HOAleader.com - Tip of the Week - April 2, 2021
Published: Fri, 04/02/21
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Introverts Rejoice! Remote Condo/HOA Meetings May be Here to Stay
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People who like their own company—let's call them proud loners—have been chattering during the pandemic about how they've been happy to stay home and connect remotely when engaging with the world has been necessary.
In this week's tip, we give them—and others who've found remote condo/HOA meetings helpful—good news. You may be able to continue holding virtual meetings, even when the coast is clear of the pandemic.
“I'm surprised there are so many boards who are liking virtual meetings, and owners like them a lot, too, especially here in Florida where so many of our owners are snowbirds,” reports Jennifer Horan, a shareholder in the Naples, Fla., office of Becker & Poliakoff, who has represented condos and HOAs for more than 15 years. “Many owners don't attend meetings for six months out of the year because they're not in Florida, and remote meetings give them an opportunity to be more present.”
That's also why they've been a plus in Arizona. “Overwhelmingly, it's been positive for boards,” says Beth Mulcahy, founder of and senior partner at the Mulcahy Law Firm PC in Phoenix, who has represented more than 1,000 associations in Arizona and is also licensed in California and Wisconsin. “We've seen less participation at annual meetings but more at regular board meetings, which is kind of interesting. We've had people we've never seen before at board meetings.
“It's also opened the door to more candidates to run for the board because of the flexibility on location,” she states. “We've got a lot of Midwesterners who are snowbirds. If they have the opportunity to use a remote platform to attend meetings, serving on the board is more feasible now.”
Mulcahy also notes that remote meetings may be helping associations reduce legal expenses. “From the lawyer's perspective, it's a game changer for the practice of law,” she says. “We're now doing court appearances electronically and meeting with clients whether virtually or on conference calls.
“Clients prefer it because they don't have to pay travel charges, and they're saving money,” says Mulcahy. “If there's an evening meeting, maybe you attend remotely and are on the call for only 20 minutes. I've also had clients say, ‘I don't know if we'll need you,' and my response has been, ‘Here's my cell phone; if there's a problem, call and I'll hop right on Zoom and answer.' It's offering clients more flexibility.”
Even if remote meetings have been permitted in these extraordinary times, you still need to check your state law and governing documents to determine if you can keep meeting virtually.
Check out our new article to find out what our experts say about whether condos/HOAs in their states can keep meeting virtually forevermore:
https://www.hoaleader.com/members/4302.cfm
Best regards,
Matt Humphrey
President
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In this comprehensive report, we've sought the advice of legal experts on the best practices for identifying, avoiding, and resolving these conflicts in your association. The information in this report will not just help you operate your community association better and with more confidence, but it'll give you peace of mind that you're reducing your risk as a volunteer.
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Recent articles posted at HOAleader.com:
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Remote Meetings: Must Your Condo/HOA Go Back to Meeting In Person?
As the pandemic eases and it becomes safer to meet in groups, will you still have the option to meet remotely? And if you can choose between virtual and in-person meetings, what factors should you consider when scheduling meetings? Read on for answers.
Click here to read full article:
https://www.hoaleader.com/members/Remote-Meetings-Must-Your-Condo-HOA-Go-Back-Meeting-In-Person.cfm
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Time to Check Whether Your Condo/HOA Fines and Fees Need an Update
Much like your community association lawyer and manager might raise their rates over time, you should probably review any fines and fees your condo/HOA charges to see if they're so low they don't do what they're supposed to do anymore.
Click here to read full article:
https://www.hoaleader.com/members/Time-Check-Whether-Your-Condo-HOA-Fines-Fees-Need-Update.cfm
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Advice for a New HOA President Picking Up the Financial Pieces
An HOAleader.com reader asks: "Hopefully, this forum will help be sort out best practices for a small HOA with a board that has been left in limbo because of the resignation of our treasurer, who I'm finding out has been
controlling everything as far as the HOA. I was voted in by the membership to the board at an outside meeting in September. We didn't meet again until December, when I was elected president.
Click here to read full article:
https://www.hoaleader.com/members/Advice-for-New-HOA-President-Picking-Up-Financial-Pieces.cfm
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Condos/HOAs: Can You Require ACH Payments? Payments to Personal Accounts?
(You Didn't Misread That)
An HOAleader.com reader asks: "The HOA board is mandating ACH payments that are processed by an HOA board member who hasn't provided any security policy for our data. If we refuse to provide them with permission to debit our bank
accounts quarterly, we're required to pay one year in advance in full. This seems quite unfair and puts our information in a compromising position."
Click here to read full article:
https://www.hoaleader.com/members/CondosHOAs-Can-You-Require-ACH-Payments-Payments-Personal-Accounts-You-Didnt-Misread-That.cfm
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