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Favors For Board Members

Started by JamesC • 38 replies • 2973 views

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JamesC (Maryland)
Posts: 282
Posted:
Ours is an HOA of 167 moderate income (230k to 250k)town homes in Maryland.
Thirty years old, and have had strict covenants until now, but some new homeowners have moved into the community within the past two years, and some have become board members. We have nine members on the board, of which I am one.
At the last board meeting two weeks ago, we denied an arc change request for a homeowner who wanted to replace her kitchen door, but did not like the three choices offered. She stormed out very ticked off.
This past weekend a new member on the board sent an application via email to the board asking for an arc approval to change her glass sliding doors in her basement with French Doors.
My position is, a change from one type of door to another is just that, a change.
No homeowner had ever requested a change from the sliders to the French doors before, so therefore no application were ever approved.
She kept pressing us to vote for approval, because Lowe's, was having a sale, and it was a deal she could not pass up.
Myself, and two other members did not vote, but five members voted for approval.
1) Does anyone think the board side stepped the guidelines, and broke the law of our covenants? (when we have made changes in the past, the majority of homeowners had to agree, because they are made a matter of record)
2)Should the lady who went through the steps of applying, and following the rules be told of the special treatment received by the board member?

My position is, every homeowners in the community has the same rights, and because you are a volunteer homeowner serving on the board, does not grant you special considerations.

I told one of the members who voted to approve the basement door change, that she and the other four may have set themselves up for a law suit, and the association will not cover their legal fees.

Sorry for the long read, but had to explain the best I could.
Thanks for any thoughts:

Jim

GlenL (Ohio)
Posts: 5,491
Posted:
James, at the very least the BOD has set a precedent and now French doors are going to be allowed. Just because no one ever asked to do it before doesn't necessarily mean they are not allowed. If the covenants say: There shall be no changes to the exterior. Then in my opinion the French doors should not be allowed. If however it says: There shall be no changes to the exterior without approval of the BOD or ACC and they approved it, then it's a valid change. Just because in the past you let the community vote on allowing changes; unless that requirement is in the CC&R's the BOD didn't necessarily do anything wrong. It should notice the application and approval in the minutes and move on.
Studies show that 5 out of 4 people have problems with fractions
RobertR1 (South Carolina)
Posts: 5,164
Posted:
Well Jim,
You certainly started out with a difficult problem.

Who's right? From what you post? You are.
But the story doesn't end there.

I would expect this to crop up continuously through the life of the association. You all can expect it and you all can plan for it. When was your documents given a good read by a board committee with member input? I suspect not recently.

Your board members have to be allowed to exercise some wisdom. They should have the sense to know what wisdom and favoritism is, I hope they do. By not voting you missed the chance to lodge a no vote and have entered into the record your objection. The Board voted by majority and you can't help that but you can reason and object and get this entered into the record. Next time think of that. You sound like you are concerned but a bit of advice is if you object to the board ruling make sure your objection is based purely on the desire to make your association better.
JamesC (Maryland)
Posts: 282
Posted:
Robert:

Thanks for the reply.
My objection to the approval is based on the desire to not only make our association better, but more on being fair to all the homeowners in the community.
Board members pay the same amount of association fees as the other homeowners, so should not be given special consideration.
Not to disapprove one homeowners request for a "door change" who went through the proper procedure for almost a month, and then at the end of the same week approve a "change" for a board member in just two days.
Two years ago, we did form a committee of seven, both board members, and homeowners to review, and change the guidelines to be more up to date.
We then held a special meeting so all the homeowners could have a say, but of course the board does have the final word.
We then published our changes on our community web site, and in the newsletter.
You are correct of course that since this was approved, we will now have to allow them on any application in the future.
I would have voted yes on the application, if we had not had the issue with the angry homeowner the same week.
To deny one change, and approve another change sure has the appereance of a conflict of interest.
Forgot to mention: I understand some of those who voted to approve, now say they did not notice she was changing the slider to a French Door, but thought it was to just replace one slider with another slider.
That's why I think the lady who was denied her door would have a pretty good case.

Jim
TonyM3 (Arizona)
Posts: 170
Posted:
If the new door is consistent aesthetically, how it opens should be of little concern. So I say the board made a wise move and I think board members should get some perks.
BrianB (California)
Posts: 2,820
Posted:
It is certainly okay to deny one request and approve another, IF the requests are different and the reason for denial is part of that difference. Member A wanted to install a steel door with bars, it was denied. Member B wanted to install a wooden door with safety glass decorative window, it was approved. If the denial was for steel door or bars or lack of glass, it would be okay. If the denial was because we don't allow doors to be changed, then oops, the board messed up by denying one and allowing the other.

