Problem Board Member > HOA Forum

Unanswered

Active Topics

Forums

Forums > Homeowner Association > HOA Discussions

Subject: Problem Board Member

Prev Next

You are not authorized to post a reply.

Author

Messages

LeeB1
(Florida)

Posts:4

10/10/2008 8:19 PM
I am a member of an HOA Board of five. We have one member who is a problem. This member has hampered our moving forward on everything, our term is almost over and we have not accomplished anything. If we discuss something, she doesn't remember the following month. If we have a service done in our community and she does not see it done, she will question if it was done or not, it does not matter to her if others have said it was done. What can be done, our meetings are very stressful, two Board want off, and other Board members don't want to hear her "no it all" stuff (for lack of a better word) Please help as I am sure we are not the only Board with this problem.

AnnaD2
(Florida)

Posts:386

10/11/2008 5:01 AM
Welcome Lee. Why is this one person able to stop everything from being accomplished? You're a board of five--not one. All board members get a vote. She should not be allowed to stop all progress because she "doesn't remember". Take a vote on each project to be completed and note in the minutes how each member voted. Maybe when you approve the minutes at the following meeting, she'll "remember". In Florida you ARE allowed, by state statutes to record your meetings. Is she also the bullying type who cuts everyone down so they're afraid to take any action?

DonnaS
(Tennessee)

Posts:2946

10/11/2008 5:33 AM
Lee, Anna has dealt with a Board like yours too. So have many others. Remove her from the Board. Follow the Statutes procedure and replace her with someone who will work as a team member. Keep real good minutes, document how each votes, communicate with the community so that everyone is informed that most of the Board is trying to accomplish things that are in the communities best interest. She is ONLY ONE member and there are 4 of you trying to be good Board members. Take charge of this. 720:303 Recall (c)1. If the declaration, articles of incorporation, or bylaws specifically provide, the members may also recall and remove a board director or directors by a vote taken at a meeting. If so provided in the governing documents, a special meeting of the members to recall a director or directors of the board of administration may be called by 10 percent of the voting interests giving notice of the meeting as required for a meeting of members, and the notice shall state the purpose of the meeting. Electronic transmission may not be used as a method of giving notice of a meeting called in whole or in part for this purpose.

SusanW1
(Michigan)

Posts:2316

10/11/2008 5:35 AM
Sounds like there's too much tme during the meeting for her to just talk. Encourage the president to keep the meeting moving - unless she has a motion, cut her off. The next subject should be takn up - and quick. Sometimes people think that every minute of the board meeting has to be filled with off-topic gossip or re-hashing the past. The presiding officer needs to take more control, here. Another question might be: How many cocktails has she had before the meeting?

AnnaD2
(Florida)

Posts:386

10/11/2008 5:41 AM
Thanks Donna for adding to my comments. You always give much more information that needs to be said. Susan...about your last line....I was thinking that way, too. I wonder if there is something else going on here. I wondered if perhaps there is something "wrong" with her. Lee, what is her position on the board? Hopefully not president.

MaryA1
(Arizona)

Posts:2489

10/11/2008 11:03 AM
Susan said: "Another question might be: How many cocktails has she had before the meeting?" Or, perhaps she's suffering from some senile dementia or early Alzheimers. Or, as my husband would say, she's just a ditzy dame! Whatever the cause of her disruption, it's up to the Pres. to keep the meeting moving along and not give her the floor.

BrianB
(California)

Posts:1748

10/11/2008 1:18 PM
i should point out that under the ADA, and the new ADAAA, such slurs as "ditzy dame" and discussions about age, potential alzheimer's disease, elderly dementia, etc. are potentially tortable. Age, sex/gender, and health issues are all protected classes, and you are all guilty, guilty, guilty of disability discrimination. As Gomer Pyle would say, shame shame shame. Just call her a dumb blonde. Blonde isn't a protected class (yet). Although, under the ADAAA, it could be. everything is.

BrianB
(California)

Posts:1748

10/11/2008 1:22 PM
now, can someone help me get my tongue out of my cheek? please? it seems stuck there.

SusanW1
(Michigan)

Posts:2316

10/12/2008 6:24 AM
What yu talkin' bout, Willis? Saying someone is acting LIKE a XYX, is not the same as saying they are an XYZ.

BrianB
(California)

Posts:1748

10/12/2008 9:07 AM
Ah, susan.. you are laboring under the OLD rules. as of september, and the ADAAA, everything is protected. Can't think straight? You are disabled. Do you think you have a disability? You are protected. Do others think you might have a disability? You are protected. Don't have a disability, but could have a disability? Protected. it's not a brave new world.. it's a marshmallow and fluffy cream protected world.

