December 18, 2020
Following enactment of 2020 General Assembly legislation, most HOAs and condominiums in Virginia carry on business through “remote” videoconferencing technology such as Zoom, WebEx and Microsoft Teams. Because of the Coronavirus, Americans of all ages are now more familiar with this technology. In the HOA context, boards and committees use remote hearings to decide matters that significantly impact the lives and property of many people. This presents challenges owners do not ordinarily face when using zoom for other reasons, such as religious services, educational programs, or social gatherings. Zoom allows owners to participate in HOA meetings and hearings that is in some ways more convenient than before. Travel time is unnecessary. The owner may be able to avoid arranging for childcare. On the flipside, the owner will not be able to present their arguments or requests by simply showing up at a meeting location in person with a folder of materials. In this blog post, I would like to identify certain issues that an owner must consider when a HOA schedules an architectural application or notice of violation for decision at a remote hearing.
The Technology Itself. Before the hearing, the owner should become familiar with the software being used. One tech-friendly judge in Fairfax recommends that attorneys practice using WebEx with a friend or family member to make sure they can access a meeting through both the video and audio features. Many people find it easier to use a headset or their cell phone because such devices often have better speakers and microphones than laptops and tablets. WebEx, Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet are not the same.
The Notice of the Hearing. Procedural “Due process of law” consists of (1) the right to be heard by the judge or official, (2) decision by a neutral tribunal, and (3) adequate advance notice of that hearing and the subject matter at issue. HOAs and condominiums usually give affected owners notice of scheduled meetings and how to access the meeting. However, sometimes an affected owner is not given adequate notice for one reason or another. If an owner submits an application or complaint to the HOA, they ought to monitor their emails and the information available online to see if anything is happening. Sometimes an affected owner can identify themselves as such to the HOA and be notified of hearings before they occur.
Recording the Videoconference or Downloading a Recording. With limited exceptions, HOA boards and committees must conduct business, deliberate, and make decisions in “open” meetings, and that rule also applies when they use remote technology. In Virginia and some other states, owners have a right to record the meeting. Some associations record the meetings themselves and post the videos online after the meeting. However, the owner often cannot rely upon the HOA to make a recording and then make that available. There are several reasons why an owner would want to preserve such information. Sometimes neighbors or board members will say something in a meeting and then later deny that it was said or change their position. The record can lock them in. Also, if the HOA decides that the owner has legal grounds to challenge, whether on appeal within the HOA or in a court of law, the record of what happened in the HOA meeting is valuable to explain what happened and why.
How to Present One’s Position. In these hearings, its common for the “chair” to give owners a certain number of minutes to present their request, opposition or position to the board or committee. Usually, the directors or committee members read the written submissions beforehand, but not always. The owner may be required or well-advised to put things together in a written submission. In the case of architectural approvals, the declaration or guidelines will usually set forth specific information that must be included in the application in order for the committee to hear and approve it. Sometimes HOAs approve applications that are facially incomplete or will impose application requirements not found in the governing instruments. In architectural control matters, the burden is on the applicant to explain what they want and to show why this is proper. An owner supporting or opposing an application, complaint or violation notice ought to be aware of what the guidelines require or forbid. An owner or her attorney can put more information into a written submission than can ordinarily be stated in a limited amount of time. Its common for the written materials to be presented to the viewers. For this reason, visual aids such as photographs, drawings, surveys, and diagrams may present better than an email in 10-point type. Many attorneys organize their presentation into a PowerPoint or PDF slide presentation that they submit to the HOA for review beforehand. Remember that these meetings typically occur in the evening, when directors and committee members are already thinking about dinner, anxious to call it a day or feel fatigued. The owner ought not to overwhelm the HOA with voluminous, repetitive written or emailed submissions.
During the Meeting Itself. The members of the board and committee know each other and the HOA’s management staff. However, the owner or attorney may not be familiar with who is on the board or committee and who the chair or manager is. The board or committee members may not introduce themselves, leaving participants to guess who is a decisionmaker or not. An owner can find out who is on the board of committee before the meeting starts. One wants to know whether someone speaking is on the board or not. One ought to introduce oneself when talking and to again state your name if you speak again, so people know who they are. So, I would start by saying “John Cowherd, attorney for Homer Simpson, neighbor to the applicant Ned Flanders.” If I spoke again, I might say “John Cowherd” again but not repeat the details of my role again each time. Once one is allowed to speak, sometimes they are interrupted by another participant or are forcibly “muted” by a chair or staff person in mid-sentence. This is why I like written submissions. Sometimes boards will use “executive session” to confer with one another and their attorney without the other parties participating. Another bad practice is to tell participants that the portion of the hearing for their matter is concluded, and then after certain owners leave the electronic meeting, they will discuss it again later.
The use of remote videoconference technology has real advantages to lot owners, because they can participate in HOA proceedings from the convenience of their own homes. If used properly, Zoom can increase owner participation and the overall effectiveness of governance. If the hearing is conducted online, the owner can have any qualified, licensed attorney represent them, regardless as to where the attorney lives in the country. If used properly, videoconferences can increase access to justice because its easier to find an attorney to dial in to a remote meeting than show up at a specific place on a weeknight. That said, many HOAs do not like dealing with attorneys. Remote technology can make it easier for the hearing to be recorded. Despite these advantages, technology provides additional practical tools for HOAs to evade open meeting requirements, “mute” objectors, and disregard governing instruments. What will happen to HOA meetings after the Coronavirus Epidemic is over? Some associations may revert to entirely “in-person” meetings and hearings. Others may continue with remove videoconferencing, or adopt a “hybrid” approach, where owners have the option of attending in person or accessing remotely. Overall, I expect videoconference technology to be more widely used for a variety of purposes after the epidemic than before. After everyone can get the vaccine and masks are set aside, we will be dealing with a variety of legal repercussions of the epidemic shutdowns for years to come.
Note that the photo associated with this blog post is a stock image that does not depict anything referenced in the article.
