Client

The Forest Glen* Community Association Board of Directors

Background Information

The Forest Glen Community Association Board of Directors is the governing body for a community association representing 99 homeowners in a waterfront community in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Among other duties, this volunteer body is charged with ensuring that:

  • the care, upkeep and surveillance of the common areas and community facilities and service are
    handled in a timely manner;
  • community association dues are established and collected, so that the community has adequate funds to maintain community standards;
  • concerns are delivered to the association’s contracted management company for follow up;
  • funds are budgeted for community needs including upkeep (such as snow removal, tree removal, landscaping, maintenanceof walking trails and observation decks) and improvements.
  • homeowners comply with key convenants designed to protect the quality of life and property values in the neighborhood.

The board also coordinates the activities of a very important groupof volunteers: the Environmental
Preservation Committee [EPCOM], which is charged with monitoring code violations in each of the five courts that make up the neighborhood. This additional body of eight volunteers works closely with the board to convey community concerns for action by the board and the management committee.

In recent months, homeowners have been approaching the board president and recording secretary, complaining of a bottleneck at the board level. They are concerned that key items brought to the
board by EPCOM are taking too long to receive board attention.

Methods

To determine my problem statement, I reviewed the last year’s minutes and agenda for the board, which
meets monthly. I interviewed three property owners, including one former member of the Environmental Protection Committee, who reported dissatisfaction with the board. I also interviewed the board president, who is in his second year of office. I reviewed community covenants, the community website, and minutes of the EPCOM board.

Problem Statement

The Forest Glen Community Association Board of Directors has a practice of deferring key action items at monthly board meetings, hindering its ability to uphold community standards and protect property values in the neighborhood

Current State

Future State

Delta
The board acts on 50 percent of its agenda action items and defers the remainder for a future meeting. In Fiscal Year 2012, the board will act on 90 percent of agenda items.  40 percent