Sounds like you opened the door, (pun intended) on bypassing the rules, and allowing french doors, and other types of doors (after all, if you allow this type, why not others?).

Also, is there some way I could get a dime paid to me every time someone with AUTHORITY and RESPONSIBILITY votes to approve something and then, later, says "Oh, I didn't really know what I was voting on...".

I could retire on the US Congress alone, let alone all these HOA's...

I just want to slap these people, and ask them "do you have ZERO idea what responsibility is? You were elected to THINK and pay attention. What part of that basic premise is lost on you?"

RobertR1 (South Carolina)
Posts: 5,164
Posted:
Brian,
I read you loud and clear.

Tell me, have you ever stopped to consider the responsibility of the owners is greater than the responsibility of the Board members. It can be spun that way if you consider the contract you signed when you bought your property. The Board is empowered with power by the election of the owners. The owners are charged with the same responsibilities as the Board, they just don't have the power by election. So in order for them to fulfill there responsibility, they often are in the position of contention with the Board. Just a different view.

Someone posted that Board Members should have special perks. I think they do receive special consideration as board members. But perks.................I think that is trouble.
KirkW1 (Texas)
Posts: 1,665
Posted:
Well I think your first mistake was to deny the person simply because she wanted to put in a door that was a change.

In case you hadn't noticed it, things change over the years. French doors are much more common then sliding doors. And if you simply make people keep sliding doors because that was what the builder put in (30 odd years ago), then you are harming your neighborhood's property values.

Guess what? Most people today prefer to have french doors over sliding doors. And there are a good number of reasons for this including that they have less maintenance hassles then sliding doors and don't suffer from the security image of sliding doors. But they do retain the open feeling that made sliding doors attractive in the first place.

Perhaps the right thing to do is to reconsider the first application. You should openly discuss if the change will be negative, neutral, or beneficial. You are living beings and change is not always a bad thing. As long as the change would not detract from the neighborhood you should call the lady up and say that the issue was reconsidered and approved.

Hopefully your neighborhood will get yet more new people who realize that the neighborhood just should not try too hard to look just as it did 30 years ago. That the homes should be "updated." Who knows, you might see a jump in the values of your homes.
RobertR1 (South Carolina)
Posts: 5,164
Posted:
Tony,
I am curious, have you ever seen any documents that give any perks to Board members?

If not and you are just trying to show your appreciation, who is going to decide what perks are given out, would that be the Board?
Do you see this as a problem? Better read some more posts here about Rogue Boards.

I think the OP has justifiable concern, I think he missed the boat by not voting but he will have another chance, so move on. It will happen again.

Just my opinion of course and not meant to be accusatory.

TonyM3 (Arizona)
Posts: 170
Posted:
Like in baseball its one of those unwritten rules. In this case a perk may be that the board member's request was expedited. Can't B&M about that.
AnneH2 (Florida)
Posts: 82
Posted:
I don't hink it showed favoritism.

You stated that the board denied the first request for a door BC they did not like the type of doors being requested. (IMO, the board should identify some door styles that are acceptable to give the owner some options. Or establish some guidleines and ask the owner to resubmit the request with a new slelection.)

The second request was for a change to sliders and french doors were approved. The only way that I can imagine this would be considered biased is if the board then disallows future requests for the same french doors style that was approved for your board member.
SusanW1 (Michigan)
Posts: 5,202
Posted:
Jim - you said:
"To deny one change, and approve another change sure has the appereance of a conflict of interest."

No, that is not a conflict of interest. And you have not proved that a board member received a "perk" - she did go thru the process, even though your fellow board members acted like they were in a fog. So I would drop that perception of the entire problem.

The issue is what someone else said - the need to update your CCRs and make sure they are current and offer choices. The first person had 3 choices. Are they current? (modern?)

RobertR1 (South Carolina)
Posts: 5,164
Posted:
Tony, I read and hear what you are saying and it is done all the time. Of course you realize that this little perk presents some dangers also. In fact I agree with you, but, sadly, it has a way of expanding and creating other problems in some associations. It don't seem to work very well in mine. But of course that is a individual case and does not speak for the whole.

