Four Board positions needed to be filled and only four candidates came forward to fill those positions. It became a âdone deal.â There was no competition and therefore no need for an election by residents. Thatâs the fourth time that occurred in the last five years.
In January 2017 when the four elected Board members join the three Board members serving in the middle of two-year terms, the Associationâs seven member Board will once again take on a new personality.
It always happens. Itâs all about people and how they interact with each other. We see it in political processes, sports teams, neighborhoods, in our own families, and wherever a group exists.
As the 2017 Board begins its tenure, hopefully that new team will evaluate how it might be more productive and how it makes the best use of time as members of a Board.
Some of the announcements, which encouraged participation in the election process, suggested a modest commitment of personal time as a Board member. The reality appears to be quite different.
On the surface, simply attending two monthly meetings doesnât appear to be too demanding but attending the meetings is the easy part.
Reviewing meeting agendas, reading reports, digesting and weighing the ramifications of proposals, policies, complaints, legal issues involving the common interest communities, personnel, finances, Lifestyle programs, and maintenance are an enormous undertaking. Management administers and implements those matters, but the Board determines the policies to be managed and implemented.
Time is everyoneâs precious commodity. The thorough consideration and implementation of policies is the Boardâs primary function. That takes time.
Over the years, in addition to the task of being policy makers, Board members somehow became involved in serving as committee and council liaisons, and volunteering as guest speakers at neighborhood meetings. So in addition to deliberating during regularly scheduled Board meetings, additional time is spent doing public relations work, typically reviewing what occurred at the last meeting and effectively having a meeting about the last meeting.
Possibly, the 2017 Board will consider the prudent expenditure of their time and maximize their own productivity as policy makers. All of which will serve the best interests of the residents.
Whatever the Board does, however, it does and whether residents agree with the Board or not, in a word THANKS for your time. Best wishes to all.
Jim Darow
N5
