Sunrise At College Park

HOA Meetings ~ What happens during them and Why ?

Mar 07, 2003

~ Renee' Coelho - Your HOA President

Many people have asked me what happens at an HOA meeting, and how are they suppose to be run. The best answer I can give to anyone, is to think of our community as a small city, or a corporation. Your HOA board members are elected once a year, similar to a city council or a corporate board of directors. You, the homeowners are the citizens or stock holders, depending on how you look at it. Your board is held responsible (by laws) to run your ?“business?” in a certain manner, and to be accountable as to ?“how?” it runs, as well as what gets accomplished.

There are basically three (3) sections to the meeting. They are :

Homowners Forum ~ this is where the homeowners have the right to ask questions, make comments, talk about concerns, make suggestions, or anything else they wish to talk about concerning the HOA There is usually 30 minutes allotted to this at every meeting, although that time period is not a hard and fast rule?—it could be longer or shorter depending on the business at hand.

Business Meeting ~ this is where the elected HOA board conducts the business portion of the meeting. This concerns rules and regulations, financials, old business, and new business. This portion of the meeting is closed to homeowner comments, but due to the open meeting laws, the homeowners are allowed the right to sit quietly and listen to the proceedings.

Executive Session ~ this portion of the meeting is where specific financial or other issues pertaining to individuals are discussed. This portion, by law, is closed to all but HOA board members.

As stated earlier, the HOA is like a business or city, and the meetings must be run in an business fashion in order to get its?’ business accomplished. In fact, if our meetings go over a 2-hour limit, we are subject to an additional hourly charge for our property manager's time. I am accountable to everyone in the community to keep these meetings running smoothly and without interruption.

The board realizes that every homeowner has the right to voice their opinions or feelings about any subject, and that is what the homeowners forum is for. After it is closed, the HOA board must be allowed to conduct the business that they have been elected to do without interruption.

If you have any questions, come to the next meeting and ask ! Hope to see more of you there.