Board members, Resident Managers and association managers are not the only people who help to maintain a Homeowner Association; committees can also play an integral part in the entire process. Usually formed by volunteer members of the association and assigned by the board of directors, committees can make association boards more efficient and create positive change within an association making board members jobs easier than before.

Committees offer association members a chance to be involved with the board. Oftentimes, important issues are worked through and refined by committees; the board merely puts on the final stamp of approval.

In other words, committees are a very important part of a homeowners association, and as a board member, it’s important to understand how committees operate.

Creating the Committee

The board should clearly define the committee roles, its scope and authority. The purpose and function of the committee should also be clearly defined so that they fulfill a specific need within the association.

According to most associations’ bylaws, committees are appointed and report directly to the board. It is important that the board of directors remove any committee members who may cause conflict or prevent overall productivity.

Committees are useful for gathering information, making policy recommendations, suggesting solutions to common problems and are representative of the opinions of the community at large. Associations and boards may benefit through furthering involvement of individuals in the community who may have special talents, knowledge or skills.

Common Committees

The most common committees deal with the Association’s communications, safety, architectural control, beautification and social events. Here’s a list of some common committees:

Communications Committee – Keep the members informed generally through newsletters and websites.

Safety Committees – Introduce neighborhood watch programs, develop relationships with local law enforcement, and recommend safety enhancements in the common areas.

Renovation Committee – Oversees apartment renovations to ensure all renovations meet the Associations CC&R’s and that the apartment exteriors remain uniform in appearance.

Landscape Committee – Oversee general landscaping and sustain the look and feel with different types of flora growing in the landscape.

Social Committee – Creates community events such as an annual holiday party, summer barbeque and other holiday events.

Organizational Structure

Committees must select a Chair. The committee chair has many responsibilities such as facilitating members to get to know each other and set agendas and schedule meetings. Most importantly they must preside over the committee meetings, attend board meetings, provide reports and receive direction from the board. Committees should also have a secretary to take minutes of each committee meeting which will trigger action items that specific committee members will be tasked with.

Committee Importance

Do not forget how important a well-organized and operated committee can be for the community. Committees are the basic building blocks of a healthy association. Not only does it allow for specialization and allotment of tasks to those in the community that actually know how to do them, it can also help boards save time and make sure things get done right

For help with committees, work with Hawaiian Properties. In business for over 90 years, the company facilitates day-to-day tasks for over 30,000 units across Honolulu, Oahu, and Kona, including site inspections, tenant screenings, and homeowner association management. Learn more about their real estate services online or by calling (808) 539-9777.