Starting new Committee's

One of our newly elected board members wants to start new committee's
01) Contract review Committee.
02) Web-site Committee.
03) Oversite Committee

Since she is new to the board, she asked our "in house" attorney for the quidelines to start these committee's. Our "in house" attorney said she would have to research how to do this and get back to her (that was last week)

Is starting new committee's that complicated? We already have volunteers for these committee's

NancyM2

Assuming your docs give the BOD power to form committees, and assuming your BOD (not just a single member) wants to form committees:

1. Name the committees.
2. Decide what you want them to do.
3. Appoint willing, breathing volunteers.
4. See what happens.

Marry, I'm not really sure... I know she was interested in a "ethics" committee, as lots of things don't pass the smell test. Then she thought the word "oversight" sounds a little less threatning.

Oversight committee would also serve as a watchfull eye for the ombudsman who goes out on call's (owner dispute/requests)without anyone else their.. not a good idea as that could lead to he said/she said problems.

NancyM2

You already have an 'oversight committee'. It's also known as the membership. They have the responsibility to keep the 'watchful eye' on both the Board and the Ombudsman. If the membership doesn't feel comfortable with the way the Board acts, they are also the ones who have the authority and the responsibility to replace them. Any other 'oversight' committee wouldn't have any such authority.

I know you guys, it sounds like a "police state" type of thing to me as well. I agree with Mary, I don't think it will fly. Especally when the present board has given the Ombudsman too much latitude.

What I think they need is a "Association Committee" to go out

with the ombudsman on call's that involve view issues, owner dispute/request issues.. as well as grounds issues. Even though we have many volunteers for the grounds (grounds committee).... He won't use them. He is a "one man" team. The grounds issues take up the majority of his time, which is his volunteer part.

What worries me is if he should become ill or disabled, no one knows what he has been doing, and would leave us compromised. This is also "job security" for him if no one knows whats going on. His Ombudsman salary is 85+ annually.

I think we should have a "Association Committee" of at least three or more volunteers, this way we would have at least one person to accomidate him on call's at a moments notice, as well as someone else their in case their is a "she said/he said" issue. (document everything)

NancyM2

Nancy,
How large is your association? Is the Ombudsman an attorney to warrant an $85,000 salary?

Robert...I loved your comment about paying a attorney for advise, then paying her again for not knowing..(my point exactly)

You will remember my posts, as I have been fighting this overspending battle for six years now. I am presently not a board member, I used to be the treasurer six years back. So I understand our finances. I, and other have voiced our concerns many times at meetings, to no avail.

So we took the "bull" by the horns, launched a serious campaign to get elected three new board members this last election, May5th. Only two made it on the board.....So they are fighting a hard battle. As the three remaining board members want to keep the ombudsman, and "in house" attorney.

Your past (good) advise was to lose the ombudsman, and attorney..... Were trying....I haven't given up yet.. With all my HOATalk friends helping out.

NancyM2

Now, I remember more.
When you took the bull by the horns and were able to get two new members elected to the Board, I hope you didn't disband your supporters. I would use those supporters and get more to go to Board meetings and have some serious discussions and critical looks at your financials. 575 units times (say) 500$/yr = $287,500.00. Now I don't know what your assessment is but (and correct me if I am wrong)85K is a big hunk and if you add the PM and the C/M, you are taking big Bucks. I suspect you are a little shy on Board numbers also, 7 seems to fit better than five, for exactly the problems you are running into. But who knows. If nothing else try and force the board through comments and suggestions at Board meeting to release a job description of your employees and find out not only what they are getting paid but what other benefits go with the position.

Lets take the position of the opposition for a second. If they feel this person earns the money then tell the owners what he does and all that is covered by this kind of salary. You fell a little short in your last effort, keep at it and get more information and make more noise, you have an absolute right to know how your association is run, but you know that. Dig deeper, be fair, encourage dialog every chance you get, and be open and solid. As I am sure I said this before. you sound smart enough to stay out of trouble.

The committee appointments is crazy. Ten to one your documents spell out the authority for your Board to appoint committees. If not, make a resolution to do it, and then later on include this authority in your documents by amendment.

That's $1,110,900,00.
Your salary for PM and Attorney and Ombudsman totals $365,000.
That leaves $745,400 per year.

You must have other expenses or one hell of a Reserve account.

Is your PM an employee of a M/C or just a walk on manager? How old is your HOA? When was it turned over and did you bring anyone over from the developer's organization.

Also, on the surface, how can you maintain a non-profit status with all this income. Loosely and exempting a Reserve account and some cash on hand, you should be coming out just about even each year, special projects aside, but if you own nothing, what could a special project be for. You don't give each new owner a golf cart or something, do you.

I hope someone else will comment on this and see if I am looking at this right. How about it "ya all". SC talk.

There has got to be the rest of the story.

My guess is that the new board member was told that he/she would have to run the idea of a new committee by the attorney. If you have one with nothing better to do, then it makes (painful and ugly) sense. But it is also a nice way to keep the status quo and wear down the new guy with all these ideas.