Quitting board members! Help!

Started by KristyD • 18 replies • 1978 views

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KristyD (Nevada)
Posts: 6

Posted:

I have volunteered to be on my associations Rules and Regulations committee and we need to develop (ASAP) a questionaire and information packet for the people that want to run for the board. People run for the board and are quitting a few months to a year into their 2-year term. They realize it is more than one evening meeting a month and the sandbox is crowded with some hard to get along with people. Good people that would like to run won't because all that is left on the board are the bullies. I need any help anyone wants to give me, all suggestions taken.

RogerB (Colorado)
Posts: 5,067

Posted:

Kisty, this commonly occurs in associations which do not have professional managers. In the associations we manage the Board members do none of the "grunt work". The only ones who resign are those who move.

As for a questionaire and information packet I would solicit anyone willing to serve and ask them what are their qualifications and more importantly why they want to serve on a thankless job. The information packet would be simple - tell them how many hours a month are involved and what duties are involved. That should scare off most if not all

KristyD (Nevada)
Posts: 6

Posted:

Well, you hit it on the nailhead. The problem started after we decided to fire the management company and try to run it on-site. Basically it is not working and the on-site manager is truly part of the problem. Thanks!

KathyS (California)
Posts: 145

Posted:

We've had 29 Board members and six managers in three years. The managers don't know what the past managers did or said nor do the Board members know what the past Board members did or said. Furthermore, they could care less. We've had Board members that lasted only one day!

Our present Board of Directors hasn't filled the fifth position in two years, the President is a tyrant, the treasurer screams at anyone that asks a financial question, the secretary does nothing and the vice-president says she's quitting. Our secretary was told by the manager, she would NOT be taking minutes of the meetings and instead, the manager would.

Our managers only concern for the residents is to make sure they follow the rules and CC&R's.

So, all is not well in HOA land.

KristyD (Nevada)
Posts: 6

Posted:

Seems to be a huge problem! We have more problems here than anyone has time to listen too!

PaulH3 (Connecticut)
Posts: 29

Posted:

Kristy,

In my short time participating in this forum, I've found good advice to help in dealing with some of the issues we are facing in our HOA. The folks here do take the time to listen (read) to your problems and provide some direction. I believe that if you took the time to list your problems and indicate what your regulating documents state regarding those issues, you will be given some reasonable, actionable advice.

Since you say you have many problems, to keep things clear, I would recommend a format similar to the following (examples only):

[Problem] No one cleans up after their dogs.

[Regulating Documents] Our Bylaws state...

Give it a shot. I'm sure that you will get some good results.

KristyD (Nevada)
Posts: 6

Posted:

I will be posting quite often to get help here! So many of our problems stem from just people not getting along with each other, which I also realize is going to be a problem when you have 287 units and 287 different personalities. I also totally agree with the first reply that a HUGE majority of problems would be solved with outside management, the in-house management is causing way to much friction.

DuaneW1 (Georgia)
Posts: 34

Posted:

Kristy, have ya'll ever had a management company? If you have, what happened to them? I realize a great number of HOA's try to do it on their own, and without cooler, objective heads giving them direction, it's easy to get off track.

I think it's worth the money to have one. Is there any way to find out whether others in your community feel the way you do?

KristyD (Nevada)
Posts: 6

Posted:

Yes, we did have one previous and basically the board at that time (about 3-4 years ago) decided we could save money by hiring an onsite manager, etc. Well time has passed with never a full board and about 75% of the members have quit after less than a year. They appoint new members and they quit. We did NOT have this problem without the outside management company. It has cost us over $10k from what I understand in accounting mishaps and to have the books redone/reconciled. We need to go back to outside management, there is group that is gonna put this up for discussion at our next board meeting. Should be fun!
thanks

BradP (Kansas)
Posts: 2,640

Posted:

Kristy:

Self management can be done with the right people at the top. We have been self managed ever since our existence and things have progessively gotten better. We just had our annual elections and I am happy to say I think we have the best group of board members we have ever had. But, the key is to have leadership from a president that sees the big picture and doesn't have their personal agenda out in front. Good luck!

MichelleD (Washington)
Posts: 20

Posted:

Kristy - Brad and I concur!! Just be persistant and it will pay off. Eventually the bullies will leave the sandbox.

Here is what I did 2 years ago:
I volunteered to be secretary - there were 5 others. After the votes went out to elect us; 3 quit. That 3 of us. One left to go overseas. That left 2 of us. Then the other quit b/c she couldn't handle the sandbox. That left me. So, every time I had ANY communication with any neighbors, new neighbors, etc. I would always ask, "You sound like you appreciate your neighborhood and would like to preserve our values! You would make a great board member! Why not?" After about 6 months of being by myself, we had 6 more board members that I've had for the last year. Finally, they elected me chairman!! But, you need someone that can see the big picture like Brad said.....now I've resigned (I'm so burned out and it's been 2 years) and it looks like a few others are quitting. Here we go again!

