Can Board hire Mgmt Company without approval of homeowners

Can Board hire Mgmt Company without approval of homeowners? The docs in regard to the management of our condo association of 25 units is clearly outlined as having a HOA board of 5 with a Pres, Treas & Sec required with VP if desired and 2 others. There is absolutely no mention anywhere of any option for a management company in the documents. At a different condo that I am familiar with does have it outlined as an option, but ours does not which is why I am asking.

There is a possibility that the board is being underhanded as there has been many unbelievable recent events occurring and way to many details to go into here, but bottom line is that our board calls for 5, 3 board members (friends) want control and trying to keep it to 3 instead. Had an owner vote and owners still voted to keep to 5. Later 2 moved and 3 are doing everything possible to keep those positions unfilled despite volunteers to to be on the board. Suddenly when owners were demanding it be filled (they know they would get out voted), suddenly the owners received a letter from a 1 man management company that said he is now taking over and to call him for everything and left his phone number and rent an address! This is a red flag to me and there are other concerns as well.

This was not in our budget this year, never discussed before at any meeting with owners, as a matter of fact, our budget fell short and we had a special assessment of over $1,500.00 that many feel could have been budgeted for the future but went along with it. This is no emergency as there are volunteers for the board, and our docs don't provide for something like this. The owners have no idea what kind of contract they signed.

Any info or opinions? Now what?

A board can hire someone to mow the lawn or an mgmt company. Yes, they have that power.

Darlene
Your posts mixes apples and oranges:
1) board at 3 members. This can be solved at the next Annual meeting where vacancies will be filled by voting Members. They are not mandated to fill vacancies right now unless your bylaws say vacancies MUST be filled immediately.
2) MC hired by current board. This motion to hire can be tracked by reading the minutes, or better yet having attended the meeting where this was discussed and voted on. Sounds like you weren’t there, however, you can request a job description for this position to understand what this job entails. Remember - boards don’t do everything, they just make sure that everything gets done. Hiring staff and entering into contracts is permitted to Boards.
3. A Member approved assessment. It might be your opinion that is wasn’t needed, but apparently your fellow Members did vote it in. You can track these funds by watching to make sure the assessment is restricted to cover costs of whatever reason the assessment is intended ( roof? Insurance? You don’t say. )

What state do you reside? Sounds like you are dissatisfied with the board. Run for the open position, then.