HOA business done at private, secret, pre-board meetings
Before every monthly board meeting, the HOA board holds a "pre-board" meeting. The board likes to refer to these as "executive sessions", so it can limit who attends. Usually, only the board members, the CAMS manager, and a few hand-picked committee people and others are the "chosen few".
An important question is: Are these really "executive sessions" or are they private, secret meetings by the people who run a South Carolina non-profit corporation with an annual budget of over $1,250,000 and that affects the property interests of 2,480 homeowners?
More specifically, are these pre-board meetings "executive sessions" or not?
If they are, then are they run according to the State rules (laws) for executive sessions?
If they violate those rules regularly, are those meetings really NOT executive sessions?
The HOA board cannot have it both ways. At least, it shouldn't be allowed to.
If they are "executive sessions", as private sessions of public bodies (state government, local governments (cities and counties, school boards) popularly known, then they should be following the rules (laws) set out in the S.C. Code of Laws Section 30-4-40.
The board would first have to convene in public session. Then, upon motion made, seconded, and voted upon, the board could move into (executive) closed session. The Motion would have to include the purpose of the executive session and the Section of the law which allows them to do so. After the executive session, the board would re-convene in open session and vote on any business to be approved.
Most importantly, NO action can be taken during executive session. The board cannot vote. And they can't make a decision, with a wink and a nod, about how they will vote once they return to open session.
It is clear that the HOA board has been taking action in what they call "executive sessions". So these really ARE NOT executive sessions. They are private, "secret" board meetings that are not open to the homeowners.
What are some examples of actions taken in executive sessions? 1. Election of board officers; 2. Appointment of a successor to the late Paul Hill; 3. Approval of contracts for work to be done; 4. Hiring of a paid supervisor of the Pool Monitors.
THIS IS WRONG.
The Voting Members of the 28 Neighborhoods of the HOA need to stand up and declare, "Enough!" And, if the board doesn't listen, then the Voting Members need to start removing board members and appointing successors who WILL conduct business properly.
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