How to get previous board decisions reversed?

I'm new to my hoa board and don't think that the board acted in the best interest of the community on some issues. I'm not the only homeowners that feels this way. The only conclusion I can come to is the previous board took complaints from the homeowners as a personal attack. Here is the situation.

We move at snails pace on some issues and others seem to get done so fast nobody has time to get the information in the mail.

It took 1 year to submit 2 sets of 2 paint colors for the members to vote on. Because the vote was too close to call it took another year to present the winner. I don't get it either. Can the board go against how the majority of the membership voted?

Anyway, if the membership has to vote on the colors then doesn't the entire membership have to vote on how those colors are or aren't used?

Requests to paint a minor hard to see trim in the darker of the two approved colors were made they got denied without explaination other than cuz we said so. They grandfathered in the old color for those that painted in the 2 years it took to determine the colors that won. Another owner made a simaliar request at the annual meeting the board said it would not discuss the topic. The homeowner asked "can't the board change it's mind" the answer was "No". Did they prevented him from being heard AND prevented the members from voting. Is that acting in the best interest of the community and border line abuse of power?

Isn't the boards power to make decisions regarding the aesthetics of the community more so related maintenance, landscaping, and building maintenance? Is it possible this is a loop hole? We are all adults and people keep their homes well maintained. By changing our colors we created an eye sore. Plus one of the homes was painted the wrong color just before it was sold. It has been the wrong color for years. It will also most likely remain the wrong color until it needs to be painted due to aging not because it is the wrong color. Yet the board refuses to let people paint a hard to see portion of their home in the darker approved color. It doesn't make sense.

Do the bylaws and CCR's have to specifically state what the board must obtain membership vote on how the homes are painted?

How the board can make rules restricting what the owners can and can't do without board approval. Yet the boards authority to act without membership approval just gets broader and broader.

I believe that board members are the ones that are carrying out the wishes of the owners. However, how can that occur when they don't know what the majority of the owners want? They want the homeowners to get more involved but they will not do anything to encourage them to get involved. I've never seen them survey the owners they only do maybe 2 social events a year. Where is the compromise?

As an officer and owner what do I need to do to place limitaions on the boards power to act without obtaining a vote of the entire membership? Is there something somewhere that I'm not seeing or information I'm missing here or am I just stupid.

We a zero lot line planned housing community. We are a small with 225 homes. The homeowners pay for their home to be painted but the common grounds are the associations responsibility. By association it means each owners pays their share of the costs which is included in the dues. Correct?

How many years of information should I have expected to get when we elected who would hold what office? I've read 2 years of minutes and financials but they only gave us January 2008's information. The person keeping track of the violations got all the information she needed within days. When I requested the information needed to review, research, and prepare for the next meeting. Which takes a lot of time not just the 2 hours a month management tells us it requires. I was told I would get it at the monthly meeting. How can I be expected to be prepared for that meeting if I don't have all the information nessasary? I haven't even been on the board a month and am already frustrated with the lack of cooperation. Then I was told I had to copy the pres. on all e-mails between myself and the property management company. Why? As long as I have copies of them and as an officer I have a need for the information.

Anyone willing to accept the nomination gets on the board and no vote isn't nessasary. We have a large number of part time residences.

When I say things move at a snails pace here's an example. We were supposed to begin painting the common area in Dec. 07 it just started. However, a decision to do major renovations made Nov. 07 which is already underway. The structure is sound and really doesn't need renovations just a really good cleaning and a few repairs. The doors aren't kept closed so it will just end up in the same condition.

There was a social mentioned in minutes which got postponed. There hasn't been any mention of it in the newsletter. The dates of the monthly meetings for 3 months but never the location. It is always held at same home from what a member told me that resigned sometime in 07. It seems so shady to me and I can't think of one valid reason why.

I always thought the board was supposed to act on the wishes of the majority.

I realize this is more information than you requested. I just feel like I'm getting stone walled.

I guess I don't understand how one can go against the majority. When in the current situation has occurred because the board hasn't will not take the time to educate themselves on issues. They are seeking advice but don't do the research themselves to determine if the information or advice is the only or best way to fix the problem.