I personally, am very pleased to be able to interact with any Board Member that shows interest and desire. I hold these people a cut above the other owners and enjoy respecting their position. They should be recognized for the good works they do and the owners should pay homage to their position and the individual. The job they volunteer for is not easy. That does not insure all do a good job.
JeanneK3 (Maryland)
Posts: 562
Posted:
JamesC:
Since you are in Maryland you could go to www.marylandhomeownersassociation.info for more information on best practices.
Jeanne
JamesC (Maryland)
Posts: 282
Posted:
Glen L(Ohio)
You are correct as concerns the French Doors now having to be permitted because of this action by the board.
I have been caught off guard by some of the posts, because our Covenants says the Board of Directors will enforce, and instruct our Management Company to insure compliance with the existing guidelines that are already established.. The new commers liked our community enough to invest their monies here, but then want to change things.
Change is something that has to occur, but we can't have 167 homeowners going off in 167 different directions making changes, simply because they think it might look nice.
The stability of the community is foremost, and is the reason some homeowners won't buy into a community having an HOA.
Our guidelines have always been followed, and nothing would change unless, and until a committee would meet to review any suggested changes. What happens if a new board comes along, and says they don't like another one of the guidelines, and on their own would change something else?.

RobertR1 (SC)
Your posts are always well thought out.
I wondered about the posts saying board members should receive perks???????????
I know matter of factly in my state you would be fined for receiving perks. And is that why someone would volunteer to serve their community?.
I am the Architectural Chairman of our community, as well as the person who distributes the newsletter, and I am the editor of our website.
I ask for volunteers for the committee. We have to have no fewer then three. Two homeowners, and myself are the committee. No board members would volunteer. We ask for someone to volunteer to write the newsletter. No board members volunteered. Asked for someone to distribute the newsletter. No volunteers, until I said I could maybe do it on a week-end or something.
I purchased firewood from a tree company, and we later gave them the contract for pruning, etc. in our community.
The owner of the company called to tell me when I needed more wood it would be free, because of the contract.
That would have been a perk, and I told him no thanks, because of the conflict of interest.
Without any bias or ill will, I will say our board members show up for one hour, one night a month to have a meeting, with "absolutely no involvement between times", and they should receive perks????????

Jim

RobertR1 (South Carolina)
Posts: 5,164
Posted:
Jim,

I don't like the word Perk, it is too hard to define. But in a word: No, I don't approve and I also know that what I approve of is not something that dictates to the Perker what he can perk to the Perkee, will have much concern about.

I am sure you have by now figured out that without the few, the many would subdistrict, and the HOA's and condos. would tumble in the hole after them.

Good part is that the fight is, for the most part, an unselfish well intentioned effort. One they realize will reap no reward and damn few "attaboys". No plaques, no picture to mildew on the wall of the Community center, no park bench to proclaim to those of no interest, "This park Bench was donated to " " for his 20 years of dedication to this association." You will be lucky if your kids even know what you are doing, and sometimes, your spouse couldn't care less.

All true!

Then why does it happen over and over again? Don't know. But we all sing the same tune and never seem to get too tired to play it again.

As far as Board members are concerned they seem to either have it or not, and the spell between not having and having, may be a long time coming.
RobertR1 (South Carolina)
Posts: 5,164
Posted:
The word in the second para of my last is "self destruct."
GlenL (Ohio)
Posts: 5,491
Posted:
Jim I don't think I disagreed with your statement of: "I have been caught off guard by some of the posts, because our Covenants says the Board of Directors will enforce, and instruct our Management Company to insure compliance with the existing guidelines that are already established."

I said if the doors were not allowed then they should not have been approved but if it was up to the discretion of the ACC & BOD it wasn't improper. That is unless your documents expressly state that the application/approval process has to be long and drawn out. And just because the BOD turned down one and approved another doesn't mean that they were wrong or showing favoritism. If the doors were specifically forbidden in your guidelines and the CC&R's require a committee to change them then the BOD was in the wrong.

This is the part you're not going to like: The time to bring this all up was when the request was made, instead you in the original post state: "Myself, and two other members did not vote, but five members voted for approval."

That quite frankly was the coward's way out, instead of raising your concerns when they might have counted, you chose not to. Consider how many of the "YES" votes might have been "NO" votes if you had taken a stand. One BOD member didn't decide to change the guidelines; five of them did and three of them stood idly by while it happened.
Studies show that 5 out of 4 people have problems with fractions
TonyM3 (Arizona)
Posts: 170
Posted:
Its said that an abstaining vote is a vote for the victor. Regardless, its just a door and a little individuality can't hurt.
JamesC (Maryland)
Posts: 282
Posted:
Just a follow up, and to say thanks to the wide opinions on my question.

