HOAs & Condos

Do we have to accept anonymous comments at our HOA meetings?

By Ann Macfarlane / February 13, 2025 /
Cartoon of a business meeting with five men and a dinosaur around a table. A chart on the wall shows declining profits. One man raises his hand, asking questions about Robert's Rules. Caption reads, "If anyone can get us out of our rut, it’s Ole Dinosaur here.

Dear Dinosaur:  My homeowner’s association allows for public comments. However, we have members who want to make written comments and keep it anonymous. I don’t think this is right. You need to know who your members are, and they alone are allowed to participate in the proceedings. I don’t see how we could just allow…

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HOA victory – the power of one person

By Ann Macfarlane / June 5, 2024 / Comments Off on HOA victory – the power of one person
Colorful exploding party popper

“On the honor system” In the May newsletter I wrote about a president who declined to provide financial information to his HOA board of directors. He used the phrase “on the honor system.” When my friend, a board director, insisted on seeing details before approving checks, the president and board resisted, finally voting her off…

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When homeowners are unhappy with their HOA board

By Ann Macfarlane / January 31, 2024 / Comments Off on When homeowners are unhappy with their HOA board
row houses in a condominium

Homeowner and condo associations generate the highest number of inquiries to our “Dear Dinosaur” advice column. Month after month, we receive messages about HOA boards that appear to be unresponsive to homeowner members, dysfunctional, or otherwise incompetent. (To be fair, we also receive inquiries from board members about homeowners who are making life difficult for…

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