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Community Living: Agenda for first board meeting will be short

 
Published May 19, 2012

Agenda is short for first board meeting

Q: After our annual meeting the president only included on the agenda the election of the officers from the newly elected directors. Is this correct or should he include business that is pending?

A: Unless you have an emergency, the first meeting after the election is to elect the new officers. There should be two things on the agenda, the election of officers and to schedule the first business board meeting date and time. In addition, sometimes committee appointments may be made or confirmed. It is a short meeting to begin to plan for the coming year. Rarely would any new or old business be discussed. A newly elected director may not have the information to properly vote on a motion. It should be a very short meeting to elect the officers and plan the next regular meeting.

Automatic pool gate is the best solution

Q: I manage a condominium where our pool and deck has two gates. We have residents that never close the gate behind them. The gates are open wide enough to allow a toddler to enter the pool deck. We fear that this is a serious accident waiting to happen. Can we close one of the gates?

A: You can close and lock one gate but I do not believe that that would prevent the members from leaving the other gate open. I would seek to find an automatic gate closure and install it on both gates. Get the board involved to try to find out who leaves the gate open. Send them letters to explain that their action of leaving the gate open is creating an attractive nuisance. An attractive nuisance is the legal doctrine that anyone responsible for a dangerous condition on their premises which is likely to attract children is strictly liable for any injury and has the legal duty to take all reasonable measures to protect children from the dangerous condition. I would also send a letter to, and post for all members, notice of the problem. Ask that when they use the pool area to be on the watch for anyone leaving the gate open. You should also look to find a gate closure. Most good closures are not expensive and can be simply installed. The short answer is that you need to get others involved to help by watching and reporting who opens the gates and send communications about the possible problem.