I recently moved to an "active adult" community, basically to get away from kids. Love them, but was tired of dealing with them in the pool I used to swim in. To my surprise, the first day in my new pool (which is almost 25 yards!), I was approached about my "fins" and "kickboard." It seems the pool "rules" prohibit large flotation devices. My kickboard is 17" long. The Board then decided to prohibit fins.. I am fuming. :bitching: I can't even fight it because, conveniently, the board doesn't meet until September! I swim in the morning, and there is NO ONE in the pool. My fins are also short fins. They ruled them as "hazardous." Did you ever hear of anything so insane???? Yes, I could swim without them, but a great deal of my 3600 yard workout includes those items. The irony is that the pool is hardly used, unless the weather is over 90 and the water over 85. UGGGHHHHH.
I had to join an outdoor pool and PAY (even though I pay plenty in the "active adult" community per month in association dues) for the summer, and as my prior thread whines, 2 weeks later, I received a whopping sinus infection. I'm ready to quit swimming.
Glenn, I certainly have thought about that, but I can't imagine how I would get elected, and even if I were to be admitted to the very select group, my vote would be outnumbered. I am on the Pool Committee and everyone on the committee voted yes for fins/kickboard. The Board position is that "committees don't make the rules, the board does."
The board is elected by all the home owners, not just the board members. Usually it is easy to get elected to the board since in my experience, no one wants the job! That said, there are always boards like you describe with people who bend the rules - no, ignore the rules and just do it any way they want. There are HOA attorneys out there who can advise you on what can be done and what cannot be done.
There is a column in the Sunday LA Times business/real estate section about condo situations. I don't read it very much anymore because we don't live in a condo, but there might be something in the NY Times or even the Star Ledger.
Also, have you talked with other residents about the behavior of the board? I bet others don't like it either, but are afraid to say anything because they are afraid of the bullies!
People on boards who are bullies, depend on the fact that being a bully allows you to get your own way.
Glenn, I certainly have thought about that, but I can't imagine how I would get elected, and even if I were to be admitted to the very select group, my vote would be outnumbered. I am on the Pool Committee and everyone on the committee voted yes for fins/kickboard. The Board position is that "committees don't make the rules, the board does."
The board is elected by all the home owners, not just the board members. Usually it is easy to get elected to the board since in my experience, no one wants the job! That said, there are always boards like you describe with people who bend the rules - no, ignore the rules and just do it any way they want. There are HOA attorneys out there who can advise you on what can be done and what cannot be done.
There is a column in the Sunday LA Times business/real estate section about condo situations. I don't read it very much anymore because we don't live in a condo, but there might be something in the NY Times or even the Star Ledger.
Also, have you talked with other residents about the behavior of the board? I bet others don't like it either, but are afraid to say anything because they are afraid of the bullies!
People on boards who are bullies, depend on the fact that being a bully allows you to get your own way.