For instance, our dog had developed this large tumor on his rear. The vet told me the only option we had was to cut it out which would cause him to loose control over his recum. I was not going to do the surgery and have him poop all over the house or treat him like a baby. Quality of life issue. But I did my research and found surgery isn't the only option. There are medications which have a very high success rate. So I got out the phone book and called every vet in town and asked one question. Is surgery the only option. I did this until I found one that said no it isn't the only option. That vet treated him for 3 weeks with no results then sent me to a specialist. The specialist took one look at him and said that looks like something totally diffrent than what we were told it was. They look almost identical. He is 14 happy and healthy.

Had I not done my research I would have lost him. Uneducated board members are incapable of making good decisions independently. For 2 years in a row by the end of the year only 2 of the original board members elected remained. All because a diffrence of opinon and allowing things to get personal and making decisions based on personal wants. Your opinion is just that an opinion, but becomes a fact when other people agree with you. Thus going against the majority isn't make decisions in the best interest of the community but based on your personal wants. Then again that is just my opinon based on the fact I do research issues or problems before seeking advice to make sure they know what they are talking about.

I got most of my info from previous members that served on the board recently. I also figured it out from analysising the financials and meeting minutes. I hope there is a good explaination for some of the things that are going on. However, you don't repeatedly mis-code admin. services in a rental account for the whole year by mistake. When the association has no monthly rental expenses.

I was hoping for a place to start to ensure the bylaws would get changed and eliminate the need for a board vote. If I were to get 1/3 vote to approve the motion does that ensure the bylaws are changed? Considering the board has ultimate and final say. Why would you not want to change the bylaws to require votes on issues and projects of x dollar amounts?

AB3: I am concerned over your post. I remember also your other posts regarding paint colors and using the darker color on trim and lighter on unit. How has that progressed?

You state many concerns over how this Board is operating while you, yourself, are a Board member and are also entitled to cast your vote on issues. You are the one who is able to find the answer to your question, "Do the bylaws and CCR's have to specifically state what the board must obtain membership vote on how the homes are painted." As a homeowner and resident of your community you should have the official documents, CC&Rs. In these you will find everything you need to know pertaining to what the Board is allowed to do/not do, how to govern, etc. Further, as a Board member, you are in the best position to STUDY and LEARN the documents to assist in decisions with other Board members.

As Board members there should not be occasions when one member is to act independently from the rest of the group. You stated that you were asked to copy the President on your emails, but you did not feel it was necessary. I disagree emphatically! ...for the very reason stated in the first sentence of this paragraph. You must as a group learn to meet together, discuss and reason together and find solutions together. No, you will not all agree all the time, but you must strive for a united front ensuring members that you have the community's best interests at heart.

Your concerns over paint color are well taken. But, perhaps the real problem with this group is lack of communication among yourselves. The email is a perfect example.

Being on the Board is hard work. It is not for the thin-skinned and its not for those who want to create changes without regard to the rest of the Board-team. You state "As an officer and owner what do I need to do to place limitaions on the boards power to act without obtaining a vote of the entire membership?" Be careful what you ask for. YOU are the Board, you have the authority to make decisions. Yes, it is well to get the 'pulse' of the community in certain matters; and in financial matters, the Board most times is bound to take a member vote. But, the Board is the governing force with the official documents giving the authority to act.

We wish you well in fulfilling your desire to be an active Board member to the residents. Sit back, listen hard, study the docs, be approachable, and speak from your careful review and knowledge of the restrictions and guidelines (CC&Rs) for your community. You will gain the respect of your peers and the community and you will be in a better position to make changes.

I'm not saying that we should vote on everything. I think more should be done to obtain owners opinions and those opinions should be followed.

The info. we are asking for isn't anything more than just pressing a couple of buttons and printing it out. Make one copy then use the copier for the others. The receptionist can do that. I can put it into a binder.

Then any missign info can be questioned. The treasurer can't do the monthly financial report if the information isn't provided before the next meeting. But, I guess it is what it is.

we periodically send out an anonymous community questionnaire of about 40 questions asking about everything from improving/changing recreational equipment, building safety, fine amounts, etc.