If I Were President of the HOA Board

Dear Readers,

David Brock, owner of a Pasadena management firm, sent me this recently. His perspective as a highly credentialed (PCAM) manager is unique – a view from the trenches. If you ever wondered what your manager would like to say to you (if you allowed them to), consider his ten points, with my comments added after each.

If I were President of the HOA Board:

1. I would serve only with a full Board of people who understand and accept their role. Unhealthy understanding of the volunteer director role can lead to an unhealthy board.
2. I would expect that all board members take on a specific task and do it well. Everybody on the board should have a role. Spreading the workload helps avoid burnout and discouragement.
3. I would hold 10 meetings a year, and they would last no more than 75 minutes, and be productive and enjoyable. I love this one as a goal – longer meetings wear people out – in the board and in the audience.
4. I would hire the best vendors with the best insurance and the best track record and expect the best results. Sometimes boards focus so much on the bottom line that they get less than bottom line quality.
5. I would faithfully follow the recommendations of the Reserve Study. So many associations hurt themselves by not depositing money to offset the ongoing deterioration of aging components of the property. Boards not following the reserve study expert’s recommendations are also wasting the expense of the study, and leaving the HOA exposed to special assessments.
6. There would never be a Special Assessment. Many special assessments are the result of an association not properly planning through funding its reserves.
7. I would not communicate (by email or otherwise) about HOA business with Board members, the Association Manager or owners between meetings, unless it was an absolute emergency. The law no longer allows directors to discuss HOA business via e-mail.
8. I would expect Board members to come to all meetings having read the material provided to them a few days prior to our meetings. Prepared directors make for more effective (and shorter) meetings. Insist your manager give you the board packet before the meeting – and make sure you read it.
9. I would not tolerate special favors to anyone or exceptions to the Association policies unless absolutely justified and documented. Fairness and equal treatment are signs of a healthy association.
10. I would encourage owners to attend Board meetings to address their issues. I don’t want to be a Board member between meetings. It’s my home too. At this one, I can hear all HOA directors cheering. You’re not on the clock between meetings. Train directors to do their deliberation in the meetings, and train your neighbors to inform you using open forum.

No Association is perfect. But too many Associations are a great distance from that mark. While the above does appear extremely ideal, it is to express hope that leading your association can be done differently and with much better results. It is not expected that changes can occur easily or overnight, but change will never occur without taking small steps forward.

Thanks David for your perspective.

Zig Ziglar once said: “If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time”.

Written by Kelly G. Richardson

Kelly G. Richardson Esq., CCAL, is a Fellow of the College of Community Association Lawyers and a Partner of Richardson | Ober | DeNichilo LLP, a California law firm known for community association advice. Submit questions to [email protected]. Past columns at www.hoahomefront.com. All rights reserved®.