Board Disbands Resident Advisory Committee

I posted here previously that our declarant controlled board had disabled the online resident's discussion forum that was part of our official HOA web site. Now the board has disbanded the Resident Advisory Committee (RAC) that they had appointed less than a year ago. The RAC followed their Board approved charter and conducted research and provided reports and recommendations to the board on issues submitted by the residents of our HOA. In every case the board refused to implement the RAC's recommendations. The board claimed that resident issues could better be handled by the management agent and by a second resident appointed to the board (in addition to the resident previously appointed to the board). Both of these resident appointees to the board have failed completely to represent the interests of the residents and have functioned solely as appologists for the board's actions. Most recently the board has removed from the HOA web site the contact information for the Transition Working Group , a self organized team of residents who have begun advanced planning for transition of the HOA from declarant to homeowner control. The level of board paranoia and disregard of homeowner concerns is resulting in a great deal of distrust.

Yes, the internet is a big place, but be careful. If you decide to set up your own web site, don't use the association name in the title, or the logo. Make it clear that you are not speaking for or representing the official association. Stick to the facts. Developers usually have attorneys on retainer, and a web site that libels the developer, or causes problems with sales, is a ready-made target.

It sounds like you're going to have to wait until the actual transition to see any meaningful changes in the way the board operates. Its too bad they've decided to "circle the wagons" after what sounded like a reasonable transition program. It usually ends up backfiring on them in the long run.

Joe