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JackS15 (Massachusetts)
Posts: 84
Posted:
So long story short our president retired along with everyone who supported him. Two people on the board currently rent their unit. They were never voted in but since there was very little interest mainly because the board never advertised available positions. I have since then created a group chat got almost everyone involved and plan to try to remove them. My question is on how. First I plan on telling everyone on the group chat about the trustees who rent their units. If that does not work I plan on telling everyone we need to have a new vote as they were never voted in and should only have been a temporary fill in.
JackS15 (Massachusetts)
Posts: 84
Posted:
here is the trust docs https://www.docdroid.net/YCHyHyD/declaration-of-trust11-2.pdf

We just had an election and are waiting the results. In the middle of it the president resigned. ( he knew his time as president was coming to an end.

We have 2 people more than we have spots on the board who applied.
BillH10 (Texas)
Posts: 1,217
Posted:
Jack

I recommend:

1. Read the governing documents of your Association. They should contain language which describes the process to be followed to remove a Board member.

2. In most associations across the country, an owner is not precluded from serving on the Board if they do not reside on the property. There are exceptions, and, of course it is preferable Board members do reside on the property but it is not always a requirement.

3. You should prepare a document which outlines your issues and concerns as to why the Directors should be removed so there is focus when you hold your meeting and not just general complaining.
JackS15 (Massachusetts)
Posts: 84
Posted:
Can you help clarify what this means? What i get out of it is every position is up for election at the annual meeting every year?

https://ibb.co/zPz7XQL
GeorgeS21 (Florida)
Posts: 3,808
Posted:
It means OFFICERS are elected by the (board) trustees each year.

Do you have a like type of excerpt discussing how trustees are elected by the membership each year?
JackS15 (Massachusetts)
Posts: 84
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By GeorgeS21 on 08/18/2020 10:45 AM
It means OFFICERS are elected by the (board) trustees each year.

Do you have a like type of excerpt discussing how trustees are elected by the membership each year?

https://ibb.co/684h3M1
JackS15 (Massachusetts)
Posts: 84
Posted:
So it looks like trustees are elected every three years at an annual meeting, but several of them were not voted in and only appointed due to no interest and the prior president never advertised available positions.

Since this prior election we just had, was just for the missing spots from people who resigned, should we have a new election at the annual meeting? especially since none of them besides me were voted in. I was voted in 2 years ago, none of the prior board members were up for election because they were already in the spots, but they should have been.
JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265
Posted:
Jack

A few things, typically:

1. BOD Members (what you call Trustees) are generally elected by owners for a specific term.

2. BOD Members, and BOD Members only, elect their Officers from among the BOD Members. Thus all Officers are BOD Members but not all BOD Members are Officers.

3. A majority of the BOD can call for new officer elections at any time.

3. Those elected by owners can only be removed from the BOD via a recall vote at a Special Meeting where the owners vote. Typically this requiring 51% of all owners agreeing to remove the person(s).

4. When vacancies exist on the BOD (death, resignation, etc.), a majority of the BOD may appoint someone to fill the vacancy. Your docs will say if the appointment is to fill out the balance of the term (is in our case) or only fill the spot until the next election.

I say when an Officer resigns from the BOD, the BOD should appoint someone to fill the vacancy and as the person was an Officer call for an election of Officers. The appointee does not slide in as an Officer.
MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836
Posted:
Having rental property doesn't mean one isn't a member. Their tenant's are not members. So not sure what the point is in spilling the beans that someone rents out their property. The person still owns it and thus is still a HOA member.

Former HOA President
JackS15 (Massachusetts)
Posts: 84
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By MelissaP1 on 08/18/2020 3:22 PM
Having rental property doesn't mean one isn't a member. Their tenant's are not members. So not sure what the point is in spilling the beans that someone rents out their property. The person still owns it and thus is still a HOA member.

Would you want someone who rents their unit out and is never there be on the board?

Also what they are doing is illegal as the condo is an affordable unit. Meaning they are not allowed to rent. I also think it's moraly wrong to use a rent an affordable unit to make money when someone else could live there. There are only so many of these affordable unit.
GeorgeS21 (Florida)
Posts: 3,808
Posted:
I am the current VP on the Board of a neighborhood where I have a rental house. I am the past Secretary on the Board of another rental house neighborhood.

I take being a director, and an officer very seriously.
MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836
Posted:
Sounds like a personal issue. Nothing wrog with rentinb out a unit and being voted in or appointed to a board. A member is a member is a member.

Former HOA President
JackS15 (Massachusetts)
Posts: 84
Posted:
Okay this is what I plan to do.

I am going to post the the insert I posted about explaining that terms are for three years and board members are to be elected at the annual meeting.

Any board members who replaces someone else is just a fill in until that person they replaced term is up.

Since we have not had elections at the annual meeting in the past and we have not even advertised open positions. I am going to recommend that this prior election, we just had, is for fill ins untill the annual meeting where every position will be available, which is in October.

At the annual meeting the owners will choose who will be on the board instead of just having fill ins.

