Damaged Driveway

Source: Adrian J. Adams, Esq.

QUESTION: My association billed a resident for damage he caused to a common area driveway. The resident paid but the board intends to keep the money without making  repairs. Any thoughts?

ANSWER: Although there is nothing directly on point about taking money for one purpose and using it for another, the statute “Thou shalt not…” comes to mind—it’s quite authoritative. (Bible, Commandment #8.) The Davis-Stirling Act also comes into play, i.e., association’s are obligated to repair and maintain the common areas. (Civ. Code §4775(a).)

Unsafe Condition. Moreover, if the damage is safety related, I’ve found that juries tend to punish boards who have a a known unsafe condition, do nothing and someone is injured. General Motors is well acquainted with the concept. For some reason, they thought it was a good idea to ignore defective ignition switches. Last week they were fined $35 million. That’s in addition to the enormous legal expense to defend and settle a slew of lawsuits and the cost to replace 2.6 million ignition switches.

Cosmetic Damage. If the driveway damage is purely cosmetic, the board could choose not to make the repair and sit on the money. But that would likely create unhappy homeowners.

CHANGING
MAINTENANCE DUTIES

QUESTION: Is a 75% vote of mortgagees as well as owners required to amend maintenance obligations of CC&Rs?

ANSWER: That depends entirely on the amendment requirements in your CC&Rs. Amendment provisions are normally found in a paragraph at the tail-end of your CC&Rs. It spells out the voting percentages for owners.

In addition, you need to check the mortgagee (lender) provisions–often an entire section toward the middle or end of your CC&Rs. It will list any categories of changes requiring their approval (which might include any changes to maintenance obligations).

FEEDBACK

Paid Directors #1. Please inform me of the name of the complex that pays their board members. I am already packing and ready to move. And to the grouch with no sense of humor NUTS TO HIM! Thanks for your weekly informative e-mails and do not lose your sense of humor. With much appreciation. -Gloria F.

Paid Directors #2. Our board of directors/officers, receive a monthly stipend. All directors are elected by the owners of our association. They are not volunteers. Should we stop paying stipends? -T.C.

RESPONSE: “Stipend” is merely a euphemism for paid directors. If it were me, the stipend would have to be REALLY big to make it worth the risk I take on as a paid director. It’s like robbing a bank for $50. It doesn’t make any sense; the risk outweighs the reward.

Nuts on the Board. From where we stand, most associations are so dysfunctional that members stay as far away as possible from the headaches of participation because “nut jobs” who get themselves permanently planted on boards. -Teresa A.

RESPONSE: The worst case scenario for the membership is a board with truly bad directors. I believe it was Edmund Burke in the 1700s who wrote that, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of bad directors on HOA boards is for good members to do nothing” (or something to that effect). Fortunately, bad boards are the exception not the rule. Most boards have good people doing their best under difficult circumstances.

Corporate Proxies. Corporate vs. HOA proxies–OK, what if your HOA is a corporation as well? Which statute controls in that case? -Robert M.

RESPONSE: The Davis-Stirling Act.

Thank You. Thank you for your personal help and a wonderful internet site. It has been fascinating watching your business grow during the past ten year I’ve lived in this condo. -Dick S.


RESPONSE: It’s been my pleasure providing the service.