Condo Media - April 2011 - 21

VERMONT C A I

Are You Ready?
New Laws Bring Change to Condominium Governance
s a result of a 69-page amendment to the Vermont Common Interest Ownership Act (VTCIOA) passed by the legislature in 2010, associations around the state are preparing for sweeping changes to they way they manage and operate their communities. Associations and managers will be challenged to bring bylaws and procedures into compliance with the many governance as well as non-governance changes by the Jan. 1, 2012 effective date. While there are many changes that associations will need to address, following are amendments that will require more attention to where, when and how associations hold and conduct unit owner meetings.

R e g i o n a l

owners request the secretary to do so, the requesting members may directly notify all the unit owners of the meeting. Only matters described in the meeting notice required by subdivision (3) of this subsection may be considered at a special meeting. (3) An association shall notify unit owners of the time, date, and place of each annual and special unit owners meeting not less than 10 days or more than 60 days before the meeting date. Notice may be by any means described in section 3-121 of this title. The notice of any meeting must state the time, date, and place of the meeting and the items on the agenda, including: (A) a statement of the general nature of any proposed amendment to the declaration or bylaws; (B) any budget changes; and (C) any proposal to remove an officer or member of the executive board. (4) The minimum time to give notice required by subdivision (3) of this subsection may be reduced or waived for a meeting called to deal with an emergency. (5) Unit owners must be given a reasonable opportunity at any meeting to comment regarding any matter affecting the common interest community or the association. (6) The declaration or bylaws may allow for meetings of unit owners to be conducted by telephonic, video, or other conferencing process, if the alternative process is consistent with subdivision (b)(7) of this section. There are also new lengthy and detailed requirements that will apply to meetings of the executive board and committees of the association which will be highlighted in next months issue. For more information about the extensive requirements of the new law and what your association must do to be in compliance by Jan. 1, 2012, CAI-NE will be bringing classes to areas around the state on May 26, June 4 and Sept. 15. See the calendar on page 8 for locations and registration information. CM

N e w s

§ 3-108. Meetings
(a) The following requirements apply to unit owner meetings: (1) An association shall hold a meeting of unit owners annually at a time, date, and place stated in or fixed in accordance with the bylaws. (2) An association shall hold a special meeting of unit owners to address any matter affecting the common interest community or the association if its president, a majority of the executive board, or unit owners having at least 20 percent, or any lower percentage specified in the bylaws, of the votes in the association request that the secretary call the meeting. If the association does not notify unit owners of a special meeting within 30 days after the requisite number or percentage of unit

CONDO MEDIA • APRIL 2011

Condo Media - April 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Condo Media - April 2011