EXPERT OPINIONS -- FROM A CAM?

Since there is no basic lesson teaching HOA 101 in school or college, many board members rely on the "expertise" of the community association manager. But, as this VIDEO-CLIP taped at the end of a rules committee meeting shows, some CAMs just don't mind to show the owners how incompetent they really are. 

Obviously, the MEADOWS OF KANAPAHA OWNERSHIP ASSOCIATION, INC. in Gainesville made a precious catch when selecting their community association manager.

This VIDEO-CLIP shows CAM Laura Mae Byrnes [License # CAM29938] scheming to kick an unwanted homeowner out of an upcoming board meeting -- obviously much to the enjoyment of the present board members. Since this meeting takes place in the office building of BOSSHARDT PROPERTY MANAGEMENT LLC -- the management firm she works for -- she intends to call the sheriff to file a trespassing charge and have the homeowner arrested. Gee, what a great plan, considering she is a licensed CAM, getting paid by the owners to manage the association.

No words to describe her great idea -- you have to hear it to believe it! 

And board president Pamela Dugle is only too happy to oblige. When she finally arrives -- shortly before the start of the meeting -- all it takes is CAM Laura Byrnes telling her (quote): "Pam, if I write 'adjourn' on my notepad, you need to adjourn the meeting."
Pamela Dugle's only response (quote): "Oh, ok." She didn't even ask why!

But if you now think you have heard it all -- it's getting better. Listen to the answer she gives when one of the board members asked her a question about the requirement of an association to hire a licensed CAM to manage the association's affairs.

Her ANSWER (2:15 MIN) shows that she doesn't have the faintest idea and her response is about as wrong as it can get. Please listen!

In case you are not quite familiar with the Florida statutes regulating the hiring of a licensed manager, here is the actual wording:

So far, so good -- you'll say, but this provision only requires that the association has to hire a licensed manager if they want to hire a manager in the first place. No association is required to hire a manager -- if they feel that they are able to self-manage.  HUGE DIFFERENCE, because suddenly the HOA could do without a CAM like many associations do  ­--  making her dispensable  -- especially with many associations suffering budget problems.

And since everybody loves some icing on the cake, how about this for the "icing?"

Board meetings by e-mail -- according to CAM Laura Mae Byrnes (quote): "I have convinced all but two of the communities that I have -- and I have 16 -- to not have monthly meetings. Some of them are as needed, some of them are quarterly. And definitely not monthly meetings. A lot is done via e-mail and then you can ratify it at the next meeting, and that's acceptable by statute to do that." The big question: In which Florida statutes did Byrnes find that board decisions can be made by e-mail? Definitely not in FS 720.303(2). It’s making the requirement of public board meetings a farce!

It is just amazing how much bad information a CAM can spread in 7:15 minutes! SEE VIDEO!

Obviously, not too many folks have figured out yet that her knowledge about HOAs and Florida statutes is pretty limited. Only two parties filed a complaint against her -- yet -- according to the public files of the DBPR.

But I'm pretty sure many more complaints will follow, if she continues to spread her wisdom! And in case an association has to deal with a manager like this, they might be better off if they self-manage! HAVE FUN WATCHING THE VIDEO-CLIP!