Unit owners can petition board to add items to meeting agendas

What separates you from other Realtors? My very own Liz Caldwell Group mobile app and commitment—they know I love what I do. I’m also the “Real Estate Expert” for Local 10 ABC News on Saturday mornings. Which neighborhoods/ areas are your specialties? Rio Vista, Las Olas, Davie, Weston Describe your working style: Staying on top of latest news and trends 24/7. What advice do you have for buyers? Take a deep breath, be educated. What advice do you have for sellers? Be realistic, we still live in volatile times. How does what you›ve learned about real estate help your clients? I listen and they know to come to me for sound advice for all their real estate needs. What’s the hottest listing you have right now? Plaza at Oceanside, 1 N. Ocean Blvd. #1504 in Pompano Beach, $1.549 million. What professional accomplishment makes you the most proud? Ability to strive to be what my clients expect, I am there for them. Are you involved in any charitable organizations? Rotary Club of Fort Lauderdale, and I am the cochair of the Broward County Tiffany Circle of the Ameri- filing a petition for non-binding arbitration and then seeking a court order to enforce an arbitrator’s order, the association may want to attempt filing a small claims action against the violating unit owner. Small claims lawsuits move much faster compared to arbitration cases and non-small claims cases. Upon the filing of a small claim suit, many times the entire process could only be a few months compared to the alternatives. Before a board decides on a course of action against a violating owner, the board should consult with the association’s attorney. Q. I am an owner in an HOA. Every month I send a certified letter to the board asking them to place a few items on the agenda. When I receive the agenda for the next board meeting,

can Red Cross What’s one thing people would be surprised to know about you? When I graduated from college I worked for FPL, conducting home energy surveys and climbing around in people’s attics. Contact information: Call (954) 646- 6332 or email LizBCaldwell@gmail.com PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER ADVERTISING DESIGNER SPECIAL SECTIONS WRITER SENIOR SALES MANAGER REAL ESTATE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Broward and Palm Beach Counties Dade County & Out of Area GARRETT A. FOSTER DEBBY DOCHERTY TRACY KOLODY MICHAEL D. ROSS CHRIS CONNOLLY MARIA SALES Q. Our condo board decided to fine an owner who violated a rule that says all dogs must be on a leash at all times outside of the condo unit. We followed the proper fining procedure that included providing a 14-day notice to the violating owner explaining that the owner must request a hearing before the fining committee. This committee consists of three non-board members. The owner Michael Bogen devotes his continuously ignores our letters legal practice to representing hundreds of Condominium and Homeand fines. The board has been told owner Associations. Bogen, who is that fines have no “teeth” to them admitted to practice law in Florida, because fines may not become Washington, D.C., and Nevada, is also admitted before the United liens on a unit. What else can the State District Court in the Southboard do with the imposed fines? ern and Middle Districts of Florida.

A. Michael Bogen is assistant executive director of the Condo Council If a fine has been properly which provides education to over imposed against the owner, 1,000 association members. the board has a few different options. Before considering a potentially long process such as none of my items are placed on

Q. the agenda. Is the board able to Our condo association’s continuously ignore my requests to proposed budget for next place items on the agenda? year has increased by at least fifteen percent. As an owner, I submitted a request for the board A. Generally, the board to consider a substitute budget. governs what will and will Is the board required to consider not be on the agenda for a a substitute budget based on my board meeting. However, owners in request? an HOA may petition and force the

A. board to add an item to the agenda If the board adopted a for the next board meeting to occur budget that exceeds the within 60 days from receipt of the previous year’s budget by at petition. In order for the petition least 15 percent, the board must to be valid, at least 20 percent hold a special unit owner meeting of the total voting interests must to consider a substitute budget petition the board to add an item only if the board receives written to the agenda. Once the petition is request for such special unit owner received, the board must send nomeeting from at least 10 percent tice of their next board meeting to of the total voting interests within occur within the next 60 days with 21 days after the board has adthe petitioned item to be added to opted the new budget. the agenda. 954-425-1642 954-425-1029 954-425-1695 954-425-1234 954-425-1517 954-425-1640