Concerned Owners

You all can create any unofficial group, tasked with a specific purpose, that you want.

In California this "watch group" should feel free to ask questions at board meetings about any concern it has.

FWIW: Asking questions is more likely to get the desired results than accusing.

Owners overseeing boards is exactly what the courts and statutes expect. The only issues that may arise are with owners not understanding what control they have over a board's decision-making and how to exercise this control under the law.

Always remember that first and foremost, the courts and statutes expect that owners wanting change can and should vote in directors who feel as the owners do.

You can, but what's available right now and how have you taken advantage? Do you attend board meetings? Are the board meeting minutes published and do you read them? What about the budget - do homeowners get a copy every year and can they request and receive income/expense statements so they can see for themselves where the money's going? What happens when people ask the board why X is happening and Y is not? Do they respond with factual information, look at you as if you've grown a second head, ignore you or cuss you out?

As for "maximizing property values", that's always a tricky question because people disagree all the time as to what constitutes property values and what can/should/shouldn't be done to ensure they continue to rise. Since property values can be whatever you and I (and other people) say they are, it may be better on focusing on the things you can control.

Your question sounds like there's a communication breakdown somewhere and/or you don't agree with the board's approach. That's ok - nothing wrong with asking questions, making suggestions and perhaps voting these folks out and bring in people who will do what you want. Just remember, it's one thing to be looking in when you're outside, but when you're in the hot seat the view can change rapidly and some people don't how what to do when that happens.