Since writing this, the state Legislature has created the HOA Information Office, under the disivion of Real Estate. At the current time, this office is not empowered to take any action, but is gathering complaints, which it forwards to the legislature and the Division for appropriate legislation or rule-making, but even then, these entities do not have any authority to take any official action, to penalize or to fine anyone. The only way to get that done is to hire an attorney and take the HOA to court. This is incredibly time-consuming and expensive, and the HOA prevails in most cases. Several people are working to get the state to enact some type of binding dispute-resolution process or expedited-hearing process, whereby valid complaints would be heard by some entity, who would be empowered to rule on the matter, require correction, and possibly levy fines. Until then, many owners will continue to feel disenfranchised.
Also, the state has adopted legislation requring licensing of managers and management companies, effective 07-01-2015, but filing a complaint and having action taken will be difficult. The problem, in most cases, is not the manager, but the board. There are many bad people on boards who do not realize they are supposed to represent their constituents (the homeowners). They carry out vendettas against people they don't like. Many board members have control or power issues, and this makes it difficult to reason with them. That is when problems arise. But, in all cases, any complaint, dispute or suggestion should be presented to the board at an official meeting, where it can become part of the official record of the association. No court will take a case in which the aggrieved owner has not attempted to work with the board.