Article
Courtesy of NEWS 13
By
Bailey Myers
Published
October 03, 2015
Osceola County legislators are considering a bill
that would reform the way homeowners associations elect leaders. But the
bill may not be able to help the largest community in the area –
Poinciana.
State Rep. John Cortes, D-Kissimmee, and his staff said they are working
on an Osceola County HOA bill. The new bill would impact Osceola County
HOAs only by creating the following election guidelines:
HOAs must post election times 30 days in advance
The polls must be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The new law also outlines that if a violation were to occur, then the
HOA could be reprimanded and the case could be taken to the Ninth
Judicial Circuit Court.
Cortes' staff member said the new bill is in response to concerns from
some Poinciana residents about how their HOA's leaders are elected.
The Association of Poinciana Villages is one of the largest homeowner
associations in the world, covering about 25,000 homes.
“Right now we have no voice,” said Annette Brown Best, Poinciana Village
3 resident.
Best says she is frustrated because the HOA elections aren't advertised
through a variety of mediums, and the polling is done during hours of
the day when most people in the community are working.
She believes several members of the board do not fully represent the
community because they are unable to vote.
“They are taking our community from us. It’s time we take our community
back,” Best said.
We tried contacting the Association of Poinciana Villages, but they
failed to return our calls.
Poinciana spans the Osceola-Polk county line. And since the bill only
affects Osceola County, the measure would have no impact on the Polk
County side of Poinciana.
Despite the obstacles, Best says she thinks it’s a step in the right
direction.
“We need to change this HOA law so that we have some teeth in what’s
going on out here in Poinciana,” Best says.
The county’s legislative delegation is expected to discuss the HOA Bill
Friday.
They also plan on meeting with the Polk County delegation to discuss
Poinciana on Nov. 9.
OSCEOLA
COUNTY HOA ELECTION BILL DRAFT
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