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RobertM17 (Oklahoma)
Posts: 13
Posted:
In April of 2008 our association voted for an assessment that would total $87,200.00 to remodel/rebuild our pool cabana and fence. It was necessary to replave the fence with a taller one to meet County requlations since we were redoing the cabana. The fence is over 30 years old with concrete pillars set in a 3' apron at 8' intervals that will require extensive concrete replacement and the new fence is to be 6' iron bars.
A pool committee apointed in the Summer of 2008 had a plan for the cabana ONLY by October and by August 10th 2009 they still did not have any quotes in writting.
Our association voted in April to allow for members to be able to submit plans and then all plans would be voted at a special meeting.
The members were given ONLY 45 days to complete their plans.
The board of directors stated in their minimum requirements that ALL plans were to be "turn key" (meaning no help from members in any of the construction or removal of debries) and another requirement was the plans were to meet all city building codes (this wording also must include the county as the county and city work together on pool cabanas and fences)
At the vote for the plans there were two plans and the following occured.
1. The plan from the member was complete with 13' x 45' cabana, double insulated 12' x 45' awning over a 12' by 45' concrete patio,a new fence with the concrete under the previous fence completly replaced due to patching would look terrible and complete removal of all construction and demolition debries and a printed firm price from a builder of $128,000.00 thus meeting all requirements set by the board
2. The pool committee, apointed by the board with two board members and two board members spouses being 4 of the 5 members, presented a model of a cabana basically the combined size of the cabana and patio of the members plan and nothing else (they had the model completed in November of 2008 and with over 8 months still did not have any firm pricing). No fence plans, written guarantee of removal, mentioning of any builder and only a verbal response that the building by itself was estimated by the pool committee itself to be in the $90,000.00 range (but nothing in writing or confirmed by any builder).
4. The association president had made the statement during the meeting after a question about the financing that any board should be financially responsible to their members.
5. Our association board does have total control of the assocaiation finances, incluiding the pool assessment money, but can be held liable by our covenants for gross neglect.
6. The board allowed the voting even though the pool committe plan was not complete (no fencing plan or quote on the cost of either the cabana or fence and no guarantee of removal of debries and construction material)

What I would request from you is your thoughts on what you would have wanted the board to do at that meeting and what you would have expectyed from the members present.
RogerB (Colorado)
Posts: 5,067
Posted:
RoberM, I would have wanted:
1) the Board to get sealed competative bids with detailed plans for all work that needed to be done;
2) the Board to have reviewed bids and selected contractors at a Board meeting prior to Members meeting;
3) the Board to present their recommendations with all costs and plans or else not have a vote to approve or disapprove;
4) if a special assessment, then have all members vote in accordance with the Associations controlling documents after supplying all costs and plans with the Board recommendations and reasons why.

I would have expected the members:
1) to request the Board get complete information on all cost and plans before voting; or else
1) to vote against any motion for a special assessment until all costs and plans are presented.
SusanW1 (Michigan)
Posts: 5,202
Posted:
Where did the $87,200 figure come from/

RobertM17 (Oklahoma)
Posts: 13
Posted:
The $87,200.00 is the total from 303 members at $8.00 per month for 3 years that the board proposed in 2008 and it passed.
After everything that has happened we learned the board in 2008 was using estimates from 2006 and with the mistakes they have made I wouldn't be surprised if their 2006 figures did not include the extensive fencing that would be required.

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