunt work' of record keeping

in my assoc. when I was t I spent about 8 hours a week handling 126 homes

a royal PITA

the actual signing/authorization (two signature required) was about 1.5 hours

praise the lord someone else was elected this 'go-a-round'
CarolR11 (Colorado)
Posts: 2,563
Posted:
Thanks for answering some of our questions, David. But I'd asked if you have a property manager. I sense you do not. And I'd asked if your documents, probably your bylaws, require 7 directors, or possibly choices like 3, 5 or 7.

At the very least & given your lack of volunteers to serve your community, I agree with those who say you need to hire a bookkeeper. Sure, folks will complain about the added cost, but they're the cause due to their unwillingness to lend a hand.

Are your 200 "units" detached homes? Or town homes or condos? What kinds of amenities do you have (if any)? I'm getting the feeling that directors have too much to do and that might be one reason why no one else wants to serve.

I'd say good riddance to your current treasurer. You do kneed need to think careful about your attorney "talking" with her. He most likely would change a fee and it doesn't sound like she's worth it!

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