Q: The board of my condominium association seems to always be stacked with seasonal residents who want things nice for the few months they are there, and to cut costs for the rest of the year. A group of year-round residents would like to start a petition to change our bylaws to require that board members be Florida residents, or at least reside at the condo so many months a year. How would one go about this? (J.L., via e-mail)
A: Initiating a bylaw amendment by membership initiative typically requires a petition to the board requesting the call of a special meeting and presenting proposed amendment language for the bylaws. The number of signatures required on the petition will depend on the provisions of your specific condominium documents. Twenty-five percent seems to be a common number. If the bylaws are silent on petitioning for a special meeting, the default requirement of the state corporate statutes is five percent all voters.
However, it is my opinion that such a petition would be fruitless and even if you got enough signatures, the board would not be obligated to present the amendment, because it is contrary to law.
Section 718.112(2)(d)4 of the Florida Condominium Act states that every unit owner has the right to serve on the board. There are certain limitations in the statute itself. For example, two people from the same unit cannot serve on the board if there is a contested election. Certain convicted felons are ineligible for board service. Certain financial defaults to the association disqualify a person from running for or serving on the board. There are a couple of other exceptions including the requirement for “board certification,” being charged with certain crimes, and the ability of the state regulatory agency to remove directors for misconduct. There is also the recent 8-year term limit statute which has been discussed in a number of my recent columns.
Other than those conditions set forth in the statute, limitations on the right to serve on the board are not legally valid. The Division of Florida Condominiums, Timeshares, and Mobile Homes, the state agency which has specified regulatory oversight of condominiums, has ruled that “residency requirements” for board service contained in association bylaws are invalid.
Q: I am on the board of my homeowners’ association. We are confronting a very divisive issue about potentially expensive renovations to our common property. The community seems evenly split and things have gotten unpleasant. Our board recently had to take a vote on whether to continue with this matter. I suggested that due to the divisiveness in the community, and so that each director could vote his or her conscience without fear of alienating people, that we vote by secret ballot. I was told this is illegal. Is that true? (S.G., via e-mail)
A: Yes. Section 720.303(2)(c)3 of the Florida Homeowners’ Association Act states that directors may not vote by proxy or by secret ballot at board meetings, except that secret ballots may be used in the election of officers.
Q: The air-conditioning and heating for my condominium unit comes from a compressor which sits outside on a pad. It recently gave out. The manager told me I had to pay for a new one. I thought that owners only had to pay for what is inside the four walls of their apartment. What is the ruling on this? (F.C., via e-mail)
A: Air-conditioning compressors are usually part of the common elements of the condominium. Under current state law, they are insured by the association. Therefore, if the compressor was damaged due to an “insurable event” (such as a lightning strike), the association would generally be responsible to repair or replace it.
If this is simply a wear and tear issue, your declaration of condominium will dictate the answer. In most condominiums, the compressors are described as “limited common elements” and are the maintenance, repair, and replacement responsibility of the unit owner. However, this is not universal, and the language of your individual documents will control.
Joe Adams is an attorney with Becker & Poliakoff, P.A., Fort Myers. Send questions to Joe Adams by e-mail to jadams@beckerlawyers.com. Past editions may be viewed at floridacondohoalawblog.com.
