can new members complain about money spent before their ownership

Started by BjW1 • 10 replies • 1272 views

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BjW1 (Florida)
Posts: 24

Posted:

Hi...I have just spent the last two years bringing a falling apart HOA from
$6000.00 total funds to $29,000.00 and also upgraded and repaired existing
community features by collecting another $12000.00 so our property values and safety are 90% improved. Now one our new residences is asking HO throughout
the association about why signs at entrance were changed and how much did they
cost and was it voted on? P.s. we stayed self managed for this time period to save an additional $6000.00 to use for repairs(that translates into many hours
of unpaid time) We are in Florida were 31 units now have new houses added so are 42 units . Most of the money came from the new builder not individual homeowners.
they say not to take it personal but how can you not? thank you for your wisdom BJ another ps only 17 people out of the 42 were in the neighborhood when sign
was changed...it had been a hand made sign of wood and was showing rot and age
now we have a proffesional one.

JM2 (Oregon)
Posts: 439

Posted:

Hi BjW:

Unfortunately, people can ask questions and complain about just about anything...it just proves the old saying, "No good deed goes unpunished." It sounds like you've done a lot of work on behalf of the association - on behalf of those who won't say it, "THANK YOU!"

If this person approaches you, I'd ask if they were interested in being on a budget committee. It sounds like they have a great deal of engergy about how money is spent, best to channel that energy into something productive.

JPM

GloriaM (North Carolina)
Posts: 829

Posted:

I agree JM2. As President Kennedy said, revamped of course:

Ask not what your community can do for you, what can you do for your community. Get them to serve! Bring solutions rather than just the problem.

BradP (Kansas)
Posts: 2,640

Posted:

BJW:

I think you should look at it from the mindset that it is ok to ask questions and question what the association is doing, the board should have a good answer for them. If you ask the question why when you do things and don't have a good answer then maybe you shouldn't do them.

To your point at hand, I think it is perfectly acceptable to answer this person with the logic you presented that the signs were rotting and now you have nice professional looking signs. I think it is also ok that this money came from dues. The only question I would have is did your board approve it, and was it approved at a meeting?

Explain this to them and then invite them to attend meetings and get involved, you may be able to turn what you view as a negative into a positive.

BjW1 (Florida)
Posts: 24

Posted:

actually that is what got me into this mess....they were wanting to help on our a project which was tree trimming and lifting (very old oak trees) so the BOD
put them in charge of getting bids. When they came to my home to review the bids
I was challenged on why we didn't give our lift stations to the city to operate(the cost to do so was $9000.00 plus) instead of putting up new signs that they didn't approve. It caught me off guard and I politely told them we handled that
18mo ago so didn't have the information in the front of me as I prepared only for the trees as a basis for meeting. I wouldn't mind their questions but now they are seeking others in the neighborhood who might feel the same way and that
just puts tension where it doesn't belong. I also told them if they wanted to revisit the lift station / city takeover they were welcome to do so, but that the BOD wanted to move to our next project the rention pond needs cleaning after 12yrs and the monies are for that project. I just wondered how far they can really push the matter of something we did before they bought into the neighborhood. I had no idea of what I was doing when I volunteered...kind of
like taking a walk and seeing a building burning and you are the only one around.
I couldn't just walk away I needed to help out..now I feel we should get a new management team in to take over and they see this as threat on our part. Do we have the right to make that decision without a HO vote?

BradP (Kansas)
Posts: 2,640

Posted:

BJW:

The BOD is responsible for running the day to day operations of the association. The only thing all homeowners generally vote on are elections, and special assessments. You didn't need to consult them about fixing the signs or about hiring a managment company. I view it as good practice to keep them informed and listen to ideas, however, in the end what they think doesn't matter. They have the power with elections and recalls to change the board if they wish.

They can question the signs all they want, what is done is done. If it was approved by the board in a meeting there is nothing that can be done. What is their motives, do they not like the decisions that have been made? Maybe they don't understand the process?

BjW1 (Florida)
Posts: 24

Posted:

Thank you Brad, that clarified for me what I have heard at seminars and elsewhere.
when a neighbor takes an attitude of We (them) are the Association and all funds should be cleared with them and the President of our Board told them exactly what you said and they became outrage, In this climate of law suits it scared me a bit. We had last year a pool become destroyed in a bad storm and it was taking time to get all bids together, then the insurance company bailed on us, so that backed us up more, word came to the BOD that there was talk in the neighborhood of suing us for not handling the matter faster.

I plan(I love to communicate) to put a summary of all we have done in the past two years in writing ( a basic outline) for HO's that were not
aware of the improvements we have accomplished but that too scares me that I could be opening us up to more second quessing. It's funny no one in this neighborhood has cared for 12yrs about even paying their dues and now that we have renewed that place we have armchair quarterbacks (with smoke coming out their ears) I really appreciate all your comments BJ

BradP (Kansas)
Posts: 2,640

Posted:

The reason they threaten lawsuits is because those who haven't been through the system are scared and don't want to get involved, it is a scare tactic. Make sure you have D & O coverage.

I think a list of things the association has done would be good, show them that you are doing things for the association, trying to make it look better.

The HO's are partly right, it is their association and their money, however, they elected you to make decisions for them on that money. They have every right to question, look at financials, etc, but at the end of the day it is the BOD decision.

Like I said before, your BOD should ask themselves the questions "why" before every decision, if there isn't a good answer rethink what you are doing.

BjW1 (Florida)
Posts: 24

Posted:

thank you Brad I will follow up on your suggestions BJ

KevinK5 (California)
Posts: 64

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By BjW1 on 05/01/2007 9:32 AM
...Now one our new residences is asking HO throughout the association about why signs at entrance were changed and how much did they
cost and was it voted on?

So answer the questions and make it all public. Use the opportunity to blow your horn LOUDLY.

RonaldW (South Carolina)
Posts: 901

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By BradP on 05/01/2007 11:50 AM
BJW:

The BOD is responsible for running the day to day operations of the association. The only thing all homeowners generally vote on are elections, and special assessments. You didn't need to consult them about fixing the signs or about hiring a managment company. I view it as good practice to keep them informed and listen to ideas, however, in the end what they think doesn't matter. They have the power with elections and recalls to change the board if they wish.

They can question the signs all they want, what is done is done. If it was approved by the board in a meeting there is nothing that can be done. ........

Exactly.

Ron
SC

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