This evening, it will be the "town hall" type of meeting. The board won't be discussing business, but the meeting will be opened up for comments from homeowners regarding 3 "hot topic" subjects. In reality, there would be no discussion necessary, if homeowners would abide by the CC&Rs that they signed when they purchased a home here. Personally, I don't agree with everything outlined in the CC&Rs, but I signed them... for the good of the community.
These rules are put in place for the safety and security of the community and to protect the homeowners' property values. As a homeowner, I don't get to pick and choose which rules I will follow. Some people don't understand that. "They can't tell me what I can do with my own property!"
They probably should not have bought into an HOA community.
Oh, I get it: everybody loves to hate HOAs. The terms I see used for us online: "Money grabbing and power hungry!" Yes, bullshit. Money grabbing? Each of us on the board pay the same HOA dues as everyone else... only we are responsible for spending the HOAs funds in a way to get the most value for those dues. We understand that costs on almost everything have gone up; landscaping and water costs are up significantly. Don't want to clean up after your dog? We have to pay a licensed company to do that. Don't want to pick up trash that someone else has tossed? The landscape companies will do that - for an extra fee. And for all the work the board members put into the budget and other things that come up - we get paid a grand total of $00.00.
Power hungry? Oh, please. I would be delighted to turn over this work to someone else. Any homeowner can say whatever they want, including outright lies, on Facebook (I have come to call this "trial by Facebook") - the board has to be open and transparent in all dealings. In fact, in order to not run afoul of the Open Meeting Laws, we can't have 3 or more of us get together (that would be a quorum), even in a social situation. Our emails and texts are subject to scrutiny. But, complainers on Facebook can post anonymously. There is no "power" here, just another job with no pay or benefits. And the knowledge that you are doing something for your community.
While other people get to pick apart any decisions we make, on Facebook, and without any consideration of doing anything for their neighbors.
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Yep; the Town Hall Meeting went about as expected. We had an attorney there to explain the legal aspects of each of the items on the agenda and answer questions. Not much argument on the first two topics, but the same arguments regarding people using their garages and driveways before parking on the street. Every homeowner signed the CC&Rs that are explicitly spelled out.
The attorney stated categorically that the board is required to follow and enforce the CC&Rs. Those opposed to that section of the CC&Rs felt they should not have to abide by those regulations, because... well, no one presented an argument that made sense.
But, everyone who wanted had the opportunity to speak. Fewer than 20% of the households in the community participated, so no clear way of knowing what the majority of homeowners want. And, it will take a 67% vote to change the CC&Rs. That isn't going to happen.
So... fun.
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