Budget not followed extra spending

Let me first state that I did serve on the board years ago, but have not been active with the exception of the Bylaws Revision Committee.
Our new Chairman has moved board meeting to 5pm, making impossible for anyone with a job to attend board meeting.. I am thinking of joining, but can't currently attend meetings. I know other board members have brought this up but not listened to. I don't think I should have to get off work early one day a month to attend meetings (which is how it works now)
I have been asked by many members of our Association to join the board again so started reading minutes to see what has been going on. This was in our last meeting minutes;

"Budget – A few of the budget categories, as written, do not describe how the Board is spending funds. We have budget lines that have no spending and spending on budget lines with no funding. However, the Operating budget is in good shape and the spending will balance out."

It seems without notice, new for hire employees has been added (with no budget funding)The Chairman is acting as our Finance Committee and pretty much doing a lot of things without approval by other board members. Our Board is currently made up of new members with no experience and the only one with experience has resigned.

Last summer I ran into the Chairman and asked a few questions, (about meeting times)and was met with a shrug and she walked away.

Our current documents do state anything about Operation Budget. Our newsletter does include financials but they run 3 months behind. So I don't have current "new" GL items.

My question to you is what is the best way to address the board about spending? How do I explain that they should stay within the current budget and that extra expenditures should have motions before carried out.

As you probably know, Amy, the entire Board needs to vote on meeting times and on the budget. This "Chairman" cannot arbitrarily make decisions on her owner. Unless, that is, the Board lets her!

What do you mean by "Chairman?" Most HOA boards have presidents? What do your Bylaws say about officers and their titles?

Doesn't your Board hold open meetings? Or is that not required in WA?

Can you clue in the new board members about motions & voting? How many are on the board? Do you know any of them personally?

Do you have a property manager? What size is your HOA?

With community support, sure, run for the Board.

But I think some regulars here might need more details.

I used the word "most" Boards have presidents, Richard, because I'm aware that some have chairs. I asked the O.P to tell us what her documents say about this matter.

Do you have any advice for Amy?

Yes we use Chairman of Board. It's from the old Sturgis code of Parliamentary rules.
We have 7 Board Members and 499 homes. Yes all meetings are open to members per Washington RCW's. Since moving the time to 5pm membership attendance has dropped from "not enough" to maybe 3 or 4. We do have PM, but they do financials only. When I was on the board and finance committee we had everything in a timely manner. But like I said that was years ago. Oh we currently don't have a finance committee, our bylaws to not state Treasurer so the Chair has taken over those too. Hence be being on the bylaws revision committee. LOL They are going to attorney in the morning.

I only know one current board member and from what I have heard he is pretty tight with our Chair. He used to be one of those rouge owners causing problems and then got on the board. (hope that didn't sound bad, I am glad he stepped up to the plate)

Per KerryL1; As you probably know, Amy, the entire Board needs to vote on meeting times and on the budget. This "Chairman" cannot arbitrarily make decisions on her owner. Unless, that is, the Board lets her!

From what I hear that is the case. I'm not sure any of them know a better (proper) way to do things.

The Office of Chairman is the same as President other than title.
Let's not get into our Covenants, they are from 1980 and still talk about the developer.
It also takes 75% to change and requires signatures not just a vote to change.

Well, Amy, your board must abide by your governing docs no matter what their age unless some other statutes trump them. Our are 15 years old never have been amended or rewritten but we must follow them.

So if your docs day that the Board governs the HOA then so be it. If you did get on the board, do you think you could encourage the other directors to step up?

I'm leo curious about what your boar meeting minutes look like. Just lists a series of decisions by the chair? Who writes your meeting minutes, btw.

So...you don't think the PM will reply to your written request for a up-to-date copy of the budget GL items, etc?

IMO, 500 homes is way too many to be handled by a board & a PM who only does financials.

I'm sorry you haven't received more replies. IMO, your "Subject" is too vaguely worded and some posters simply didn't read it. You could try again with: Board chair runs everything with our Board votes" to see if you get more advice!