HOAleader.com - Tip of the Week - August 15, 2025
Published: Fri, 08/15/25
Updated: Mon, 08/18/25
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HOAleader.com - Tip of the Week - August 15, 2025
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In this week's tip, answer an HOAleader.com reader's question about how accessible a board president and other board members should really be.
Specifically, should a board president give out their personal mobile number, and if so, to whom, and with what direction about when people can call or text? Also, would our experts have the same answer for the other board members?
It's unlikely you'll find a law or governing document provision that will give you a direct answer to this question. However, some states—Colorado and California, for example—have laws that indirectly touch on this issue.
“Colorado requires that board members provide email addresses but not phone numbers to homeowners,” reports Melissa Garcia, a shareholder at Altitude Community Law PC in Lakewood, Colo., who provides advice and counsel to Colorado associations in all areas of community association law.
In California, condos and HOAs are required to provide to owners on request a membership list, though owners can opt out of being included on that list, according to Matthew Gardner, CCAL, a partner at Richardson Ober LLP in Pasadena, who has advised community associations for almost two decades. “It would contain whatever information owners have provided, which for most owners means both telephone and email,” he explains.
“Yes, owners can opt out,” adds Gardner. “But in my experience, most owners—even board members—are either unaware or don't think about opting out until it's too late and owners already have their phone number from the membership list.
“Or an owner might have given their number out personally to a neighbor, and the number then gets informally shared,” he says. “Owners who are dedicated to pushing their cause will usually find a way to access a board member, so you have to be ready.”
That means it's truly up to you, as a condo or HOA president or board member, to determine who gets your personal cell number. Find out the factors you should weigh in answering that question—in addition to smart responses when owners start using you as their conduit for reaching the board—in our new article: https://www.hoaleader.com/members/5153.cfm
Best regards,
Matt Humphrey
President
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Click here to read the full article:
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Missouri HOAs Can Apply for Local Grants: Are You Missing Out on Free Money in Your Area?
Kansas City has awarded $390,000 in grants to about 15 HOAs. With budgets tight everywhere, it’s probably worth your while to start rooting around and calling local and state officials to see if you can also take advantage of funds for your community...
Click here to read the full article:
https://www.hoaleader.com/members/Missouri-HOAs-Can-Apply-for-Local-Grants-Are-You-Missing-Out-on-Free-Money-in-Your-Area.cfm
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An HOAleader.com reader raises many points in a question on the discussion board. Here, we address one: Could this manager be right that a board doesn’t have the legal or contractual authority to call to have a car towed if the car is in violation of a 15-minute parking limit or to remove a rusted-out clunker with no license plate?
Click here to read the full article:
https://www.hoaleader.com/members/This-Thing-HOA-Manager-Insists-Only-They-Can-Call-Have-Cars-Towed.cfm
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The success of your homeowner's association often hinges on the quality of its management. With a strong HOA management company, your community thrives. A weak one can lead to unnecessary struggles. And if your HOA opts to operate without professional management, your board members must become knowledgeable, multitasking experts. This special report—a new and updated 2nd edition—provides HOA boards with expert advice on all these critical topics and more.
Members can download the report here:
https://www.hoaleader.com/public/HOA-Management-Companies-Practical-Guide-2nd-Edition.cfm
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