I won't mention about the board members illegally renting their unit out. Instead I'll just spread it word of mouth. They have no input on anything and are only concerned with thier own personal interests which is to rent their unit out.
AugustinD
Posts: 5,144
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By JackS15 on 08/18/2020 7:02 PM

Also what they are doing is illegal as the condo is an affordable unit. Meaning they are not allowed to rent. I also think it's moraly wrong to use a rent an affordable unit to make money when someone else could live there. There are only so many of these affordable unit.
Do you have a citation for a statute or municipal ordinance to back up what you say above? Because if I were in your shoes, and there were a way to enforce what you claim, I'd report the owner to the appropriate authority. Where I am (far from Massachusetts), the agreement between the city and developers regarding affordable housing is serious legal business (yada).
MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836
Posted:
How much money are they actually making by renting? Most people who rent out their places charge rent about equal to their house payments. Unless someone owns their house completely, not much of a "profit" to be made in rental. It's more of an asset thing than a generator of funds. Plus it's NONE of the HOA's business to be involved with member's property. The HOA is not on the lease or part of the rental agreement.

If you already have this much apathy in your HOA, causing this to be an issue may not paint you in the best of light. The other people most likely look at this as "We got the seats filled. Done". If you have an MC, most may be satsisfied letting them run things.

Overall this sounds like your "bee" in your bonnet. You need to READ your CC&R's, By-laws, and Articles of Incorporation. If you want to be a board member then step up. Don't blame "Oh it wasn't announced etc..." If they are choosing to appoint people, then those positions are available for someone to step into than complain about.

Former HOA President
JackS15 (Massachusetts)
Posts: 84
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By AugustinD on 08/18/2020 9:46 PM
Posted By JackS15 on 08/18/2020 7:02 PM

Also what they are doing is illegal as the condo is an affordable unit. Meaning they are not allowed to rent. I also think it's moraly wrong to use a rent an affordable unit to make money when someone else could live there. There are only so many of these affordable unit.
Do you have a citation for a statute or municipal ordinance to back up what you say above? Because if I were in your shoes, and there were a way to enforce what you claim, I'd report the owner to the appropriate authority. Where I am (far from Massachusetts), the agreement between the city and developers regarding affordable housing is serious legal business (yada).

Yes the Boston Planning Department of authority has it in the deed restrictions. I spoke with them and already made them remove the AirBnb ads. Also Boston also made several new laws for Air Bnb and short term rentals. "The new law, which went into effect January 1, bans short-term rentals by owners who don't live in the properties they rent out, as well as by renters. It also requires short-term rental hosts to register with the city every year."
If they did register they would be found out and be forced to sell.

I have seen some of the ads and the prices are extremely high due to the face the property is in a prime location and on the water.
JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By JackS15 on 08/18/2020 7:02 PM
Posted By MelissaP1 on 08/18/2020 3:22 PM
Having rental property doesn't mean one isn't a member. Their tenant's are not members. So not sure what the point is in spilling the beans that someone rents out their property. The person still owns it and thus is still a HOA member.


Would you want someone who rents their unit out and is never there be on the board?

Also what they are doing is illegal as the condo is an affordable unit. Meaning they are not allowed to rent. I also think it's moraly wrong to use a rent an affordable unit to make money when someone else could live there. There are only so many of these affordable unit.

If this is true, it is local housing authority issue, not a BOD issue.
AugustinD
Posts: 5,144
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By JackS15 on 08/19/2020 6:45 AM
the Boston Planning Department of authority has it in the deed restrictions. I spoke with them and already made them remove the AirBnb ads. Also Boston also made several new laws for Air Bnb and short term rentals. "The new law, which went into effect January 1, bans short-term rentals by owners who don't live in the properties they rent out, as well as by renters. It also requires short-term rental hosts to register with the city every year."
If they did register they would be found out and be forced to sell.

I have seen some of the ads and the prices are extremely high due to the face the property is in a prime location and on the water.
Thank you for following up with my question.
BillH10 (Texas)
Posts: 1,217
Posted:
Jack

At the end of the day, the fact remains enforcement rests with the Housing Authority or some other agency.

Your main point, that members of the Board or Trustees would be better positioned to understand management of the property if they resided there, has merit.

But, unless your documents specifically state the residency requirement, a non-resident owner is first an owner and is therefore eligible to serve.

You should find other reasons why the non-resident owners would not be the best choice to be Trustees.
JackS15 (Massachusetts)
Posts: 84
Posted:
Do you know how to find out what percentage is allowed to rent in a condo in Massachusetts? The banks ask on the 6d certificates correct?
JackS15 (Massachusetts)
Posts: 84
Posted:
If we are over the percentage couldn't the bank sue the condo? I know the managment should know this but they have been lying to us on several key issues to keep them. They also do the bare minimum.
MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836
Posted:
Sue for what exactly? What effects is loan options and rates on re-financing. A HOA that is in violation of such violations of exceeding # of rentals is certain loan companies will no longer allow you to qualify. These are like any government backed loans like FHA, Fanny or Freddie Mac etc... If want to refinance, then the rates can increase.

This is found out by a HUD/PUD form that is filled out by the HOA/Condo on certain loan packages. It's a 25 questionaire measuring the "health" of the HOA. Believe the current rental rate has to be under 50%. Anything above that it triggers loan denials/rate increases.


Former HOA President

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