May HOA Funds be Used for Pizza Party?

Anything that counts as "administration and operation of Property", "as determined by the Board" is OK.

The specific things that are listed re: the Common Areas and the Lots and the like are just illustrative, but aren't limits to proper uses.

I'd say that it's fine if the board approves. Operation of the Property could include a lot of things.

Although the people who run the HOA can buy whatever they want, the pizza should be bought with donation money for the pizza cause and not hoa members money. It prevents issues just like this. Homeowners are going to be upset.

Ick - I hadn't had my coffee yet when I wrote my response (dang tablet!) What I meant to say was - it could be argued the pizza party is for community building and giving people a chance to meet each other in a festive setting can be great for fostering more involvement in volunteering for activities that help the community even more, like a community cleanup day.

The rest of it still stands. I should also add that depending on the number of people involved, springing for 10 or two large pizzas may not break the budget. However, association funds should be spent on common area maintenance and improvements first - as long as that's not being set aside, I don't see anything wrong with this.

Some developments are actually sold with the expectation that there will be association sponsored social events, so a blanket "associations should never pay for social activities" is really not true. In the OP's case I think it is within the board's ability to pay for the event, but unless there is an expectation that the association has a role in social events, I would avoid it.

If enough members are against it, they can fix the problem at the next election.

I agree with Barbara.

Out mission statement includes “promoting of social interaction in the community”.

The cost of the pizza is minor for the amount of goodwill that event will bring.

I agree that the CC&Rs' wording leave room to spend HOA $$ on parties.

The board should add a line item to its operations budget and fund it for the next year if they'd like to offer regular events.

I also agree it's a fine way to get resident connected to the community. Such "connections" encourage residents to be good neighbors and ade by the rules, etc. It's also a way to find new people for board service or on committees.

In our downtown neighborhood full of high rise condo buildings, all HOAs have an annual social events budget and social committees.

I am not acting like my way is the right way for everyone. Simply stating what we did and my opinion don't think should be used. Having organized a many "social event" for my HOA I learned NOT everyone wants their dues money to go to a "social" project. Often met with "I don't go to those things so why should my money go?". What do I say? They are not wrong. I have to factor in when a majority of people state that and also do not attend. Am I being a good steward of the HOA money? No IMO. However, in OTHER HOA's the answer maybe "Yes, I'd love to go. Can I bring my kids?" I would then let the membership know that their dues money is involved and set aside a "social" budget. It would have to be agreed upon by enough majority to justify that expense.

It's not a wrong or right thing. It's a majority of benefit. Is it a benefit for multiple members, just board members, or the entire neighborhood (to include renters)? My HOA the answer was no. Other HOA's the answer is yes.

Melissa wrote: "I would then let the membership know that their dues money is involved and set aside a "social" budget. It would have to be agreed upon by enough majority to justify that expense."

But this is the kind of decision boards make. IF not in conflict with the governing documents, the board can vote to have one. The membership wouldn't vote on this. The board, of course, could do a survey to see the level of interest and what kinds of events residents might enjoy, but it's a board decision.

And, of course, renters would be included since there owners pay dues. Renters, after all may use the pool, etc.

This question caught my eye. It made me think twice.

Many of us would love to have social interactions and actually make use of the clubhouse. Some would not. I personally think it would make this a happier community, more connected, improve desirability here.

I went back through the by-laws and articles and declaration though and found no mention of it being something we could use HOA funds for. The board has awarded themselves and certain hand-picked volunteers gift cards...

How would you add that in if enough of the community wanted a social budget, director, etc.?

Did the board violate that by giving out the gift cards?

Annual block party. Rain or shine. HOA rents a tent. Owners supply food and drinks.

One of the benefits of PA not being an open meeting state. Hold monthly meetings at a Board member's house. Owners attend by request/invitation only.

Open invitation business meetings. Township building (no charge because we pay taxes to township). If we use the main building, the doors are set to automatically 30 minutes before our scheduled time. We close up the place when we leave.

PA law has strict requirements of advance notice and open invitation for the Annual Meeting, but no requirement for advance notice or open invitation for BOD meetings.

In my HOA, we have a standing invitation. Anyone who wants to attend a BOD meeting will be invited to the next meeting. But that's not required by PA law. It sounds like you do something similar.

The apparent difference between your situation and ours is that we don't have unexpected people show up at the meeting. This is important for us because the meetings are usually held in a BOD member's home. Some of our concerns are:

- If a meeting is scheduled at A's house for 7:00PM, we don't want random people ringing the doorbell and waltzing in at 7:15. Even if we turned them away, A would have to get up from the meeting and go to the door to have a conversation.

- A's house has seating room for only 7 people. B's house can handle 10. Township rooms can handle anywhere from 12 to 50. We need to know how many people to expect before we decide where the meeting should be held.

- Some BOD members don't want angry homeowners coming into their homes.

If we had our own meeting room, things would be different. But we don't. So logistics is always a primary consideration.

John & NpS this is a really interesting conversation, but many who could benefit from it won't see it because it strays so far from the OP's subject. Your topic is really with its own thread.

I agree, we have strayed but the OP has not posted and the pizza party expense subject was beat to death.

Closing time is a feature, not a bug. Most board meetings go on far too long. Having to be out of the building by a certain time is a good motivator to stay on topic. I am in an open meetings state. If the property had no space for a meeting, they were held at nearby places you describe: library, rec center, restaurant with a meeting room. In my less dramatic communities they could be held at a members home.

I think this question got lost - at least I didn't see an answer.

My answer is yes, the board was out of line. They're essentially awarding themselves compensation out of HOA funds, and board members may not use their positions for personal gain. If they wanted to pool their own money and buy gift cards for *other* volunteers as a thank you for their help, that's OK, but it needs to be clear that this is a personal transaction that has nothing to do with HOA funds.

In general, the only time a board member or volunteer should be compensated is as a reimbursement for personal funds spent on HOA business. For example, someone spends their own money to print the community newsletter. They should be reimbursed, but must provide the receipt as supporting documentation. If anyone is being paid out of HOA funds for work performed, that person is an employee, and that will open up a whole can o' worms.

Edit: They will cram into the covered patio area, not the restrooms.

One man's clique is another's group of like-minded homeowners.

Putting the terminology aside, the same group of people shouldn't enjoy free pizza every month on everyone else's dime.