August 2025

Governance Cheat Sheet By Nicole Martone, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, EBP, Towne & Country Management, Inc.

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L et’s be honest: community association governance can feel like a cross between a group project in mid dle school and a UN peace summit. If you’ve ever sat through a board meeting wondering how something so basic got so complicated, this one’s for you. Here’s your no-nonsense, mildly irreverent cheat sheet to understanding how homeowners association (HOA)/condo governance should work and what often doesn’t. 1. The Board Isn’t Royalty (But they Do Make the Rules) Board members aren’t crowned, knighted, or anointed with essential oils. They’re elected volunteers (bless them) tasked with making decisions in the best interest of the entire community, even when “entire” means 300 people with 298 different opinions. They interpret and enforce governing documents, manage finances, and make the hard calls so you don’t have too.

2. Governing Docs: (Not Just for Collecting Dust)

Bylaws, Master Deed, and Rules & Regulations, yes, they’re as exciting as microwave manuals, but they matter. These documents define what you can’t do (e.g., turn your balcony into a chicken coop) and sometimes what you must do (e.g., pay assessments on time). Pro tip: Before threatening legal action over someone’s wind chimes, read the rules twice. 3. Meetings: Where the Magic Happens (or Doesn’t) Not all meetings are created equal. Here’s the break down: • Open Board Meetings are where the elected board members handle business of the association: approve budgets, contracts, rules, and the occasional heated debate about fence colors. Only board members count CONTINUES ON PAGE 38

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AUGUST 2025