NEW to HOA and no Board governing my association

HELP!!!.... My husband and I just bought a townhome in a community of 35 townhomes, and it seems that the paperwork that was sent to us before closing was fabricated in order to sell the home. We haven't had an association meeting since closing in July, no meeting have been scheduled ( assoc fee $180 per month) and no accounting of where the money is going. The company that represents the assoc. in collecting the fees (***** property management) doesn't have a address or phone number to the board. From what I have found out so far is that the acting President had a stroke( over a yr ago) and the secretary has been acting in his place. My neighbors haven't a clue either as to who is running our HOA. There are numerous concerns as to where the money is going considering there is no accounting. When we closed I had concerns about the accounting but was assured that is was accurate. Hmm the maintenace man is the secretaries husband and he is getting paid over $30,000 yearly for doing nothing.
Where and how do I go about checking into all of this without raising a 'Red Flag' to those I feel are using the money for their own benefit? this is in Long Beach, California
I would appreciate any advice.
Thank you Karen

Karen,
Use the search feature on the dicussions main page and search for new HOA's.
You need to sit back and spend some time thinking about what you have done. Since July you seem to be very short on essential information about your HOA. Bluntly you need to dig this information up and anything we refer you to will require a commitment on your part. Hopefully you can get more people interested and they each will lend a hand.
First: Go to your realtor and ask them for the information about the Association. If they bulk, go to BB and report them. While this is going on, get on the internet and run your association document to ground. State Business listings.
Corporations.
Comsumer Affairs.
Go to court house, walk up to info desk and tell them you want to find all the documents that are filed concerning your condominium.
How is itpossiblee to send someone (Who) $180 a month and dopn't know where it is going. I bet if you stop sending it they will quickly remind you.
Implant in your brain that you and your neighbors have to look after their wellbeing. You also signed on that you have a OBLIGATION to know the associations documents and abide and contribute to the regime.

Karen,
With 35 units, give serious thought to do the whole business yourself.
There should be other small HOA around that you can confer with. Self management is an option.

You need to familiarize yourself with the laws that govern HOA's in California. Attached is a link to an annotated index. One of the first things you can do is request a copy of -

1365.(c) A review of the financial statement of the association shall
be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles by a licensee of the California Board of Accountancy for
any fiscal year in which the gross income to the association exceeds
seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000). A copy of the review of the
financial statement shall be distributed within 120 days after the
close of each fiscal year.

Assuming that all 35 units are $180.00 per month, then your gross function income is $75,600.00