What If Too Many People Want To Be On The Board?

Started by GreggK2 • 6 replies • 1170 views

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GreggK2 (Kansas)
Posts: 86

Posted:

A meeting was called by a group of home owners tonight. One of the hot topics was over the number of people we have on the HOA BoD. Right now, we have 5 and we can have up to 15. We are hoping to call a special meeting to vote more people on but I have a slight concern. What do we do if more than 10 people want to fill the vacant positions? If we have 10 vacancies and 20 people say they want to be on the board, how do we pick and choose who those 10 will be? This is very new for us so I am unclear as to what the answer might be.

MarkM31 (Washington)
Posts: 351

Posted:

Just off the top of my head, an election?

Crazy me, I know.

LarryB13 (Arizona)
Posts: 4,099

Posted:

I cannot imagine a board that size.

Our original bylaws called for 3-to-5 members on the board. After turnover to the property owners, the new board realized they were in over their heads but rather than seek help or resign, they changed the bylaws to be 7-to-9 members. Then the clueless elected board appointed four more clueless owners to the board and we have been bumbling along ever since.

My experience has been that no more than 3 board members will really contribute anything. The rest are there for various personal reasons but bring nothing to the table and often stand in the way of progress for fear of making a mistake.

My suggestion would be to amend your bylaws to keep your board at no more than five members.

BTW, Arizona counties are governed by a board of supervisors. By state law, three members are required in smaller counties and five in the larger counties. I have never found a good explanation as to how an entire county can function with a board of five while an association must have even more. It makes no sense.

SheliaH (Indiana)
Posts: 6,964

Posted:

What Larry said. Our community originally had 9 board members, but we had to drop it to 7 because the apathy was everywhere (and still is) and it was becoming too difficult to recruit new members and make quorum for board meetings.

It's great that you have so many people interested in board membership, but as you might imagine, some people will make better members than others. Let the homeowners vote for whoever they want - the others could serve on advisory committees, which could make them better board members down the road.

If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it. Marcus Aurelius

DaveD3 (Michigan)
Posts: 796

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By MarkM31 on 06/14/2016 10:53 PM
Just off the top of my head, an election?

Crazy me, I know.

I was thinking that they could cast votes and pick the 10 highest vote-getters.

I suppose they could have an election instead though.

;)

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

Gregg, please give us the exact wording of your Bylaw that permits up to 15 directors. With others, I say that's crazy!!

What size is your HOA anyway? Do you have a property mgr.?

anyway, if your bylaws really say 15, do as other suggest: Hold an election! Or don't your Bylaws permit elections? Some states like CA require elections to HOA Boards. Don't your bylaws or state laws require elections?

LarryE3 (Colorado)
Posts: 39

Posted:

We would do what Dave suggested. Cast ballots and choose the 10 with the most. If there is a tie, then a second ballot is required. I also agree with a smaller number of Directors. We are a very small community and had 4 Board members, but it was hard to get that many people interested, so we have dropped it to 3 (still having a problem getting people involved).

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