Attorney, has ruled the Board has the fiduciary responsibility to enforce the existing guidelines of the Covenants, and does not have the legal authority to change said rules without first consulting the entire community for input.
The board makes up nine homeowners, and this left the other 158 members with no input into changes made within their community.

Thanks for the great posts.

Jim
MaryA1 (Arizona)
Posts: 7,043
Posted:
James,

I would venture to say the "entire community" would need to vote on an amendment to the CCRs, not just give their input. Check out the amendment provision in the CCRs to find out exactly what is required. The CCRs should also state who has the authority to enforce the covenants.
RuthH1 (Maryland)
Posts: 8
Posted:
As a member of two committees, and chairperson of a sub committee in our HOA, I find these discussions most valuable and appreciate the varied input.
Thank you,
RAH
RuthH1 (Maryland)
Posts: 8
Posted:
As a member of two committees, and chairperson of a sub committee in our HOA, I find these discussions most valuable and appreciate the varied input.
Thank you,
RAH
MicheleD (Kentucky)
Posts: 4,491
Posted:

Kirk:

This is one of the most helpful and well-thought out posts on this site in a long time. The point of all this HOA business is to in some way either maintain or improve the values of our homes. Sometimes people can't see the forest for the trees. 30 years is an awful long time to remain static.

Key points in bold, some phrases underlined for emphasis:

Quote:
Posted By KirkW1 on 07/29/2009 6:24 PM
Well I think your first mistake was to deny the person simply because she wanted to put in a door that was a change.

In case you hadn't noticed it, things change over the years. French doors are much more common then sliding doors. And if you simply make people keep sliding doors because that was what the builder put in (30 odd years ago), then you are harming your neighborhood's property values.

Guess what? Most people today prefer to have french doors over sliding doors. And there are a good number of reasons for this including that they have less maintenance hassles then sliding doors and don't suffer from the security image of sliding doors. But they do retain the open feeling that made sliding doors attractive in the first place.

Perhaps the right thing to do is to reconsider the first application. You should openly discuss if the change will be negative, neutral, or beneficial. You are living beings and change is not always a bad thing. As long as the change would not detract from the neighborhood you should call the lady up and say that the issue was reconsidered and approved.

Hopefully your neighborhood will get yet more new people who realize that the neighborhood just should not try too hard to look just as it did 30 years ago. That the homes should be "updated." Who knows, you might see a jump in the values of your homes.

JamesC (Maryland)
Posts: 282
Posted:
I believe my issue was lost along the way, but I still appreciated the many responses to my post.
My only reason for the post was to address the issue of one homeowners request to replace her kitchen door being denied by the board, because it did not conform to the set standards of the community.
But, the same weekend after denying that request, a member of the board sent an email out, saying she wanted to replace her basement door with another kind, that did not conform to the standards of the community.
My "POINT IS" the Board of Directors, voted online to "change" the established guidelines, so the board member could have her door.
I can't understand why one homeowner "could not", and the board member "could", with the board changing the rules so it could happen.
That is a Favor for the Board Member, and as our attorney has ruled, illegal.

Thanks again:
Jim
RobertR1 (South Carolina)
Posts: 5,164
Posted:
James,
Well I am curious.

If you lawyer ruled the action illegal, did the Board accept it and change their decision?

#2 What did the lawyer find illegal, changing the documents improperly, selective enforcment of the documents or both and how was it all resolved?
TonyM3 (Arizona)
Posts: 170
Posted:
To make it legal all the board need do is go to screen door lady and say, "screen door lady, based on your convincing arguement we have decided to change the rules. Your request to change your screen door is approved."
JamesC (Maryland)
Posts: 282
Posted:
RobertR1

The board has not been notified of the attorney's opinion. The MC, is going to let them know at the next board meeting.
The illegal part is, that a Board of Directors of an HOA, is not the community, and cannot independently change the guidelines of an Association without consultation with the homeowners of the community. Proposals have to be discussed by a committee, then presented at a special meeting, since it would involve changes to every home in that community.

From what I understand from two of the members who voted for the board members request to change her door, is they thought she only wanted to replace the existing type of door, and did not pay attention to what she was requesting in her email.

In talking to the MC representative, I told her the only choice we have, is to allow the other homeowner to install the door she wants, and let the issue go.
I am the Arc Chairman, and thought the board members door would not be approved, because I read the email, and saw the change she wanted to make. My mistake, was to think the other members would look deligently, at her email request, and come to the same conclusion.
Lots of interesting posts on this.
Probably time to put this one to sleep.

