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DelbertS (Georgia)
Posts: 1
Posted:
Fellow HOA-ers….long time lurker, first time poster. I’ve done a search and cannot find any good answers.

We recently moved to a small neighborhood in Georgia. 60 homes, 70 empty lots –mostly owned by one investor (fall out from the real estate meltdown).

Our quarterly meeting is coming up and tacked on to the meeting is a special meeting focusing on taxes and the county development code and the “financial implications from each topic”. The problem is, the President is referencing development code that requires pools, playgrounds, and clubhouses and from what a neighbor discovered and confirmed, the code doesn’t apply to us as it was adopted after we were platted.

Our neighborhood has an entrance sign and that’s it – no other common property.

The President at first refused and now ignores requests to explain the purpose of the special meeting. One of my neighbors has made repeated requests on the HOA message board. I have great concern that the board is trying to pursue something that doesn’t apply to us because a few people want these things. I moved in to this neighborhood based on the fact we didn’t’ have this stuff and being retired, I am on a budget and don’t want to pay for these things IF that’s what the meeting is about.

Thoughts on explaining special meetings and board transparency??

Thank you.
-Del
TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059
Posted:
Bring copies of the statute to the meeting and, since the Board won't address it prior to the meeting, bring it up in front of everyone.
At the very least, the membership should be able to persuade the Board to seek a legal opinion.
SheliaH (Indiana)
Posts: 6,964
Posted:
What Tim said. Is the president also the investor? If so, it would appear he wants all this stuff to make the lots more attractive so he can sell them (without paying the entire cost of putting it all in, of course). He may want those things, but if the development code doesn’t apply to your community, he’s wasting his time. It’s nice to have pools, playgrounds and what-not, but it isn’t cheap, and at this point, I would think homeowner approval is required to build and pay to maintain it. If most or all of you say nyet, that could be that.

If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it. Marcus Aurelius
KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550
Posted:
Is your "quarterly Meeting" a meeting of the Board, Delbert? And is this "special meeting" a meeting of the Members (owners?)

If you are incorporated, your bylaws should define the different types of meetings. In addition, your bylaws should state notice requirements about special meetings of the member, i.e., meeting that Owners would vote on matters.

It dons like you fear the board is going to vote on a capital improvement, let's say a playground. But they probably may not vote to spend that much muney without Onwr's vote of approval.

Tim & Sheila make good points.
JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265
Posted:
Del

It sounds like your association is Declarant controlled and amenities (promised or not) will be open for discussion.

Attend, listen, ask questions, speak up.
JonD1
Posts: 2,350
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By JohnC46 on 09/16/2016 2:22 PM
Del

It sounds like your association is Declarant controlled and amenities (promised or not) will be open for discussion.

Attend, listen, ask questions, speak up.

Good advice.

Rather than speculating why not get there early for a front row seat, bring as many neighbors as you can and listen to what this is really all about.
Do you normally attend meetings?
Do you know any of the board members?
Do you have any sources that might have knowledge of what is going on?
If not wait till the meeting.

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