Little Free Library SNAFU

Started by BillD16 • 7 replies • 369 views

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BillD16 (Texas)
Posts: 971

Posted:

Approx 600 single family units in Texas. I was elected to the Board almost a year ago.

3 years ago a resident “M” donated 4 “Little Free Libraries” (LFLs) to the neighborhood. I was not involved in the discussion, but our ACC actually approved locations for these LFLs to be installed (near mailbox clusters). The LFLs sat in a storage closet at the pool until about a week ago, when the donor “M” asked why they weren’t installed yet / pressured for them to be installed soon. Board member “D” installed one of the LFLs. Donor “M” informs Board that they found an installer “I” who would install the remaining 3 LFLs for $200 if the Board can drop off the remaining LFLs at her house. Someone “X” (I don’t know who) returned the 3 remaining LFLs to “M”. Board member “D” sent “M” an email strongly encouraging “M” to donate the LFLs elsewhere. “M” - with some encouragement from another Board member “J” - had installer “I” install the 3 remaining LFLs. There was no general discussion or vote by the Board.

Today, another resident “K” posted to FB that one of the 3 LFLs installed by “I” had been installed on his property. And provided video of how the installation damaged his irrigation system. The LFL was installed in the ‘parkway strip’ between sidewalk and road. There is uncertainty as to who actually owns this land.

“M” has volunteered that their installer “I” will fix the irrigation system. Board President “P” is going to talk to “K”. We have a PMC - they have not (yet) been included in the discussion.

If you’ve managed to follow this so far: thank you. The situation is a bit ‘twisty’.

Any thoughts? For better or for worse I’ve been ‘hands off’ on all of this until today when I saw “K”’s FB post.

(My thinking is that (at minimum) we need to get “K”’s irrigation repaired professionally and get a signed release from “K”).

BillD

HOA Board ex-President
Austin, Texas USA

“You can’t put too much water in a nuclear reactor”

BenA2 (Texas)
Posts: 1,273

Posted:

I would chalk this up to, "stuff happens." If J, S, or X are willing to repair K's irrigation system, and K is ok with that, Y not. If it were pipes inside someone's home, I could C hiring a professional but with an irrigation system the liability is substantially less.

I would also wonder if that area is actually K's property. It would be unusual for K to own the area between the sidewalk and road without there, at least, being an easement. It shouldn't be that hard to find a survey.

AugustinD
Posts: 3,698

Posted:

Is this a capital improvement and amenity that should have been approved by the owners?

Or is this a path down which you do not desire to go?

BancsS
Posts: 269

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By BillD16 on 05/01/2022 3:30 PM
Approx 600 single family units in Texas. I was elected to the Board almost a year ago.

3 years ago a resident “M” donated 4 “Little Free Libraries” (LFLs) to the neighborhood. I was not involved in the discussion, but our ACC actually approved locations for these LFLs to be installed (near mailbox clusters). The LFLs sat in a storage closet at the pool until about a week ago, when the donor “M” asked why they weren’t installed yet / pressured for them to be installed soon. Board member “D” installed one of the LFLs. Donor “M” informs Board that they found an installer “I” who would install the remaining 3 LFLs for $200 if the Board can drop off the remaining LFLs at her house. Someone “X” (I don’t know who) returned the 3 remaining LFLs to “M”. Board member “D” sent “M” an email strongly encouraging “M” to donate the LFLs elsewhere. “M” - with some encouragement from another Board member “J” - had installer “I” install the 3 remaining LFLs. There was no general discussion or vote by the Board.

Today, another resident “K” posted to FB that one of the 3 LFLs installed by “I” had been installed on his property. And provided video of how the installation damaged his irrigation system. The LFL was installed in the ‘parkway strip’ between sidewalk and road. There is uncertainty as to who actually owns this land.

“M” has volunteered that their installer “I” will fix the irrigation system. Board President “P” is going to talk to “K”. We have a PMC - they have not (yet) been included in the discussion.

If you’ve managed to follow this so far: thank you. The situation is a bit ‘twisty’.

Any thoughts? For better or for worse I’ve been ‘hands off’ on all of this until today when I saw “K”’s FB post.

(My thinking is that (at minimum) we need to get “K”’s irrigation repaired professionally and get a signed release from “K”).

BillD

Just a word of caution on the LFL. I would hesitate for the HOA to sanction those. Sad to say, but unsavory materials (porn) have been known to show up in those libraries. Unless you live in a gated community, I would give it some careful consideration. I agree with D that M should donate the LFLs elsewhere. I retired from working at an elementary school for 9 years and believe me I have seen my share of bad behavior from adults and teens who think those pranks are funny.