Thanks again:
Jim
GlenL (Ohio)
Posts: 5,491
Posted:
James you know what a camel is right? It’s a horse designed by a committee. But I still say that the reason this got so far out of hand is because you and two others were silent on the matter. Especially since you are the head of the ARC you should have been the first one to argue for a no vote in stead of standing idly by and then crying foul.
Studies show that 5 out of 4 people have problems with fractions
MicheleD (Kentucky)
Posts: 4,491
Posted:
I agree with Glen, James.

The other board members possibly were not looking closely at the email request because they are not the head/chair of the ARC committee.

As chair, you have certain leadership responsibilities. And were I on the board, I would certainly defer to your vote/recommendation. Without your leadership, I may not be as "diligent" in reviewing each request.

In fact, I know I wouldn't be.

Are you telling me that ALL board members vote on ALL ARC requests for approval? If that's the case, what's the point of an Architectural Committee and its chair?

JamesC (Maryland)
Posts: 282
Posted:
GlenL:
I was in Ocean City, Md for the week-end, not standing idly by watching this vote take place. But I was having a great time.
I did "not" know of the arc request change (submitted thru email to the board on Friday, evening) until I returned late Sunday. By then, the majority of the board had already voted. Being the head of the Arc Committee does not mean I have a VETO vote. One would think, if you want to volunteer to serve on a board for an HOA, you would make yourself familiar with its guidelines. Don't understand your attack here???????.

MicheleD:
Yes! The entire board votes on all arc request.
The purpose of the Arc Committee is the same as all committees. They are just that, a committee. To accept, review, and recommend, or not recommend approval or disapproval of all the applications. We do the Arc Enforcements, (yearly property inspections)and notify the property management of any violations. The PM Representative does not live on premise, and has multiple Associations under contract, so they are not always on site.
Our responsibilities come from the association's bylaws, and CC&Rs. Our architectural committee is responsible for maintaining the aesthetic and structural integrity of the association and enforcing the CC&Rs. We review any applications for modifications, additions, or architectural changes in the community.
The Board of Directors are the ones voted in by the members of the community.
The architectural committee is "then" appointed by the board of directors, and answer to the board.

Are you telling me "your" board members are not involved in the process of approving, or disapproving requests for changes that affect your community?

Thanks:
Jim
MichaelK11 (Texas)
Posts: 432
Posted:
In our HOA, the ACC Chairperson has always been a Director (as far as I know), but the ACC makes its determinations independently from the BoD and reports them at BoD meetings.

I would like to have our Bylaws amended to remove ANY power to make decisions from ALL committees, including the ACC and Nominating Committee. I think (especially in light of recent problems in my HOA) that committees should be working bodies that make recommendations to the BoD. Responsibility for all decisions in the governing structure should rest directly with the BoD, not appointed committees or individual Directors.

Not sure how to handle the provision in the Declarations of CE&Rs that the ACC is responsible for approving or denying requests. I suppose this could be amended to indicate that the ACC has the responsibility to present all such requests to the BoD with recommendations, and to then respond with the BoD's decision. If such an amendment were approved, then it would also need a provision for situations where the BoD does not meet within the 30 days allowed to respond to ACC requests. The BoD can meet by telephone and can probably make decisions by email with out a meeting. The ACC could also be empowered to approve or deny pending BoD review. Reversing an approval could potentially be difficult or onerous. Requests not responded to in 30 days are deemed approved according to the CE&Rs. Also, it is much more difficult to amend our CE&Rs than to amend our Bylaws. This actually looks fairly complicated.

Constructive comments and suggestions are invited, of course.
MaryA1 (Arizona)
Posts: 7,043
Posted:
James,

The duties and resp. of the architectural committee should be spelled out in your CCRs. If it says they have the authority to approve or disapprove any proposed changes to an individual property, then approval is not required by the BOD. This is the way it's handled in my assn. The A/C committee reports the number of requests and how many were approved/disapproved at each monthly board meeting. If an h/o wishes to appeal a decision of the architectural committee, that appeal is handled by the board; otherwise the BOD never gets involved in the approval/disapproval process. The architectural committee may be the only assn committee that has the authority to operate on its own. But, as mentioned above, that will be outlined in your CCRs.
GlenL (Ohio)
Posts: 5,491
Posted:
James I'm sorry if I misunderstood you but your original post said -" She kept pressing us to vote for approval, because Lowe's, was having a sale, and it was a deal she could not pass up. Myself, and two other members did not vote, but five members voted for approval." It didn't specify that you were out of town. I still don't think that the BOD was necessarily out of line or showing favoritism by denying one and approving another but we will have to agree to disagree on this one.

