Need your help

I’m wondering if any HOA’s on this forum have had hurricane damage and if so did you receive any FEMA assistances? I know this must seem like a bizarre question, I’m asking because I’m looking into any possible monies due our association. I’ll try to make this as short as possible. It was discovered our past President for years had been writing additional checks each month to our Property Manager for hundreds of dollars above the PM’s salary. Upon asking to see the books and before the books were turned over that money was returned. Petty cash was through the roof, one year alone it was over $15,000. The ex-PM is an owner and neither the ex-PM nor the past President paid assessment fees for years. We also learned that no 1099s were issued or taxes were filed. Both have since paid past assessments, and taxes have been filed for all past years, but nothing has been done about the outrageous petty cash expenditures. Our new board has no plans of pursuing this further and in a way I can’t blame them. Several of the old boards members were replaced and the new board had their hands full with repairs long over due, getting the taxes done, and getting the books in order. The new board has not informed the members of the depth of the problems only to say “there is no money missing”, but without an audit wouldn’t it be impossible to know if all monies have been returned? I’m trying to find out if all insurance money from the hurricane damage actually went to our association and if there could be any FEMA money. I know the ex-PM went to FEMA for assistance, but I have no idea of the outcome. I can’t image what type of assistance we would have been eligible for through FEMA, but with everything the past President and ex-PM had done over the years I think it’s at least worth asking the question. To obtain whether or not we received assistance would require paying an hourly rate thru The Freedom of Information. If anyone has dealt with FEMA and knows that no assistance would have been available, it will save me from further research. Neither the past President nor ex-PM paid any additional penalties nor late fees for the years they hadn’t paid their assessment fees nor were they asked to pay interest on the money they returned. I realize I’m fighting a loosing battle trying to see if any additional money is due the association, and without the support of the new board I doubt much can be done. I’m so frustrated that neither of them received so much as a slap on the wrist other than the President resigned and the PM was fired.

That's true. The state attorney general should become involved. $15,000 unaccounted petty cash is, well, not petty cash - especially in view of the other shenagians they performed.
However, your association is still not following the rules. Who allowed the previous president and PM to avoid penalties and interest on their past due assessments? That also is dereliction of duty and could be used by anyone in the future as a precedent that they needn't pay interest or penalties on past due assessments either.
I'm sorry, but I don't know beans about FEMA, but am curious what the hourly charge is you are referring to. Harold

Missy:

Contact FEMA directly and ask your questions, below are some links:

FEMA | Federal Emergency Management AgencyFEMA Logo FEMA Print Logo Skip to content ... FEMA 500 C Street SW, Washington, DC 20472 Disaster Assistance: (800) 621-FEMA, TTY (800) 462-7585 ...
www.fema.gov/ - 19k - Jul 18, 2007 - Cached - Similar pages

- www.fema.gov/hazard/flood/index.shtm
- www.fema.gov/emergency/index.shtm
- www.fema.gov/assistance/index.shtm
- www.fema.gov/news/disaster_totals_annual.fema

Linda thanks for the info. At least now I can scratch FEMA off my list. We’re also in Florida and were hit twice. We had several building that lost their roofs causing extensive damages to the units. Many owners were under insured and one owner lost their home. It took over a year for most owners to return to their homes. Even thou our Association insurance covered the dry wall etc. are documents require each owner to carry homeowners insurance. Our insurance rep was told by the PM not to deal with owners or their insurance agents, they had to go thru the PM. When contacted the PM handed them a copy of our documents and were told the Association would only cover the roofs and nothing else. It’s long past due, but we are in the process of amending our documents to coincide with the Association's insurance.
I also want to thank the other members for their responses. You’re absolutely right about not paying penalties and future ramification. Do you realize they owed the Association a combined $13,000 not to mention the interest on over $33,000 they repaid the Association. Don’t get me started on the petty cash, there are receipts for the PM’s underwear, yep you heard me right…underwear, makeup, gas, and a water heater that is no where to be found on the common area. Did I mention the PM had her water heater replaced…hummmm. All handymen were paid from petty cash. One receipt was written on the back of a petty cash receipt for $1200 marked only with the person’s first name. There was no petty cash log only files bulging with receipts.
Some of you have suggested taking this to the state attorney. I’m wondering how much credence this would carry not having the board’s support. All I have are two deposit copies along with copies of the checks that were deposited. One deposit lists four checks all written on the same day from the PM’s checking account for a total deposit of $20,000 and another deposit list a two party check written to the President in the amount of a little over $25,000, of which $13,500 was deposited. Do you think this would be enough to take to the state attorney? By the way…..thanks for letting me vent!!!!

If they were in charge of a store rather than an HOA they would already be in custody. Remember it isn't just your money they stole. It isn't the board's money they stole. They stole from everyone there and it is your responsibility to see that it is addressed as it would be anywhere else.