Good luck!

PhilipD1 (Florida)
Posts: 3

Posted:

Kristy.

Short Process..........Recall the Board....that will knock the bullies on their butts and install the Good People on the Board. NOTHING else will work in this situation. Why have you waited so long ??????
Long live Democracy.

Long Process.......Keep on fighting with fools whoes only real agenda is to put themselves and their position first. Some Board members, and in particular presidents, have ego's bigger than the states they live in, and see their job as being a god to be bowed to. I call them mini gestapo's. When you have to fight others to get the job done, it usually ends up with you getting burned out and the community suffers even more.
The beauty of the intentions you had and your willingness to do such a thankless job actually turns against you and you become irritable and angry at everyone. (((been there - done that))). Either Recall the Board and get a new board in place that has an agreed agenda with everyone being on the same page, and can see the bigger picture, or get away from the job and find a piece of God's land that has not yet been touched by an HOA (if possible) and live your days in serenity.
Good Luck wiht your choice.

CynthiaD (Nevada)
Posts: 20

Posted:

What state do you live in?
CynthiaD

KristyD (Nevada)
Posts: 6

Posted:

We are in Nevada. Elections are up in April and 3 of 5 positions up for grabs and rumor is that some in there now may not rerun and that would leave it open for some "new blood". Some owners have recently (last few days) called the board on the carpet to finances/decisions and they are having to explain themselves, which is something they should do beforehand and you would not have people going around wondering what the heck is going on. I think the owners should be informed and not in the dark.

CynthiaD (Nevada)
Posts: 20

Posted:

Kristy D: I am wondering how often your Board meets. In Nevada
they need to meet at least quarterly to go over financials per NRS 116. Your documents would state if it is more often. REVIEW THE BOARD MEETING MINUTES.

NRS 116.31083 Meetings of executive board; frequency of meetings; requirements concerning notice and agendas; periodic review of certain financial and legal matters at meetings; requirements concerning minutes of meetings; right of units’ owners to make audio recordings of certain meetings.
(YOU CAN READ 1 - 5 THAT IS OMITTED HERE)

6. At least once every 90 days, unless the declaration or bylaws of the association impose more stringent standards, the executive board shall review, at a minimum, the following financial information at one of its meetings:

(a) A current year-to-date financial statement of the association;

(b) A current year-to-date schedule of revenues and expenses for the operating account and the reserve account, compared to the budget for those accounts;

(c) A current reconciliation of the operating account of the association;

(d) A current reconciliation of the reserve account of the association;

(e) The latest account statements prepared by the financial institutions in which the accounts of the association are maintained; and

(f) The current status of any civil action or claim submitted to arbitration or mediation in which the association is a party.

7. The secretary or other officer specified in the bylaws shall cause minutes to be recorded or otherwise taken at each meeting of the executive board. Not more than 30 days after each such meeting, the secretary or other officer specified in the bylaws shall cause the minutes or a summary of the minutes of the meetings to be made available to the units’ owners. A copy of the minutes or a summary of the minutes must be provided to any unit’s owner upon request and, if required by the executive board, upon payment to the association of the cost of providing the copy to the unit’s owner

CynthiaD (Nevada)
Posts: 20

Posted:

Be sure to check your by-laws if people quit the Board prior to term expired. Maybe you can run? What are your concerns specifically with your community? I have nearly 6 years experience with HOA's, condos in Nevada as I am a certified Association Manager. Maybe I can help you sort this out and help you with a plan of action, or at least help you ask the right person the right questions.

SidneyP (Florida)
Posts: 302

Posted:

Posted By BradP on 10/18/2006 6:15 AM

"doesn't have their personal agenda out in front"

This may be a dumb question but what exactly would a personal agenda be?

BrianB (California)
Posts: 2,820

Posted:

examples of personal agendas:

punish Terry Simms for letting his kids leave their bikes in my driveway
get rid of that ugly tree that Mrs Thisnton has in her yard
making Jeri Mappe wash his car. it's ugly, and devalues the whole neighborhood
Getting those darn kids to tone down their parties.
Making sure that trouble-making Marla Finn pays her dues on time, and nailing her if she doesn't.
getting even with Farra Getts for letting that dog poop on my sidewalk.
getting my hands on some spare cash.
Using the HOA funds to clean up the lot next to my house.
Getting the HOA to install cable and wireless computing.

JanaC (Tennessee)
Posts: 31

Posted:

OMGosh Brian, this is funny you wrote, sad thing is I can relate to it!

LOL

JanaC.

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