Board Do’s and Don’ts  Continued From Page 23


it makes it law. Remember you are making decisions that affect the finances and liability of everyone, not just a few people who think “Oh that problem or consequence will never happen.“


Boards are only to make decision in meetings where quorum rules are met.


budgets from a financial and a project management perspective. Aside from legitimate emergencies, a new “great idea” for the community should be taken under advisement for a future budget. Be mindful that the existing budgets were ratified by the community members at the previous budget meeting.


⁄ 3 ⁄4


Aside from legitimate emergencies, a new “great idea” for the community should be taken under advisement for a future budget.


to existing and future owners. Get professional trade input for delaying maintenance. A regularly updated reserve study should be your project maintenance guide. Don’t think you are the hero for not spending money on routine or major projects. You have a fiscal responsibility to maintain your association.


⁄ 5


Delayed maintenance is unfair to existing and future owners.


is responsible for overseeing all of the decisions made by the Board.


⁄6 Instead, be a president who is ethical, educated, and ⁄ 7 24 Community Associations Journal | January-February 2022


Don’t be a bully president. Don’t take on the role of president for power and position reasons.


Don’t let someone else run the show. It’s okay to get help but ultimately the President


Don’t delay maintenance and scheduled improvements. Delayed maintenance is unfair


Don’t take liberties with the association money. Follow the operating and the reserve


Don’t hold ad hoc casual water cooler/ mailbox conversations and make decisions.


transparent, and who works for the best interest and the goals of the community.


Don’t take on the role of president for power and position reasons.


try to benefit personally. Don’t try to couch your personal agenda in words and phrases that make it sound like it is for the benefit of the entire community.


homeowners’ things. It devalues the property and gives license for others to add personal storage, making it difficult to clean-out personal belongings. Take pride in keeping it clean, uncluttered, maintained, and updated.


⁄8 ⁄ 9


A board member must take off the “friend” hat, remove personal beliefs, and enforce equitably.


enforcement of governance. It is a breach of board responsibility not to treat everyone fairly. A good example of this is responding and agreeing to requests by “friends” and ignoring the requests of others. Treat everything and everyone fairly and consistently. Don’t make decisions based on beliefs or treat “friends” differently than everyone else. A board member must take off the “friend” hat, remove personal beliefs, and enforce equitably. Letting things slide will eventually cause problems.


⁄10


Oversharing personal information about people in the community without permission may lead to unnecessary problems.


and security of people and property. Oversharing personal information about people in the community without permission may cause problems. Encourage a professional culture.


⁄ 11


Don’t be a gossip or act unprofessionally. Applying governance evenly protects the rights


Don’t discriminate regarding anything; homeownership, use of facilities and


Don’t let your clubhouse or community building become a storage place for


Don’t get on the board to “get your way” and to enact your personal agenda. Do not


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