💬 Join us to post & get advice from 50,000 HOA & Condo leaders.

Create Free Account →

⚡ Takes 30 seconds

Already a member? Log in

GeraldT4
Posts: 1,022
Posted:
I'm seeking everyone's YES or NO opinion with your reasoning regarding amendments to your Articles of Incorporation, CC&R's, By-laws, the concept of which comes entirely from your Board, no state law overrides. Do you feel that the process of amendments as such would be more appropriate if coming from non-board members first, communicated to the board, and for the board to then act?

As an example, an association board wishes to permit non-owners to be on the board, and vote on association matters even though the Articles state that members are owners, only members in good standing can vote, only members in good standing can be on the board.

The same association board recently attempted an amendment to the Articles that ended in defeat because 2/3rd's of the members did not vote in favor.

For what it's worth, my opinion is that non-compelling amendments are defined as those that do not conflict with local, state, and federal law, and are beyond the scope of rules and regulations that correlate to the cc&r's. That a board should exercise restraint in proposing non-compelling amendments to the membership without first receiving compelling request from the membership. The reason I believe this is because a board member, for lack of a better characterization, has a more captive audience with management, and a better opportunity to influence decisions than a non-board member does. All fine and good due to the fact the board member volunteered for election. However, fiduciary duty should carry with it focus on the meat and potatoes first, and secondary matters later.

Please ask questions to help formulate, synthesize, and guide the topic.

DonnaS (Tennessee)
Posts: 5,671
Posted:

Hey Gerald,

Yes and then a NO. When Boards are doing their job, they come across situations that need some attention. They then kick into "study mode", hopefully researching their own documents and then State law to find out if there already is a remedy to solve the problem. If needed, then they get the amendment process into action---so yes, the Board should

On the other hand, a resident feels that there is a problem with the community and the Board is not in sync or doesn't acknowledge that there is a problem. Now that member has to make a move to have it addressed by the Board. It could be something simple like an ongoing issue that no one pays attention to. Could be the member feels that the voting requirement is too high, or so other flexable covenant or bylaw. So here the member has initiated a change to the Board. Law usually requires a member petition for it to be addressed by the Board. Now it is members calling the Board to address.

I am not a fan of non owners being on Boards. That is a big opening for non compelling amendments to appear. I refuse to acknowledge any non member having say-so on spending the association money for what are non essential items. Every community has it's own aura and outsiders just don't know how the community feels from the inside. Thank goodness all of my associations do not allow non owners to be Board members. They don't pay dues and we take away voting and Board positions from non paying members so why should a non paying outsider have the privledges?
GeraldT4
Posts: 1,022
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By DonnaS on 03/03/2008 6:45 AM

Hey Gerald,

Yes and then a NO. When Boards are doing their job, they come across situations that need some attention. They then kick into "study mode", hopefully researching their own documents and then State law to find out if there already is a remedy to solve the problem. If needed, then they get the amendment process into action---so yes, the Board should

DonnaS - Thanks for the reply. I'm not talking about situations where documents don't comply with state law. Even in that scenario, if a document does not comply with state law a one off amendment may not be necessary due to the fact that the state law overrides anyway. The documents probably reference something to the effect that unless state laws do not override, the documents can be enforced. I'm talking about non-compelling amendments, such as the example I provided where the Board for its own agenda would like to amend those who can vote and be on the Board.
SusanW1 (Michigan)
Posts: 5,202
Posted:
I think there should be a standing Bylaw Committee.

This committee makes sure the bylaws are up to date and relevant. It also fields suggestions from the general membership about amendments and screens them in terms of legality and feasibility.

The Bylaw Committee should be comprised of 4 general members and 1 Board member and chaired by one of the general members. An outside non-member consultant could be asked to be on this committee, also.

GeraldT4
Posts: 1,022
Posted:
SusanW1 - Excellent suggestion, opinion taken, thank you very much.

🎯 You've read this entire discussion

Join the conversation with 50,000 HOA & Condo Leaders:

  • ✓ Ask follow-up questions
  • ✓ Share your experience
  • ✓ Get expert advice
  • ✓ Access 350,000 discussions
Create Free Account →

⚡ Takes 30 seconds

Already a member? Log in here