Multiple board members from the same household

Troy:

Check your CC&R's. they probably can, our documents don't even require board members to be members of the association and there is no restriction on multiple members from one household.

There are no hard and fast rules. Most associations run from 3-9 board members. Looking back at the associations I've dealt with, they generally broke down something like this:

50 units or less - 3
51-250 5
250-750 7
750+ 9

Variations depended on whether they were condos or HOA's (condos demanded more attention and tended to have more board members); whether there was professional management (reduced the work load so association could get by with fewer board members); interest - I tend to like larger boards because they represent a wider cross section of owners and meant that more people were involved and informed; apathy - there's no point having 9 board members if you can only get 5 to run every election.

You can always adjust the number by amending your documents, or you can add by appointing people who aren't board members as officers (Treasurer and Secretary are usually officer positions that a lot of documents don't require to be board members).

With respect to the issue of two board members coming from the same home, it's not something that I would prefer, as it shrinks the representation. It could also produce a potential legal problem. Usually board members are required to be owners, which means that both the husband's and wife's names would have to be on the deed. If the propoerty is in only one name, the other isn't an owner. Touchy subject to bring up. Your documents will define "owner". Consider my suggestion above, that one be elected to the board and the other possibly appointed as an officer. May not be able to vote, but could still contribute.

Joe

Charles wrote: "They will need to come home and be comforted by their significant other concerning HOA situations. It wouldn’t be fair to the other members of the community if they were on the board together. I don’t believe they would both be able to vote. My CC&R states one vote per house hold. If that is the case both would not be able to vote! Maybe h/she could head one of the committees. This still requires a leader and is always appreciated."
Charles - This has been discussed before. You are comparing apples and oranges. It is true that each lot or unit as members usually has just one vote, but directors are elected and each director has a vote on the board. Theoretically all five board members elected could be from one household, and each of them would have a vote on the board, but the household itself would have only one vote as a member. Whoever said life was fair? Harold

HaroldS.

I don’t mean to come across as ignorant by any means but you said “This has been discussed before.” Meaning what and where exactly? I was referring to the advice I was given in a previously written post!

“You are comparing apples and orange (what is the comparison suppose to be of, and why is my comparison so out of “whack”?) It is true that each lot or unit as members usually has just one vote, but directors are elected and each director has a vote on the board. Theoretically all five board members elected could be from one household, and each of them would have a vote on the board, but the household itself would have only one vote as a member. Whoever said life was fair?” I don’t know, who? Life is what you make of it. There are times when you get the “shaft” but you make the best of it. I’m saying that some of the things in the by-laws and CC&R’s are not "fair" IMO!

I would appreciate it if you would clarify for me, how I'm “comparing apples to oranges” I didn’t think I was.

Troy, best of luck to you with whatever the outcome may be at your upcoming elections.

Again I apologize for not understanding what you are saying and for not clearly stating what can and can’t be said or done. I’m still learning from many of you myself

Chuck W.

Question for Harold - The Declaration states all owners are members; and one vote per lot or unit; and all Board members must be an owner. Would you interpret this to allow only one vote per lot for Board members?

Harold, my question to you was with the conditions stated "Would you interpret this to allow only one vote per lot for Board members?"
Note that I stated nothing (Declaration is silent) on whether 2 members per unit can be on the Board or if they can then whether or not both can vote. Also silent on whether one vote per lot applies only to a members meeting or to member meetings plus Board meetings since all Directors are members.

To further clarify, I think if an association is going to allow two members of the same unit to be on the Board then the Declaration should clarify there is one vote per unit except if two owners of the same lot are on the Board of Directors they shall each have one vote on matters during Board meetings.