HOAleader.com - Tip of the Week - June 4, 2010
Published: Fri, 06/04/10
=================================================================
How to Stand Up to Bully Board Members
=================================================================
In response to a question from a member on the HOAleader.com
discussion forum, this week's tip provides real-world advice for
knocking the dictators on your board down a few pegs.
James R. McCormick Jr., a partner at Peters & Freedman LLP in
Encinitas, Calif., who represents associations, is currently
advising two associations on the issue of bully board members.
"I had a meeting yesterday with a board with a member who has
physically grabbed other board members," he says. "And I have a
meeting tonight with a board with a similar situation. It's
really tough."
McCormick says bullies come in two types. "One will actually take
action, and the other, who is usually more prevalent, will back
down when confronted," he says.
"But you don't know going into it what type of person you're
dealing with. In my current situation, I've never met the people,
so I don't know which they are. We can try to cut them out of
board activities, but I don't know how they'll react."
Therefore, you must tread carefully. Check your state law and
governing documents. If they permit, your first option should
be to use the power that many boards don't realize they often
have--knocking the board member down a post from an officer to
a director position.
"In Florida, the board of directors determines who serves as
officers," says Lisa A. Magill, a shareholder and association
attorney at Becker & Poliakoff PA in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
"If you have a president, treasurer, or other officers going
rogue, you can always remove them from office. They'd be removed
from office but still remain a director. So if they're signing
contracts or issuing purchase orders, they won't have that
authority."
That's just one way to beat back bullies. For more ideas provided
by our expert contributors, see our new article:
http://www.hoaleader.com/members/440.cfm
Best regards,
Matt Humphrey
President
P.S. Confused about the difference between the roles of officers
and directors? Get the details in our exclusive special report:
HOA Leadership Roles and Duties:
A Guide to the Positions of President, Vice President, Secretary,
Treasurer, and Board Member in Condo and Homeowners
Associations
Members can download a copy here:
http://www.hoaleader.com/members/375.cfm
Not a member yet? Sign up for a free 7-day trial and then
download your copy: http://www.hoaleader.com/details.cfm
=================================================================
Recent articles posted at HOAleader.com:
================================================================
Discussion Forum Follow-Up: Reining in Bullies on Your HOA Board
A reader on the HOAleader.com discussion board asks: "I am on the
board of directors of our HOA, but the president is just running
wild and not following any of the bylaws or CC&Rs..." Here, we
provide tips for handling secretive, power-hungry board member
tactfully yet effectively.
Click here to read full article:
< http://www.hoaleader.com/members/440.cfm >
================================================================
HOA Fees: What to Know Before Setting Up Electronic Withdrawal of
Association Fees
Would the electronic transfer of money due to your condominium or
homeowners association enable you to collect more money in a more
timely way? Maybe. Here we explain the pros and cons of
implementing an automatic withdrawal system and offer tips to
keep in mind if you're about to arrange for one.
Click here to read full article:
< http://www.hoaleader.com/members/438.cfm >
================================================================
HOA Rules: Airing Out Clothesline Disputes
With warmer weather, homeowners in more areas of the country may
want to air their clean laundry on clotheslines. Can your
homeowners association interfere with owners' efforts to air-dry
clothes? Here are tips on creating a sensible policy.
Click here to read full article:
< http://www.hoaleader.com/members/436.cfm >
================================================================
9 Tips for Better HOA Financial Reporting and Management
What financial information should the your condo or homeowners
association board track, and how? Here are nine tips for creating
and understanding the association financial statements that help
you monitor and control your association's financial health.
Click here to read full article:
< http://www.hoaleader.com/members/435.cfm >
================================================================
HOAs and Parking: What Your Homeowner Association Board Should
Know About Towing
Here's what you need to know about creating a towing policy that
complies with your local laws and provides owners proper notice
before their car gets hauled away. We also provide tips if you're
entering into a contract with a towing company.
Click here to read full article:
< http://www.hoaleader.com/members/431.cfm >
================================================================
HOA Communications: Tips for "Selling" a Special Assessment
If your board is convinced your condo or homeowners association
needs a special assessment, it must take the process of getting
buy-in seriously. Here's how to "sell" a special assessment by
being transparent, having community meetings that allow members
to understand the issues and ask questions, and knowing how to
overcome objections.
Click here to read full article:
< http://www.hoaleader.com/members/428.cfm >
=================================================================
Get your own copy!
Subscribe to the HOAleader.com Tip of the Week at:
http://www.hoaleader.com/public/department49.cfm
=================================================================
Please feel free to forward the *entire text* of this email to
others.
Copyright 2010, Plain-English Media, LLC
909 Marina Village Parkway #183
Alameda, CA 94501
(866) 641-4548
http://www.hoaleader.com