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CfD (Virginia)
Posts: 265
Posted:
Our HOA has not held an annual meeting in three years. They have tried, but our high quorum requirement has not been met during that time, and the board simply appoints who they want to the board.

During the last two attempts at an annual meeting the board has refused to let the membership know who the candidates for election were. No one was nominated or presented to the membership at these attempts at an annual meeting. Instead, the board simply took the opportunity to appoint who the president knew would support anything he wanted at the next board meeting.

A few months back the president nominated his wife as "nomination committee chairman", but there have been no open meetings of this committee at all. When asked at the last board meeting if the nomination committee has approached anyone to run the president stated "he" had asked 2 people, but only one name was given. The other was deliberately not for some reason. The president has specifically stated "he was not sure" when asked if he was running, but I know he intends to be president again because one of the people he has apparently asked to run told me he was approached about being "the president's secretary".

The annual meeting agenda has been posted and it gives no candidate information. Proxies have been produced, again with no candidate information. In my view this is improper, but I'd like your take on it.

Also see on our annual meeting agenda the president limiting homeowners to 3 minutes to speak, and only if he recognizes you. While I agree it should be orderly, shouldn't the membership be permitted to speak to each other about topics of interest to them. The membership is never offered an opportunity to put topics important to them on the annual meeting agenda.

I would appreciate your views on this.
TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,062
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By CfD on 12/03/2015 6:30 AM
Our HOA has not held an annual meeting in three years. They have tried, but our high quorum requirement has not been met during that time,

Therefore, technically they had meetings. Business simply couldn't be conducted.

Quote:
Posted By CfD on 12/03/2015 6:30 AM

but our high quorum requirement has not been met during that time, and the board simply appoints who they want to the board.

Which is proper per VA statutes.

Quote:
Posted By CfD on 12/03/2015 6:30 AM

During the last two attempts at an annual meeting the board has refused to let the membership know who the candidates for election were.

Although that is, in my opinion, unprofessional. I know of no Statute requirement for the Association to inform the membership who the candidates are until the actual meeting. If a quorum wasn't met, then there would be no need to even disclose it then.

Quote:
Posted By CfD on 12/03/2015 6:30 AM

The annual meeting agenda has been posted and it gives no candidate information. Proxies have been produced, again with no candidate information. In my view this is improper, but I'd like your take on it.

I agree, it's improper.

Improper, unethical, inappropriate, unprofessional doesn't always equate to illegal or a violation of governing documents.

Use it as a campaign slogan to get the membership interested enough to actually attend the meeting.

Quote:
Posted By CfD on 12/03/2015 6:30 AM

Also see on our annual meeting agenda the president limiting homeowners to 3 minutes to speak, and only if he recognizes you. While I agree it should be orderly, shouldn't the membership be permitted to speak to each other about topics of interest to them.

Protocol would be that when you are recognized and allowed to speak at a meeting, you are speaking to those conducting the meeting. The rest of the membership are simply observers at that point but may chime in if desired and recognized by the chair.

Side conversations between individuals or group of individuals can be disruptive to any meeting.

Quote:
Posted By CfD on 12/03/2015 6:30 AM

The membership is never offered an opportunity to put topics important to them on the annual meeting agenda.

That is what the open forum section of the meeting is for.

Typically, the governing documents outline the minimum of what is to be on the agenda for an annual meeting.

If the membership desires a specific agenda item, the process is to gather support and submit a petition to have a general membership meeting called for a specific purpose.

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