8 December 2011
NEW BOARD RULES FOR 2012
“I’m from Sacramento and I'm here to help you.” If you hear these words, all I can tell
you is, run! From the same people that brought you all the debt and red ink you could
possibly want, they now have passed new bonehead rules for 2012 that will hamstring
all condominium boards in the state of California and ensure that they accomplish virtually
nothing during the year.
It was hard enough, under the old Sterling-Davis restrictions, for the board to
make progress on projects between the monthly meetings. If decisions had to be
made on a particular project, the board could at least take action if there was
a unanimous vote in writing by all the directors. As explained by our board
president, Joe Engle, at most of our monthly meetings, the board moves projects
along by coordinating and agreeing to actions through e-mails. There is hardly a
day that goes by that the board members are not in contact with one another
through e-mails. Evidently, our lawmakers saw this as a big problem.
Beginning in January 2012, the board of directors may not take any action on any
item of Association business outside of the monthly meetings. They shall specifically,
not conduct any business via a series of e-mails. If there is a need for an “emergency
meeting“of the board, it cannot be held until meeting notices are posted two days prior to the planned meeting.So much for immediate emergency action.
Riddle me this, how in the world do these idiots in Sacramento expect a board of directors to competently and efficiently conduct Association business, in our case valued at almost $300,000, by devoting 2 to 3 hours out of every month? I can't seem to balance my own checkbook in less time. I just don't get it. It's obvious none of these legislators have ever been on a board and had to manage a condominium association.
As condominium owners, I guess the bottom line is that we just need to dial down our expectations as to what a board can accomplish and how fast they can accomplish it.