complaint problem

Wasn't this the subject of another conversation in another community? Ok, here we go again.

First of all, did the complaint have anything to do with the association? If if it doesn't involve misuse or abuse of the common area, or a neighborhood nuisance that's affecting a bunch of people, this is a tiff between two homeowners, and the association should stay out of it. That should have been apparent to the board member when he or she read it (and what does he/she have to do with the dispute anyway?) If that person wanted to mediate, he or she could have that by first asking neighbor 1 to discuss the matter with neighbor 2. If they can't behave like adults to resolve the problem, then the board member could try to mediate, if he/she is a friend. However, that would simply be an interaction between neighbors, not something the board or the association has to be involved with. People always forget that board members are homeowners too, and that doesn't mean they can or should get involved in every damned thing that going on.

If this WAS something the board should have addressed, the thing to do would be to bring it to the board's attention to begin an investigation.
If the board can verify something's wrong, it's not necessary to bring the complainer into it. Then you send a violation notice and go from there.
That said, the complainer should be told if the matter escalates into legal action by the association, he or she WILL be subpoenaed to testify as to what he/she saw, said and/or did. Hopefully, that'll help you find out if this is a legitimate complaint or the other person wants to spread gossip or cause trouble - in which case he/she should be shut down immediately.

I don't believe in anonymous complaints - if you're ballsy enough to complain, do it in front of whoever you have beef with. Due process remember? If someone has a legitimate reason to fear retaliation, there are ways that can also be addressed. For example, if it's a criminal matter, call the cops. The HOA board isn't law enforcement.

Considering this and your last post about the treasurer's report, y'all REALLY need some education on how to run effective and efficient board meetings. Along with handling complaints and maybe rule enforcement. This website is a start, but you might also want to check out the community association institute (CAI website), which has lots of educational materials on all sorts of HOA issues directed at newbies and long-time board members.

If you're not on the board and you're concerned, speak up and say something to the board president. If you're the person being complained against, go to that person and see if you two can't clean this up - and yes, it's ok to ask him/her why you had to hear about this at a board meeting instead of the neighbor talking to directly.

And shame on the board president or whoever was running the meeting for not shutting this down and telling the complainer to follow the established procedure for registering an official complaint.

The rule in my community is "if it's not in writing, it's not a complaint." And the complainer must identify themselves, the board does not act on anonymous complaints.

Thanks! It is amazing to me how many different and totally opposite responses you can get on this site. The good part of it is, you can choose which ones you like and which one you don't. I like the one's where respect, confidentiality and privacy are key components in working with personal issues concerning board members, Managers and co-owners. RESPECT being the most important.

Really we can pick and choose the advice that best fits our way of thinking versus viewing some light from the other side? I don't learn anything if I don't listen to another opinion once and awhile. Mine isn't always right nor the one to take. However, if I am to open my eyes a bit and improve then sometimes got to take the lumps too.

I personally do not see an issue with a letter read out loud at a meeting whether the letter is right or not. It was sent to the HOA as "HOA business" to be discussed. Well our HOA we are OPEN and don't do "executive" meetings outside of eye or earshot of any member. So that means if you write a letter it's to be held in the HOA boards "confidence" but it also has to be read to the other board members to be on the same page. People/members will be in attendance at that meeting. It is their RIGHT to be there and observe. Does that mean they make any decisions? No. We the board will let you see how we feel and what actions to take in front of every member.

Don't like this then keep hiding in the shadows and crying when someone steps on your toes for not seeing you. You want results you face it and participate in the decision making. Which may include just tossing the letter to the side and moving on from the personal business.

Lou

Are you saying the complaint was read out loud by a BOD Member in a meeting where other owners were in attendance?

When our BOD receives a complaint we keep it to ourselves until we investigate it. Once investigated we can do several things:
1. Validate it and notify the PM to send a warning letter and notify the complainer of such.
2. Find the complaint is not warranted and notify the complainer of such.
3. Find the complaint is not an HOA issue and notify the complainer of such.
4. Notify the complainer that the BOD is consider action when we are not.
5. Ignore it.

What we would not do is read the complaint out loud publicly in front of other owners. This is not only in bad taste, it could to legal action such as libel.

It is called an OPEN meeting. We have had no PRIVATE meetings. So many people accuse their HOA of hiding things or not being open. Doing things behind closed doors etc... I have even heard people suspect a secret "HOA meeting" because 3 members ran into each other at a "Starbucks".

Sorry but I don't believe if it is presented as "HOA business" it should not be subject to HOA review. The ONLY time ALL the officers got together was at a board meeting. When did you want them to discuss it? Behind closed doors still keeping it all hush hush and filled with suspect rumors?

Sorry but when you have an OPEN meeting you give something to your HOA to discuss. How do you think the HOA is supposed to discuss it ? Closed doors and secretive? That embodies trust doesn't it? Besides if it was a personal issue, then it should not have been presented to the HOA in the first place....