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Bylaw Interpretation

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bcorey

Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Michigan

I need some help interpreting our HOA Bylaws, specifically Quorum, Voting and Majority.

Below is a copy of the sections in question. An election that took place in the past was claimed to have not passed and I believe the bylaws were improperly understood and the election actually passed all the proposals.
A meeting took place were I believe there were enough people in attendance and represented to have a quorum of 50 percent (44 people/proxies) of the total 87 site owners. 58 ballots were counted.

These are the ballots that were counted:

Proposal 1 General meeting quorum requirement: YES 47 NO 10

Proposal 2 Portable basketball nets YES 46 NO 12

Proposal 3 On site parking of campers, trailers YES 50 NO 8

Proposal 4 Pet allowances and responsibility YES 47 NO 11

Proposal 5 Eliminate restriction to use Organic fertilizers only YES 50 NO 8

Bylaws pertaining to Quorum, Voting and Majority:

Section 5. Quorum.
The presence in person or by proxy of more than one-half (1/2) in value of the Owners qualified to vote shall constitute a quorum for holding a meeting of the members of the Association, except for voting on questions specifically required by the Condominium Documents to require a greater quorum. The written vote of any person furnished at or prior to any duly called meeting at which meeting such person is not otherwise present in person or by proxy shall be counted in determining the presence of a quorum with respect to the question upon which the vote is cast.

Section 6. Voting.
Votes may be cast only in person or by a writing duly signed by the designated voting representative not present at a given meeting in person or by proxy. Proxies and any written votes must be filed with the Secretary of the Association at or before the appointed time of each meeting of the members of the Association. Cumulative voting shall not be permitted.

Section 7. Majority.
Unless otherwise required by law or by the Condominium Documents, any action which could be authorized at a meeting of the members shall be authorized by an affirmative vote of more than fifty (50%) percent in value. The foregoing statement and any other provision of the Master Deed or these Bylaws requiring the approval of a majority (or other stated percentage) of the members shall be construed to mean, unless otherwise specifically stated, a majority (or other stated percentage) in value of the votes cast by those qualified to vote and present in person or by proxy (or written vote, if applicable) at a given meeting of the Owners duly called and held.

My question is from the above counts what items passed if any?
How is Majority determined? By who showed up at meeting or against total site owners?

Thank you.
 


FlyingRon

Senior Member
NEITHER. If that is how it reads exactly, it sound like it's a majority of the members VOTING (either by proxy or in person).
 

latigo

Senior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Michigan

I need some help interpreting our HOA Bylaws, specifically Quorum, Voting and Majority.

Below is a copy of the sections in question. An election that took place in the past was claimed to have not passed and I believe the bylaws were improperly understood and the election actually passed all the proposals.
A meeting took place were I believe there were enough people in attendance and represented to have a quorum of 50 percent (44 people/proxies) of the total 87 site owners. 58 ballots were counted.

These are the ballots that were counted:

Proposal 1 General meeting quorum requirement: YES 47 NO 10

Proposal 2 Portable basketball nets YES 46 NO 12

Proposal 3 On site parking of campers, trailers YES 50 NO 8

Proposal 4 Pet allowances and responsibility YES 47 NO 11

Proposal 5 Eliminate restriction to use Organic fertilizers only YES 50 NO 8

Bylaws pertaining to Quorum, Voting and Majority:

Section 5. Quorum.
The presence in person or by proxy of more than one-half (1/2) in value of the Owners qualified to vote shall constitute a quorum for holding a meeting of the members of the Association, except for voting on questions specifically required by the Condominium Documents to require a greater quorum. The written vote of any person furnished at or prior to any duly called meeting at which meeting such person is not otherwise present in person or by proxy shall be counted in determining the presence of a quorum with respect to the question upon which the vote is cast.

Section 6. Voting.
Votes may be cast only in person or by a writing duly signed by the designated voting representative not present at a given meeting in person or by proxy. Proxies and any written votes must be filed with the Secretary of the Association at or before the appointed time of each meeting of the members of the Association. Cumulative voting shall not be permitted.

Section 7. Majority.
Unless otherwise required by law or by the Condominium Documents, any action which could be authorized at a meeting of the members shall be authorized by an affirmative vote of more than fifty (50%) percent in value. The foregoing statement and any other provision of the Master Deed or these Bylaws requiring the approval of a majority (or other stated percentage) of the members shall be construed to mean, unless otherwise specifically stated, a majority (or other stated percentage) in value of the votes cast by those qualified to vote and present in person or by proxy (or written vote, if applicable) at a given meeting of the Owners duly called and held.

My question is from the above counts what items passed if any?

How is Majority determined? By who showed up at meeting or against total site owners?

Thank you.
What items passed? All 5 "Proposals" were adopted!

How is a majority determined? Read Section 7 of the by laws. "50% or more of the members qualified to vote."
 

LdiJ

Senior Member
The only thing that throws me a little is that phrase "in value". If that's typical verbiage to refer to the number of owners, fine. Otherwise, could it mean something different than the actual number of owners? Surely it could not be referring to value of condo units?
 

festival

Member
Don't forget that "in value" language. Your governing documents should contain a list with the percentage of value for each condo unit. You have to add up each of these percentages of value of the units to get the "more than one-half (1/2) in value" or the "more than fifty (50%) percent in value". If all the units have equal value, then it is easy. If condo units have different values in the list, (for example one unit has a percentage of value of 1.08% and other units have 1.78%), then you have to add the percentages every time you take a vote. The idea is that units with a higher percentage of value typically pay more in assessments and these units have a higher percentage in the voting.

Were these proposals amendments to your bylaws? You cannot change the meeting quorum in Proposal 1 unless this was an actual amendment to your bylaws, and usually recorded with your county. Amendments usually require a higher percentage, such as 2/3, but the exact percentage and procedure for amending your bylaws will be in the bylaws and must be followed. Did any proposal contradict or modify the bylaws or other governing documents (master deed)?
 

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