Planned Development Services

“I never got a trophy just for showing up!” proclaims a character in 2014’s “Lego Movie.”

Many people roll their eyes at the idea of children receiving awards for mere attendance, but an HOA board dealing with a fellow member who doesn’t show up for meetings might gladly consider handing out attendance trophies if it would get the no-show member In. The. Door.

No-shows are frustrating, time-wasting, and can prevent important work from getting done – say, for example, a quorum is required for a particular board vote.

Lack of attendance is a common complaint of HOA boards, but the issue is actually larger than the homeowners association industry. Board members are volunteers, and those who manage volunteers across sectors know that there are challenges in enforcing the attendance of a person who is not getting paid. Consider handling the situation with an approach that’s win-win for the board, the member in question, and the HOA as a whole.

Check the Bylaws

First things first: do your association’s bylaws address the issue of board member meeting attendance? If so, that can simplify the situation: a board member may be required to miss no more than a stated number of meetings or risk losing the position. If it’s not included, make a note to address and include the issue of attendance in the future.

Have a Conversation

Before you reprimand or threatened the member with expulsion, ask questions. Is there something going on in his or her personal or professional life that is making attendance a challenge? If so, is that a temporary or long-term situation? (If it’s long-term, the board member might need to consider stepping down for the good of the collective homeowners, but if it’s temporary, the board may want to make some short-term considerations or allowances.) It’s also important to ask whether the issue may be with the board itself. Are meetings too frequent, ineffective, or long and drawn out beyond reason? Is there another board member with whom he or she has conflict, or are there other interpersonal issues? Consider the circumstances, but remind the person about the board’s responsibility to the homeowners.

Decide on Next Steps

After considering existing HOA bylaws and discussing the issue with the board member, decide how to fairly proceed. Consider the board member’s feedback and address any overarching issues, making changes to the meetings and/or bylaws if needed. The board member may need to step down, but ideally the board can help to re-engage this member and keep a valuable volunteer.