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ChrisG11 (Washington)
Posts: 1
Posted:
Good Morning! Need some assistance with this scenario. To Summarize:

- Our board appoints members for a 2 year term.

- After 3 months of a 2 year term, A board member left of his own choosing and as a result,the remaining board appointed a replacement (for this story, we shall call him "Bert" (that's not his name :-)). That was 9 months ago and last week our HOA had our annual meeting. For the first time in a long time, We had more volunteers than open positions (3) but to my surprise, the position temporarily filled by "Bert" wasn't one of them. It was always my impression that temp board members had to be formally voted in, and that has been the case in the 10 years I've lived in our community. We also had a quorum at that annual meeting. After enquiring about this to our board, They pointed out a clause in our CCR's (see below)allows for board members who took up a temp position to automatically serve the remainder of that position.

- Our CCR's have the following, which seems to be a standard clause - "The board shall not act on behalf of the Association .. or to elect members of the board or determine the qualifications, powers and duties or terms of office of members of the board..But the board may fill vacancies in its membership for the unexpired portion of any term".

- Our Bylaws also have the following - "Vacancies on the Board caused by reasons other than the removal of a director by a vote of the Association shall be filled by vote of the majority of the remaining directors, even though they may constitute less than a quorum. Each person so selected shall be a director UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS ELECTED AT THE NEXT ANNUAL MEETING of the association to serve the balance of the unexpired term."

- Their main justification was that as the CCR's trump the bylaws in terms of authority, Bert didn't have to be voted in.

Normally, My feeling is that anyone who volunteers for a temp position should be encouraged but on the flip side, Bert was never formally voted in by the community.
Has anyone else dealt with this kind of scenario and how should the question of ranking between "Legislation/Washington State Condominium Act" v's CCR's v's Bylaws be approached?

Really appreciate anyone's input.

Thanks!
Chris.
KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550
Posted:
Welcome to the Forum, ChrisG.

CC&Rs: "But the board may fill vacancies in its [the Board's] membership for the unexpired portion of any term."

Bylaws: "The Vacancy can be filled by a vote of the remaining directors: "Each person so selected shall be a director UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS ELECTED AT THE NEXT ANNUAL MEETING ... to serve the balance of the unexpired term."

CC&Rs take precedence over Bylaws. It's too bad that yours conflict with each other. State statutes take precedence over both, but usually defer to your documents in this type of scenario with a caveat something like, "unless otherwise determined by the governing documents."

Our CC&Rs are silent on this topic, but our Bylaws, re: vacancies, state until the next annual meeting.

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550
Posted:
I just remembered, Chris, that you wrote: "- Our board appoints members for a 2 year term." You did mean t write the HOA membership, right? Otherwise, I'm confused.
BenA2 (Texas)
Posts: 1,273
Posted:
You are right that the CC&Rs trump the bylaws and it sounds to me like your HOA is doing it properly. I see benefits to both ways but it is all about the governing documents. We may not like them but we have to follow them.
GeorgeS21 (Florida)
Posts: 3,808
Posted:
Remainder of the term is the remainder of the two years.

Or, it sounds that way.

Is there an issue? Did someone else really want that seat?
JanetB2 (Colorado)
Posts: 4,219
Posted:
When in doubt or any document conflicts look to the State Laws. Your state notes:

http://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=64.38&full=true#64.38.025

Under Section 64.38.025:

(2) The board of directors shall not act on behalf of the association to amend the articles of incorporation, to take any action that requires the vote or approval of the owners, to terminate the association, to elect members of the board of directors, or to determine the qualifications, powers, and duties, or terms of office of members of the board of directors; but the board of directors may fill vacancies in its membership of the unexpired portion of any term.

Per your State Statute it appears the BOD can fill vacancies for the “unexpired portion of any term”.

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