MariaS6 (Florida)
Posts: 4
Posts: 4
Posted:
We have bought in this community October 2009; in 2013 I was asked to join the board because of lack of participation from other residents. There are 56 units which are defined patio/town homes built in mid - late 80's. (Just as background info)
Our HOA fees are $40.00 a month (reasonable) which include lawn maintenance, which is where it gets sketchy. For several years 2009 until the end of 2014 the lawn maintenance contractor was the President of our HOA. While I was on the board (Vice President) I found it to be a conflict of interest so we summoned bids for the work. This is where all the problems start, we actually found several companies with great reviews that beat our current contract; when it was decided ween the other board members to sign a contract with the new company the President called an Special Meeting and called all homeowners to inform them we were "firing" her company. They ended up getting two of the board members (Treasure & Secretary) to resign; I wasn't so easily pushed off and I attended the Special Meeting where they attempted to have me removed from the board. At this time it was found that the meeting was illegally held based on the notification process that they failed to adhere to. Based on the homeowners request I at a later date signed to have the current contractors contract renewed but she would have to resign from her position at the end of her term.
Moving forward, that was 2 years ago and hell is still present with these people. I am no longer on the board we now have a gentleman that doesn't own in fact lives with his mother acting as President. He has now signed a new contract for 10 years for the lawn maintenance contract they still have over a year left in the contract. When reading through our Articles and By-laws it states only members or contractors can be on the board and be a voting party. He does not work for a management company, he works for the VA, he isn't compensated as management so I believe that would alleviate the speculation of him being a contractor.
He is also approving a news letter which has made many defamatory inclusions as to animals which is all but stating our name in it. We have two non-aggressive large breed dogs (German Shepherds, there are many other dogs within the community but they all happen to be small breed.
My intentions are to not sound like the nagging homeowner however there has been so much go on to so many homeowners including my self in the last 4/5 years I am not sure what avenue to take. I will be selling the home I'm simply awaiting road construction to finish up which isn't anticipated until Spring 2017.
Our HOA fees are $40.00 a month (reasonable) which include lawn maintenance, which is where it gets sketchy. For several years 2009 until the end of 2014 the lawn maintenance contractor was the President of our HOA. While I was on the board (Vice President) I found it to be a conflict of interest so we summoned bids for the work. This is where all the problems start, we actually found several companies with great reviews that beat our current contract; when it was decided ween the other board members to sign a contract with the new company the President called an Special Meeting and called all homeowners to inform them we were "firing" her company. They ended up getting two of the board members (Treasure & Secretary) to resign; I wasn't so easily pushed off and I attended the Special Meeting where they attempted to have me removed from the board. At this time it was found that the meeting was illegally held based on the notification process that they failed to adhere to. Based on the homeowners request I at a later date signed to have the current contractors contract renewed but she would have to resign from her position at the end of her term.
Moving forward, that was 2 years ago and hell is still present with these people. I am no longer on the board we now have a gentleman that doesn't own in fact lives with his mother acting as President. He has now signed a new contract for 10 years for the lawn maintenance contract they still have over a year left in the contract. When reading through our Articles and By-laws it states only members or contractors can be on the board and be a voting party. He does not work for a management company, he works for the VA, he isn't compensated as management so I believe that would alleviate the speculation of him being a contractor.
He is also approving a news letter which has made many defamatory inclusions as to animals which is all but stating our name in it. We have two non-aggressive large breed dogs (German Shepherds, there are many other dogs within the community but they all happen to be small breed.
My intentions are to not sound like the nagging homeowner however there has been so much go on to so many homeowners including my self in the last 4/5 years I am not sure what avenue to take. I will be selling the home I'm simply awaiting road construction to finish up which isn't anticipated until Spring 2017.