How common is to have BAD BOARD CHEMISTRY?

I'm a firm believer that diversity of background, temperament, experience, and ideas can be a good thing.

It can also bring a team/board/committee to a standstill if not handled professionally.

Our first board was keen on making sure that they got on board only people who thought like they did. Which only makes the group end up smoking their own exhaust.

I have been on many teams and/or groups where I not only don't like some of the members, but really have no clue how they could possibly function in polite society. You can't control how they respond to you, but you can control how you respond to them, so my only advice is to take off your own ego and keep the goals and mission of the organization top-of-mind.

It's unfortunate that many people don't know how to handle the differences of opinions and ideas that often come about in mixed groups.

It's a shame that we have to keep running into them on our HOA boards!

IMHO - the president sets the "tone" of the Board. If that person is not knowledgeable, lack ability to run a meeting, can't handle people, and does not understand Board goverance, then there's going to be disfunction throughout.

The MC is an employee of the HOA. It implements policy and financial dispursments. It does not govern the HOA, it manages it. There is a difference. A strong Board handles its MC, not the other way around.

Glen, I suppose in your view I may fit in that catagory as you feel Tammy does....I know I don't know it all but I also know I do know a hzzz of a lot because I study and try to learn every single day. I tried to change things and am still trying. Our HOA is in shambles because of this President and her attached to the hip fellow board members. Because I finally got through to a few HO's I was elected back on the Board. There is little I can do because it will always be 4 to 1 until more HO's will step up to run for office.

I have written many negative post about our Board but I have NEVER spoken an untruth. I have tried and tried to work w/them to see things as they should be done. As said in a couple of post down, it is the President who set the tone and ours is on a hugh power trip. It doesn't matter what the CC&R's say, things will be done in her way. This woman hates me, she would never let me volunteer on the Board but I fooled her and went after proxy's and am now treasurer (for how long is a big question..lol)

Let me try and place some of her failures in this post:
1)Our turnover was at the Annual meeting in Jan06, I fiscal year ends Dec., our CC&R's state that our Annual meeting shall be held on the same day same date(moved for weekend/holiday) every year..She chose to have it at the end of March. (at our last meeting she said it would be in Jan next year)
2)Our common area was never weeded, fertilized, weed and fed as were all our shrubs not taken care of. We lost many shrubs and some just needed TLC. Instead of doing these things she let a HO tear them all out/remove the plant bed borders and to the path to our pier. This was 2years ago, nothing has never been replaced and our lawn is nothing but weeds that the lawn service mows. The path is half grown over.
3)Money was taken from our Reserves for operating expenses. Her reason was we needed it. HO's didn't know.
4)Our Reserves have not been funded in over a year, not a dime. It is in our Budget. HO's didn't know
5)The Reserves were reduced from $902.42 to $700.(even that not deposited)All of the things concerning the Reserves require a HO majority vote. HO's didn't even know about it.
6)Fired our lawn guy and used 4 more before deciding on a fifth. This ended up costing the HOA $4,000. more for the year.
7)She hired and fired 3 MC's within 2 years and this was the worst thing she has done. We were paying $558 a month and the Association was running out of money to pay expenses before the next semi-annual assessments were due....What she did now was hire a MC that charges us a basic fee of $850. plus phone/mileage/POBox/additional accounting/additional office expenses and refuses to file liens(other MC's did this for us) cost difference $20. vs $325. attorney)..so we are paying the new MC double what we paid the last two. So how long do you think these dues will last.?
8)Delinquencies went from 6 at takeover to 14 as of today. There was no aggressive collection. (this is why we ran out of money 14 X $818)and by the way, both the President and the secretary were late paying.
9)Raised the assessment fees 06 w/o any warning to the HO's, invoice came just two weeks before due.(required at least 30 notice)
10)There has never been a newsletter or any information given to the HO's (HO apathy, they didn't ask either I guess)HO's weren't told anything about the finance trouble or anything else for that matter. I would call it a BOD Association.
11)Now from our last meeting Mar31st, we (the handful of HO's that attended-61 of our 77 units are out of town investors)were told there would be another raise in dues and could be looking at a "Special Assessment" (this is to pay the new MC)
12)taxes filed late.

I truly could go on and on but it is quite obvious that the best interest of the community and HO's has and is not being implemented.
So when I look in the mirror, I see a HO is not only concerned for her own interest but for the interest of all the other HO's. You may see me differently and thats ok....I just happen to think one should follow the rules and if you don't like them, change them. I know HO's (especially in this time) just can't afford to pay more money, it just isn't there. Paying HO's can hardly pay their own obligations let alone pay their neighbors....It is the time for the Boards to buckle down and try there best to cut expenses not engage in hiring more expensive service providers...What this will bring is, come July when the next assessment is due, more delinquencies.

Tammy, I'm with you girl....I know all about a disfunctional Board of Directors.

I don't mean to sound like one. just like many concerned home owners in this day and time. Often it takes knowlege for HO's to get involved, and I have spoken to many. They feel it's time for a change too. ( Crossing fingers )

Sidney, What a horror story and I thought our HOA wasn't doing things right but we shine in comparison to yours.

The only advice I can offer is to contact whatever State regulatory agency you have and explain the situation, especially where reserves are concerned. If you have a decent management company they should be informed. Put EVERYTHING in writing, copy responses from any agency.

It might not be a bad idea to put in concise terms what the pres is doing and hand deliver fliers letting owners know if this keeps up they will all be in for a big special assessment, increased assessments and their property values going down. We have many apathetic owners but when they think it's going to cost them they show up at meetings.

A last resort would be a class action suit against the Association. You may say, we'd be suing ourselves but this is exactly what the Association's insurance is for. Just the threat of this may make the pres aware that she can be sued individuallly as well as the Association.

Your welcome letter is a fab idea..

So far our President has been "working on a news letter to remind everyone about the annual meeting and such". That has been 2 months now. I asked her with approval if I could do it with her ok and she said no, I am working in it. That was early April. Still not out. 10 days until our meeting !

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Sydney, that sounded like our board you were describing! We have gone from having $9,000 in our Reserve Fund to more than $11,000 in monthly maintence fees not paid. The only work being done is garbage pickup (and I am thankful for that!) and cutting the weeds. Repair work is done only if it is covered by insurance. The dynamics on our board is indescribable. So when we had a board member resign recently and I was asked to come on board, I said yes. Do I want to? Not really, but this is our home and if this small community is left as it is, it won't take much longer until the City will condemn it. Housing projects are maintained better than our place is.