01-11-2017, 01:12 PM
This has been my "Wish List" for HPP. Granted, I am not a lot owner, however I worked in the HPP office for 18 years and have seen up close many of the problems and my wish list may solve some of those problems. But as it is with Congress, it would need the cooperation of the Board of Directors and the Bylaw Committee in particular.
#1. Change the name of the Corporation to "Hawaiian Paradise Park Road Maintenance Corporation". This name change would eliminate any notion that HPP is a "Home Owner" (HOA) Association with all that that entails. Besides which, not all lot owners have homes in HPP. Working with mortgage lenders and Realtors I saw the confusion. I had to really struggle to collect back fees because of this misnomer.
#2. When I started, there were no districts and so, because candidates were not restricted to certain areas, there was no problem of finding candidates for the Board. Districts were created because folks complained that all or most Board Members were coming from only one area in the subdivision and the rest of the population was feeling left out. My solution would be to keep the Districts but open up elections to any qualified owner regardless of district. Depending on how many positions are open, that many winning candidates are chosen. Once you have them, let them draw the numbers of the open districts from a "hat". Even if they live on Kaloli Point but draw a #1 (as an example) they would then represent Pohaku Circle (District 1). Or as another option...
#3. Have all Board Members come from outside the subdivision. NO OWNERS = no personal agendas. Get resumes! Oh....9 Board members too many (like herding cats?). 5 is plenty. Hawaiian Ocean View Estates, which is larger than HPP did that and solved a whole host of problems. They also split the Road Maintenance Corporation from the billing and other business of their Corporation. It worked for them.
#4. The Bylaws contain wording that is ambiguous and open to interpretation. I don't know if it's normal for the Board of Directors of most Corporations to be involved with the day to day running of the business. That's why you hire a Manager that has been vetted and in which you have confidence to run your business. HPP has a history of adversarial relationships with its Managers. It hires a Manager, (which used to have bookkeeping skills) with a fiduciary duty to keep the Corporation financially secure. But whenever some Managers tried doing that very thing, they either get fired or made so miserable that they quit. Case in point.....the Manager at the time the Bond was being researched warned the Board that the Bond was a bad idea and gave multiple reasons why. She was "escorted" out of the office shortwith. YOU are still suffering from the bad decision made despite the warning of an excellent Manager doing her job. I've seen similar scenes besides this dramatic one, but I digress. The way the Bylaws are written makes it seem like the Board should be in the office, causing chaos, stopping the office staff from doing the work of collecting fees and other work of the business while they cater to Board members. And monthly Board meetings are too many unless there is an issue that needs immediate attention. A board meeting before each Membership Meeting should be sufficient with maybe one other one to discuss the three year plan.....see #5 next.
#5. Something the Board should be doing but I have NEVER seen done is creating a long term plan....usually a three year plan. They should be taking that plan to the Manager who will, with Board approval, break down that plan into one year "bites". The Manager would take that one year plan, do research on the costs and logistics and take his findings to the Board for further approval. Once approved, the Manager would proceed and set the plan in motion. Regular road maintenance would continue as long as the annual plan isn't unrealistic.
#6 It may not be possible, but maybe the subdivision be divided back to Increment #1 and Increment #2. I believe HPP has gotten too big (populated) to be manageable any more.
#7. CREATE A BOARD OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE!!!!! Hold them accountable for their actions. Just make sure this committee isn't made up of Board cronies.
I have probably taken up too much of your time. I still miss much about HPP and many of the lot owners. I'm sad that you are all still struggling with many of the same issues for the past few years. I hope some brave, smart and knowledgeable people can step up and make positive changes to HPP.
Aloha,
Morgan
#1. Change the name of the Corporation to "Hawaiian Paradise Park Road Maintenance Corporation". This name change would eliminate any notion that HPP is a "Home Owner" (HOA) Association with all that that entails. Besides which, not all lot owners have homes in HPP. Working with mortgage lenders and Realtors I saw the confusion. I had to really struggle to collect back fees because of this misnomer.
#2. When I started, there were no districts and so, because candidates were not restricted to certain areas, there was no problem of finding candidates for the Board. Districts were created because folks complained that all or most Board Members were coming from only one area in the subdivision and the rest of the population was feeling left out. My solution would be to keep the Districts but open up elections to any qualified owner regardless of district. Depending on how many positions are open, that many winning candidates are chosen. Once you have them, let them draw the numbers of the open districts from a "hat". Even if they live on Kaloli Point but draw a #1 (as an example) they would then represent Pohaku Circle (District 1). Or as another option...
#3. Have all Board Members come from outside the subdivision. NO OWNERS = no personal agendas. Get resumes! Oh....9 Board members too many (like herding cats?). 5 is plenty. Hawaiian Ocean View Estates, which is larger than HPP did that and solved a whole host of problems. They also split the Road Maintenance Corporation from the billing and other business of their Corporation. It worked for them.
#4. The Bylaws contain wording that is ambiguous and open to interpretation. I don't know if it's normal for the Board of Directors of most Corporations to be involved with the day to day running of the business. That's why you hire a Manager that has been vetted and in which you have confidence to run your business. HPP has a history of adversarial relationships with its Managers. It hires a Manager, (which used to have bookkeeping skills) with a fiduciary duty to keep the Corporation financially secure. But whenever some Managers tried doing that very thing, they either get fired or made so miserable that they quit. Case in point.....the Manager at the time the Bond was being researched warned the Board that the Bond was a bad idea and gave multiple reasons why. She was "escorted" out of the office shortwith. YOU are still suffering from the bad decision made despite the warning of an excellent Manager doing her job. I've seen similar scenes besides this dramatic one, but I digress. The way the Bylaws are written makes it seem like the Board should be in the office, causing chaos, stopping the office staff from doing the work of collecting fees and other work of the business while they cater to Board members. And monthly Board meetings are too many unless there is an issue that needs immediate attention. A board meeting before each Membership Meeting should be sufficient with maybe one other one to discuss the three year plan.....see #5 next.
#5. Something the Board should be doing but I have NEVER seen done is creating a long term plan....usually a three year plan. They should be taking that plan to the Manager who will, with Board approval, break down that plan into one year "bites". The Manager would take that one year plan, do research on the costs and logistics and take his findings to the Board for further approval. Once approved, the Manager would proceed and set the plan in motion. Regular road maintenance would continue as long as the annual plan isn't unrealistic.
#6 It may not be possible, but maybe the subdivision be divided back to Increment #1 and Increment #2. I believe HPP has gotten too big (populated) to be manageable any more.
#7. CREATE A BOARD OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE!!!!! Hold them accountable for their actions. Just make sure this committee isn't made up of Board cronies.
I have probably taken up too much of your time. I still miss much about HPP and many of the lot owners. I'm sad that you are all still struggling with many of the same issues for the past few years. I hope some brave, smart and knowledgeable people can step up and make positive changes to HPP.
Aloha,
Morgan