ByLaws

Are By Laws legal documents that need to be filed with the state? All of a sudden our BOD is filing Bylaws with amendments made at a Special Meeting in 2021 and approved, but added many changes on their own that were not voted on! Our President and Secretary both signed these documents with the bogus changes. The president claims the attorney just filed these documents in 2024 without her knowledge. The management Company says the president told her all of these changes were made at the Special Meeting in 2021 and had her file the documents in 2024. It has been proven that none of the extra changes were on the agenda , proxy or even documented in the minutes as the legitimate changes were. Plus the legitimate changes were dated 2021, the bogus changes were not and just appeared. Many are claiming that Bylaws do not need to be filed so this is no big deal, while some say the BoD has committed fraud changing and signing these documents. Your thoughts?
Governed by Florida statute 720

We are a 2/3 owner vote community.

Us fully less than 2/3 is. required to amend Bylaws. What do your Bylaws say?

So....if owners are supposed to vote, how can they at a Board meeting??? There needs to be a meeting of the Members, etc.

I wouldn't worry about "blame," but make sure it's done this time in compliance with your Bylaws.

Rosalie, You have done an excellent job describing what seems to be a CHRONIC problem in many HOAs, COAs,, etc. The PUSHBACK is exhausting, often futile and always expensive. My suggestion is to become a Board member with a quorum of supporters. Yes, convincing neighbors to run for the BOD will feel like deep dental work without anesthesia...BUT????

Thanks for all your comments and advice. Seems our BoD has been caught with their hand in the cookie jar this time. A notice went out yesterday announcing a "Special Board Meeting" The agenda : IV. Voting on correction of the Bylaws that were filed by the attorney’s office in error. What the actual outcome is remains to be seem.
As far as suggestions to run for the board, I would run in a minute, full disclosure we are the dreaded snowbirds! This BoD will not even accept us on a committee. Their motto is "Boots on the Ground" and they do not miss an opportunity to tell us that. In 2021 there was a great BoD. My husband was appointed to the board when a director resigned. He attended 7 meeting in person (came back twice at out own expense) and never missed a Zoom meeting, that's more than I can say for some of the other directors. They knew he would be there if necessary. That was still not good enough This new BoD has been in place 3 years, had 3 directors resign and right now is considering a vote on discontinuation of Zoom meetings that are included in our management contract so they do not have to deal with the snowbirds. Just another day in Paradise! Thanks again for all your suggestions and knowledge. Will post the outcome of this special meeting!

To repeat, how can owners vote at a board meeting./??? That can only occur at a meeting of the the members (owners).

With Jackie, get like-mended owners to get some of you on the Board at the next election.

It doesn't matter what ANYONE thinks of "snowbirds." You are owners and have the same full rights as described in your governing documents as ANY owner.

Either in your documents or state statutes, I'll bet there's something that say owners who cannot attend board meetings in person MUST be able to attend by phone or electronically. The y must be. able to hear all said at the meeting and the board must be a be able to hear them. Very inconvenient compared to Zoom.

By, cancelling Zoom, which I believe the Board CAN do without owner votes, the Board would be trying to silence all absentee owners' voices.