1) Does anyone think the board side stepped the guidelines, and broke the law of our covenants? (when we have made changes in the past, the majority of homeowners had to agree, because they are made a matter of record)

If your documents require the decision to be made by popular vote then absolutely she and the ones that voted yes were in the wrong but if the documents (regardless of past practices) puts the power to approve or deny in the hands of the BOD/ARC then IMO they were not in the wrong unless it required that all approvals/disapprovals be held at a meeting.

2)Should the lady who went through the steps of applying, and following the rules be told of the special treatment received by the board member?

Lady one applied for a change and was offered three choices which she didn't like and left in a huff. Lady two (the BOD member) applied for a change which had never been requested before and was approved; the doors the first one wanted could have been hideous (subjective) and the second ones were not (also subjective).

I would suggest that you go over the procedures and make sure that you have a written policy in place to prevent this type of mishmash from occurring in the future.
Studies show that 5 out of 4 people have problems with fractions
GeraldT4
Posts: 1,022
Posted:
JamesC - The process with which your board approved the board members request is flawed nd sets a bad precedent as you know. It indicates that the only way to get something done quickly is to sit at the front of the table. Dangerously poor and typical for many associations. However, approving a change to a basement door doesn't necessarily set a bad precedent because it may not be as noticeable as the kitchen door change may be. Regardless, sounds like you're in up to your ears with your board members.
RobertR1 (South Carolina)
Posts: 5,164
Posted:
James,
Mary is on Target here. The ARC cannot operate unless it has power to make thje decisions outside the Board. Regards the ARC, my condo has never had an ARC....ever...since 1981. They are thinking about forming one. I mention this just to show that leaving this up to the Board does not provide the infrastructure to get the job done effeciently and unbiased. Granted some of this always occur, but there has to be some good reason for most documents to provide or allow for an ARC and to bestow the power to make decisions.

Other committees such as a special project committee could be given a set budget by the board, but mostly, any committee requiring funds should all be handled with the budget by the Board. A landscapping committee for instance should have a budgeted amount and approved by the Board. This Landscape Committee has oversight on those funds and should be charged to account for the use of these funds.

All this does not sit well with some managers and M/C's. Personally they should learn to live with it and be accountable to the committee. I also know the next post will be, "What if the committee is disfunctional".......that is a Board responsibility.
MicheleD (Kentucky)
Posts: 4,491
Posted:
Our Architectural Committee is the only one specifically mentioned in our CC&Rs.

And, like many others on here, it operates without the micro-management of the board of directors.

The chairman of the ARC, who has always been a board member, receives, reviews, then approves or denies any Architectural requests that our documents require have approval.

If there is an appeal, then and only then does the entire board get involved.

Having said that, it would be a rare occasion if the full board overturned an ARC approval/denial on appeal.

The chair of the ARC also develops specific guidelines that are then proposed to the full board for approval.

This means, for example, our documents do not SPECIFY the EXACT type of mailbox one may have, only that it must be approved by the Architectural Committee in regards to style and placement.

The chair of the committee drafts specifications and guidelines for placement of the mailbox.

The board then reviews the proposed specifications and either approves them, at which point they become official guidelines, or sends them back to the ARC for adjustments or changes.

We have a backup ARC (a co-chair, so to speak) who approves or denies ARC requests if the person submitting the request is a neighbor or close friend of the ARC chair.

This reduces the opportunities for allegations or the appearance of "favoritism."

JamesC (Maryland)
Posts: 282
Posted:
This will conclude my responses to my own posts, because I see there are some other well put questions out here.
Just want to say thanks for all the opinions, and suggestions, and mostly for keeping it civil.
I have read some nasty posts on here, and was surprised at what appears to be so many personal attacks.

MaryA1/MicheleD

I liked your last posts, and have forwarded a copy of them, to our MC Representative.

Thanks again to all who posted your thoughts:::

Jim
MaryA1 (Arizona)
Posts: 7,043
Posted:
James,

Many of us have been the subject of nasty posts and personal attacks. It seems to be common place on these internet forums; however I must say this one is quite tame compared to others I've belonged to. Please don't let this be a reason for you to stop posting.

It's nice to hear that you liked what Michele and I had to say. Hopefully your MC Rep and board members will feel the same way.

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