Resident with Felony Conviction Serving on Committees

I belong to a large HOA in Florida with more than 1900 homes. We have about 10 committees including Finance, Architectural Control, Concerned Citizens, Procurement etc. Our annual budget is about $6.1 million and Total Assets of $6.4 million.

For the past three years, a resident has served on about 8 committees. He is a hard worker who helps out the community in other ways and devotes his time during the week and weekend working on these committees.

He approached the PM several years ago about running for the Board and was told Florida law and the governing documents prevent convicted felons from running for the Board. He admitted that he had a felony conviction for theft in Connecticut in 2013 so he was told he could not be on the Board. He was, however, allowed to remain serving on committees. Several weeks ago, he and a Board member had a falling out and the Board member decided the resident needed to be removed from all committees because of his felony conviction.

Nothing in the Florida statute or our governing documents prevents a convicted felon from serving on committees but the Board consulted with the HOA attorney who said the resident could expose the HOA to liability by serving on committees. As a result, the Board decided the resident could no longer serve on committees and notified the resident in writing that he could no longer serve on any committee.

This resident is the ACC chair and does inspect the exterior of houses when a resident applies for a permit to modify the exterior of his/her home. I can see how there could be potential liability for this convicted felon going to other residents' homes but don't see the reason for removing him from committees when he just sits at a table with other residents and votes on recommendations made to the Board.

Just wanted to get thoughts from others on this matter.

Screw the MC. Sorry but they are crossing the line on how the HOA wants to do it's business. If you have someone willing to do the work which is FREE, then why discriminate. A HOA isn't that "fancy" to not allow those who want to make a difference to participate. Each HOA is separate and run by the owners. If the owners are comfortable with this person, then why should the MC go consult an attorney or prevent it? The MC is NOT a member of the HOA. They are a paid contractor of the HOA.

I applaud someone trying to make a positive change and turn things around. Is this person always to be treated as a Felon if they already did their time? Nope. Think about that. Once time is served you are an ex-felon not a current one.

As an owner, I wouldn't want someone with a felony conviction for theft on my HOA board.

This is not about the felon being on the BOD. It is agreed he cannot be. The question is would you be comfortable/allow him to serve on committees?

I would not be comfortable with a felon for theft on committees either. I concede: I said the wrong thing in my post.

I have personally seen this approach. The felony involved financial malfeasance. Specific documentation was offered. The felon (call him what she is) had kept this secret for nearly a decade as she served as treasurer. The overwhelming majority of the community was furious that the treasurer's status as a felon was exposed to all. I would not do as you propose.

The resident with the felony conviction already disclosed it to the community so they will not be learning it from me fro the first time. I just want feedback from the community on their comfort level with having him serve on committees.

If time was served then they are allowed to join society again. No need to keep carrying on a Scarlet Letter on their chest the rest of their life once convicted and time served.