What Does an HOA Committee Do?

In addition to the regular board members, many HOAs also have committees that undertake certain tasks. These committees can serve a number of different functions, depending on the nature and scope of the particular association. Here’s what everyone needs to know about how committees work and what they do.

Tackling Specific Tasks

Committees are tasked with taking on specific tasks that are outside the purview of the main board. Some of these tasks might include dealing with landscaping issues, overseeing maintenance, dealing with violations, handling litigations, communicating with community members, planning social events, and more.

Committee meetings happen outside of regular board meetings, and they should have their own agenda, procedure, etc. Smaller committees may not need to have all the formalities every time they meet.

Engaging the Community

Committees are a great way to get more people involved in running the association, beyond the board members alone. They allow people to use their gifts and areas of expertise to improve life in the association, even if those gifts aren’t necessarily ones pertinent to the HOA board itself. Getting more people involved means that there are more homeowners invested in where they live!

Training Future HOA Board Members

Committees can be a great way to train and vet future HOA board members. When someone is on a committee, they get to showcase their skills and learn how the association works from the inside out. For people interested in being board members (or those who become interested after serving in a committee), the committee can offer basic training so they can hit the ground running once they join the board.

Executive Committees

Executive committees are those whose only members are also members of the HOA board. For instance, a finance committee may not include other homeowners, but may still do its work separate from the main board meetings. Committees whose work is confidential or sensitive are likely to be executive in nature.

Standing Committees

Standing committees are committees that are always active because their work is ongoing. These committees may oversee things like maintenance or amenities or they might take care of violations or process potential architectural changes that homeowners want to make.

Some standing committees might be seasonal, like a committee that oversees the swimming pool in an association located in a cold climate. Others will meet all year long.

Ad Hoc Committees

Ad hoc committees are designed to handle a one-time situation. After that, the committee does not exist anymore. These committees might be convened to handle a particular lawsuit or litigation issue, or they might plan a single social event or community event. When they are finished, the committee does not need to meet anymore.

Making a Committee Charter

Regardless of the type of committee, each one should have a charter. This articulates the purpose and scope of the committee. The charter does not need to be long, especially for a small committee or one that is designed to handle a specific situation.

If you need help with a committee in your HOA, contact us at Advanced Management Inc. today!

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