From the Board of Directors
From time to time the Executive Board makes changes in, as we become aware of better ways of serving owners and complying with the many details of the laws affecting community associations. Several years ago we moved the monthly meetings from the Hollister House to the Clubhouse to provide a better venue to encourage owner participation – and the number of owners regularly attending has more than tripled. A few months ago, based on an owner’s suggestion, we started meeting two hours earlier. A couple of months ago we became aware that the open session portion of board packages must be made reasonably available to residents – so we started printing 10 extra copies to have available at each meeting.
Starting with the July meeting, we are making another change. Executive board meetings will continue to be convened at 1:00pm, however, those meetings will begin with a closed executive session held in the Clubhouse 1st Floor Conference Room. Following the executive sessions, the meeting will be adjourned and reconvened, no earlier than 1:30pm in the Clubhouse 2nd Floor Main Room. This will make it convenient for owners to be present and observe any resolutions and votes made, based on any executive session discussions.
Note that no votes can be taken in executive session and that the items which may, but not necessarily required to be discussed in executive session, are restricted by the Connecticut Common Interest Ownership Act (CIOA):
The executive board…may hold an executive session only during a regular or special meeting of the board…No final vote or action may be taken during an executive session. An executive session may be held only to: (A) Consult with the association’s attorney concerning legal matters; (B) discuss existing or potential litigation or mediation, arbitration or administrative proceedings; (C) discuss labor or personnel matters; (D) discuss contracts, leases and other commercial transactions to purchase or provide goods or services currently being negotiated, including the review of bids or proposals, if premature general knowledge of those matters would place the association at a disadvantage; or (E) prevent public knowledge of the matter to be discussed if the executive board or committee determines that public knowledge would violate the privacy of any person.
Luther Weeks