If you are lucky, your board and owners’ meetings are calm, civilized, and organized. But that is not always the case. Emotions often run high at association meetings, sometimes stemming from an unpopular board decision, increased assessments, or covenant violation letters sent to an angry owner. While the conflict and unrest may be inevitable, if the board comes to the meeting prepared, it is possible to run in and control an unruly meeting attended by angry owners.
One of the best tools any association can use to control unruly meetings is a “conduct-of-meetings” policy. This policy should specify when and for how long owners are permitted to speak, require civility when speaking, and allow the chair to require attendees to leave if he/she gets out of order or fails to follow the policy.
Meeting Moment – March 2011
You know the law says homeowners have a right to attend regular open board meetings, but what do you do when an owner wont stop speaking and keeps asking really challenging questions on topics the board is not even voting on? How can you enable homeowners to participate meaningfully in a board meeting yet still keep that meeting on track and on time?
Community Associations and Parliamentary Procedure
by Jim Slaughter, JD, CPP-T, PRP
Laws should be like clothes. They should be made to fit the people they serve,” advised Clarence Darrow. Similarly, the procedures used during meetings should be made to fit the particular organization as well as the particular meeting.
BOARD PROCEDURES
Conduct of business often varies by assembly size. Most parliamentary manuals provide that the conduct in smaller boards and committees can be more informal. Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised (10th Edition) suggests that the formal procedure used by larger groups could hinder business in a board meeting of fewer than a dozen. As a result, smaller boards and committees can follow an informal procedure, such that:
Testimonials
Let me also say what a pleasure it is to call the office and be greeted by happy, helpful people who care about the service they provide!
“Community Association Management is a solutions provider that enables HOA Boards to run efficiently and effectively. Their service is off the charts and their depth of knowledge and experience are invaluable.”
“Community Association Management is extremely thorough and knowledgeable in their approach to business. They are also very timely in their communications. They have saved our community a lot of money. When they first approached us and told us how much we could save by working with them, we thought the promise was ‘too good to be true’. They have more than delivered on that promise and more.”
Every time I’ve contacted someone about an issue, they’ve responded almost immediately, even if it was something they could not help with. When the issue is something that is the responsibility of the property management company, it’s always been resolved very quickly. Our past property management company was horrible to deal with so the past year with Community Association Management has been a pleasure.
A good friend of mine who is a recent past president of a community here in Charlotte contacted me this evening to ask who we used for property management. I told him that the only game in town was Community Association Management! I also mentioned that you may be a young company in years but are now one of the top 5 HOA management companies in the Carolinas. We are very happy with our decision to use Community Association Management.
We were recently switched to Community Association Management with your buyout of Cline & Company. I wanted to take a moment to tell you how much of an asset our Portfolio Manager is to your company. The Manager made our transition from Cline Company seamless and the attention we receive from the Manager and your company in general is unmatched. Not to mention the tools and options made available to us. I think I can speak for myself, fellow board members, and also our community in saying that w… Read more
I wanted to thank you for doing such a good job taking care of the property. I just wish I had the time to promote your company but due to my work load I haven’t been able to (but will when time permits) because you do such a great job. I can’t tell you how much this has meant to us for you to handle yourself so professional way with our owners.
“Community Management is a very professionally run organization, with all of the aids and assistance necessary to help a HOA board of directors answer to their community’s needs.”
Community Management is a very professionally run organization, with all of the aids and assistance necessary to help a HOA board of directors answer to their community’s needs.
6 yrs ago Community Association Management helped bail us out from insolvency to today’s successful surplus balance ! Community Association Management took the legal actions required to resolve our long uncollected debts – and acquire paying owners. Resolution of financial disputes required a professional mediator – and the prior management company not only failed at that task – they gave other “bad” advice that resulted in deficit budgets. Community Association Management has given “good” advic… Read more