FrancescaM
(Washington)

Posts:112

10/12/2008 4:23 PM
Posted By LeeB1 on 10/10/2008 8:19 PM I am a member of an HOA Board of five. We have one member who is a problem. This member has hampered our moving forward on everything, our term is almost over and we have not accomplished anything. If we discuss something, she doesn't remember the following month. If we have a service done in our community and she does not see it done, she will question if it was done or not, it does not matter to her if others have said it was done. What can be done, our meetings are very stressful, two Board want off, and other Board members don't want to hear her "no it all" stuff (for lack of a better word) Please help as I am sure we are not the only Board with this problem. Ah! We all have one! it's a code that all HOA's have minimum one PIA on board. One thing that needs to be done is follow your minutes, make motions on things that need to be done.. STICK TO THE AGENDA~ We actually have 1 PIA and 1part time PIA. The 1 full time PIA really has made it really clear not only to the HOA, but even our management company that he has his own agenda. He attends few meetings, constantly challenges the whole board on everything from decisions already made and carried forth ( a maintenane issue ) to our collection policy. Lets say we voted in a new collection policy I think it was in March of this year.... he voted for it. It was in our minutes.. where is stated Joe Blow makes a motion to accept and Josie Blow seconds.. in May we had to refer one of our many deliquent H O's to collections via atty at law. The full time PIA made such a muster.. sending out nasty emails to us telling us we have no right to initiate a judicial foreclosure and that we should have "compassion" for someone when they are down and low. It was quite a sight when we referred him to the minutes where he himself voted this policy in. ( does he have alzhiemers? I don't know, but it's real obvious there is a memory issue going here with our... FYI. this man now is the victim of a judicial foreclosure.... he is behind 5 going on 6 months of dues. So, the stress of him losing his home is VERY REAL.

GordonD1
(California)

Posts:62

10/13/2008 1:00 PM
With great respect to all the members of your board. It seems that you have not taken the time to learn to do your job. When you take the position to be a board member you are taking the great responsibility and fiduciaries duties to protect the community at large. You have allowed this very crazy board member to run the show. You are 5 members and you can vote or get rid of her if she is not behaving reponsible for the members at large. It is our duty to learn our job duties. There are plenty available and free information for board members to learn their job.

LeeB1
(Florida)

Posts:4

10/14/2008 8:17 PM
Thank you so much, it makes a difference to know we are not alone, and all Boards have one. We had this problem once before and what stress, then she went away and what a relief everything went well,agendas were carried through, things got done and everyone was happy. She is back, we have problems again, nothing gets accomplished and stress is back. She conviently doesn't remember, ever, it makes it very hard on the majority, I can't say all, because some members are silent- to each his own. Well, thanks for your feedback, it is appreciated.

LeeB1
(Florida)

Posts:4

10/14/2008 8:36 PM
I do know my job. I take my position very seriously. I know my responsibility to the Board and the community. I know that every Board member has his right of his own opinion, and I also know that we are here to represent the community for the benefit of the community. Yes, I may have allowed this crazy board member to run the show, somewhat, we are five members, but all do not feel she is a problem, why I don't know, it is a very difficult situation, and I have considered having her "recalled" , which I have found out- that I can as an owner, I can have her recalled, however, our term is almost over and I should have done this months ago, now it doesn"t seem like it would do much good.

SusanW1
(Michigan)

Posts:2316

10/15/2008 6:05 AM
Lee - good board "dynamics" i.e. how the board works together - can be difficult to achieve. Maybe if you found some like-minded people to run, that would help. But remember, ALL kinds of personalities need to be represented. Some are the get-doners and some are the thinkers. A good blance is needed.

SusanW1
(Michigan)

Posts:2316

10/15/2008 6:05 AM
And that's: balance

RichardB10
(New York)

Posts:20

10/15/2008 7:50 AM
Not sure vwhat is going on BUT I have same problem in that I( am the PIA member because I do niot go along to get along. The present BOD is only 3 members and we have had projects on the books for 4-7 years with no progress. Seems like BOD has always been afrauid to do anything at all that would improve property values or improper budgeting.

RichardB10
(New York)

Posts:20

10/15/2008 8:10 AM
Not sure vwhat is going on BUT I have same problem in that I( am the PIA member because I do niot go along to get along. The present BOD is only 3 members and we have had projects on the books for 4-7 years with no progress. Seems like BOD has always been afrauid to do anything at all that would improve property values or improper budgeting.

MaryA1
(Arizona)

Posts:2489

10/15/2008 8:14 AM
Posted By RichardB10 on 10/15/2008 7:50 AM Not sure vwhat is going on BUT I have same problem in that I( am the PIA member because I do niot go along to get along. The present BOD is only 3 members and we have had projects on the books for 4-7 years with no progress. Seems like BOD has always been afrauid to do anything at all that would improve property values or improper budgeting. Richard, Well, there are good PIA's and there are bad PIA's!! Sounds like you fit into the latter category, if that makes you feel any better. LOL I know exactly what you're talking about. We once had a board pres like that; just couldn't get around to doing anything. The rest of the board members were so complacent that it resulted in nothing ever being done. I wasn't on the board at the time so there wasn't a whole lot I could do about it. But, being a "take-charge" type of person, a procrastinator really gets on my nerves. I know the frustration you must be going through. Perhaps you can offer to put yourself in charge of spearheading one of these ongoing projects and see that it gets completed. Once that's accomplished, then go on to the next one. Just a suggestion!

MaryA1
(Arizona)

Posts:2489

10/15/2008 8:19 AM
Richard, Sorry, I meant to say you fit into the "former" category -- a good "PIA".

You are not authorized to post a reply.

Forums > Homeowner Association > HOA Discussions > Problem Board Member