I don't have an opinion on who is responsible for repairing the irrigation system except this is just another reason to say NO. The HOA doesn't need that liability.

BillD16 (Texas)
Posts: 971

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By AugustinD on 05/01/2022 4:13 PM
Is this a capital improvement and amenity that should have been approved by the owners?

Or is this a path down which you do not desire to go?

I’m a big fan of reading and education - but I don’t really care either way about LFLs.

I don’t know what kind of formalities the at-the-time Board might have approved.

I’m concerned that a single Board member took it upon themself to tell a resident to go ahead and install these things, and that the installation damaged another homeowner’s property / was installed on their property.

I’m hoping that BenA is correct and this is just “stuff happens”.

BillD

HOA Board ex-President
Austin, Texas USA

“You can’t put too much water in a nuclear reactor”

AugustinD
Posts: 3,698

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By BillD16 on 05/01/2022 3:30 PM

3 years ago a resident “M” donated 4 “Little Free Libraries” (LFLs) to the neighborhood. I was not involved in the discussion, but our ACC actually approved locations for these LFLs to be installed (near mailbox clusters). The LFLs sat in a storage closet at the pool until about a week ago, when the donor “M” asked why they weren’t installed yet / pressured for them to be installed soon. Board member “D” installed one of the LFLs. Donor “M” informs Board that they found an installer “I” who would install the remaining 3 LFLs for $200 if the Board can drop off the remaining LFLs at her house. Someone “X” (I don’t know who) returned the 3 remaining LFLs to “M”. Board member “D” sent “M” an email strongly encouraging “M” to donate the LFLs elsewhere. “M” - with some encouragement from another Board member “J” - had installer “I” install the 3 remaining LFLs. There was no general discussion or vote by the Board.

Today, another resident “K” posted to FB that one of the 3 LFLs installed by “I” had been installed on his property. And provided video of how the installation damaged his irrigation system. The LFL was installed in the ‘parkway strip’ between sidewalk and road. There is uncertainty as to who actually owns this land.

Were the LFLs installed in the locations that the ACC specified?

If yes, then:

-- The mischief makers had ACC approval to install the LFLs.

-- The mischief makers did not have Board approval to pay anyone anything to install the LFLs.

-- I recommend the HOA pay for the repair; remove all LFLs; explain that owner approval is needed to go any further; and drop it.

BillD16 (Texas)
Posts: 971

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By AugustinD on 05/01/2022 5:04 PM
Posted By BillD16 on 05/01/2022 3:30 PM

3 years ago a resident “M” donated 4 “Little Free Libraries” (LFLs) to the neighborhood. I was not involved in the discussion, but our ACC actually approved locations for these LFLs to be installed (near mailbox clusters). The LFLs sat in a storage closet at the pool until about a week ago, when the donor “M” asked why they weren’t installed yet / pressured for them to be installed soon. Board member “D” installed one of the LFLs. Donor “M” informs Board that they found an installer “I” who would install the remaining 3 LFLs for $200 if the Board can drop off the remaining LFLs at her house. Someone “X” (I don’t know who) returned the 3 remaining LFLs to “M”. Board member “D” sent “M” an email strongly encouraging “M” to donate the LFLs elsewhere. “M” - with some encouragement from another Board member “J” - had installer “I” install the 3 remaining LFLs. There was no general discussion or vote by the Board.

Today, another resident “K” posted to FB that one of the 3 LFLs installed by “I” had been installed on his property. And provided video of how the installation damaged his irrigation system. The LFL was installed in the ‘parkway strip’ between sidewalk and road. There is uncertainty as to who actually owns this land.

ACC specified the locations … poorly (red dots on a Google map).

Current status: Board President “P” talked nicely to “K”; unclear if fellatio was involved. Installer “I” repaired “K”’s irrigation system. LFLs will stay up. I think we probably won’t get sued over *this* incident, at least.

I’m just tired of Board members crying “No, we need to vote on that!” (on stuff they don’t like) but then saying “this doesn’t need a vote” (because it’s something they like).

Election is coming in June. 3 open seats. I’ve got one candidate. If I can find one or two more, we might actually succeed in building Jerusalem in our green and pleasant (but woefully misgoverned) land.

BillD

HOA Board ex-President
Austin, Texas USA

“You can’t put too much water in a nuclear reactor”

MichaelS56 (Minnesota)
Posts: 858

Posted:

Ben loved your response.

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