How Should a HOA President Act?

Thinking back to the consideration of the 2025 Budget and the election of two new directors to the Board, how should a HOA President act?

Under the leadership of HOA President Danny Trapp, the six members of the Board prior to November 12 heard the Proposed 2025 Budget. The Board, or some of them, apparently indicated they would not be in favor of a dues increase.

At that time the Board had one vacancy (since May). Even if there had been an improper vote at a non-Regular board meeting, the vote might have been 3-3, meaning a Motion to pass the Budget, as submitted with a necessary 10% increase in dues, would have failed. 

But even an indication in a pre-board or other non-Regular board meeting of a negative vote on a dues increase was improper. Votes are to be made in public, where the Members can observe the decisions made by the Board of Directors.

Then, on November 12, two new Directors joined the Board. There were two new faces at the board table, and the President did not introduce them.

Within minutes there was a Motion to approve the 2025 Budget. The two members of the board, LaToya Adams and Ciara Bates, were expected to vote, and vote they did. They voted in favor of the budget, without any discussion of the budget.

Had they even looked at the budget? They did not know they would be elected, so probably not. 

Did they know the Finance Committee had asked the board (at the pre-board or other private, closed meeting before November 12) for a 10% dues increase? Did they (Adams and Bates) know that the proposed budget had been reworked, so that expenses did not exceed estimated income?

Is the original proposed 2025 Budget part of the Minutes of the Finance Committee's work on the budget? 

Why wasn't the Budget, with the requested dues increase, presented to the Board at the November 12th board meeting? Then the Board would have had time to study it before a vote on December 3.

Why did Danny jam it through?

Upon information and belief, Danny did not want dues to be increased. A dues increase might be re-visited at mid-year 2025. If so, any increase might not take effect until January 2026, after Danny's two-year expires. Then he can pat himself on the back and proclaim that dues were not increased on his watch. 

Because the financial stability of the HOA is being harmed without a dues increase, that's not really something to be proud of, is it?

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