Molly Foley-Healy

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Representative Dan Thurlow (R-Grand Junction) has introduced House Bill 15-1040 (“HB 1040”). The bill is intended to greatly reduce the individuals who are required to be licensed by the Division of Real Estate as community association managers. Frankly, if you look at the practical implications of the bill, HB 1040 would essentially destroy most of the manager licensure requirements which were intended to protect folks living in common interest communities and to elevate the profession of community association management. 

HB 1040 has been assigned to the House State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee (“State Affairs Committee”) where it is almost certain that this bill will die. In a nutshell, if passed, HB 1040 would provide:Continue Reading Manager Licensure “Modification” Bill Introduced

This morning, the first regular session of the 70th Colorado General Assembly will formally convene and is currently slated to adjourn on May 6th. Unlike last year when the Democrats controlled the House and Senate, this year the Republicans will control the Senate by 1 seat and the Democrats will control the House by 3 seats. These are very slim margins indeed for both chambers! 

The conventional wisdom of some is that split chambers are positive for the citizens of Colorado, because it forces both parties to cross the aisle to work together for the common good of Coloradoans. While some may argue that this is painfully naive, for now I’m signing onto this perspective. While I am hoping that I am not wrong, I will call myself out on this blog if extreme partisanship ultimately rules the 70th General Assembly!

 

Will this be a big legislative session for HOAs? As always, only time will tell. However, there’s no question that we will see a variety of bills addressing construction defects and the creation of more affordable housing stock. Since many of these bills are still on the drawing board, I cannot report on any specifics until they are formally introduced. In addition, I suspect we will see one or more bills intended to “clean-up” the community association manager licensure law and will report on the specifics of those bills when introduced. Continue Reading 2015 Colorado Legislative Session Gets Underway!

The Colorado Division of Real Estate has just published emergency interim rules on community association manager licensure.  The rules will go into effect today and will continue in effect through May 6, 2015.  Here is the notice from the Division of Real Estate with links to the emergency rules:

***Important Notice***


Notice of Emergency Rule …

The 2015 legislative session in Colorado is set to kick off tomorrow and it promises to be an interesting one. Following the November elections, the Republicans will control the Senate by a 1 seat margin and the Democrats will control the House by a 3 seat margin. Since by all accounts the Colorado General Assembly isn’t interested in replicating the gridlock and destructive partisan politics we have all witnessed in Washington, D.C., I’m feeling optimistic that both parties will work to find common ground on issues that are important to the citizens of Colorado.

Construction defects is one issue that is certain to be the subject of several bills. The implications of construction defects on homeownership should never be a partisan issue. For almost every Republican and Democrat in Colorado, the single largest investment we will ever make in our lives is in our homes. To provide immunity to builders for their construction defects and leave homeowners with no recourse should not be acceptable to either the Republicans or the Democrats. In Colorado, we don’t leave the little guy holding the ball! 

 

The Denver Chamber of Commerce has not received this message. Yesterday at their annual Legislative Preview, Kelly Brough, President and CEO of the Chamber, promised they would focus on “construction litigation reform.” She then promised a reintroduction of the construction defect bill introduced during the 2014 legislative session. 

 

The bill she was referring to is Senate Bill 220. There is no question about it, this bill would not have “leveled the playing field” between builders and homeowners. Instead, Senate Bill 220 would have provided absolute immunity to the construction industry for their defective construction. Continue Reading Denver Chamber of Commerce Focused on Destroying Homeowner Rights

After a long day at work, it’s sometimes nice to sit down with a lovely glass of red wine or a cocktail.  However, at the risk of sounding like an old fuddy duddy, I have to say that alcohol and HOA board meetings are just not a good mix.

Directors attend board meetings to conduct the business of their HOAs.  It is not unusual for directors to consider complex or controversial issues which require their focused attention.  While I have luckily never witnessed an intoxicated director at a meeting, directors are required to fulfill their fiduciary duty to the associations they serve and to exercise their sound business judgment.  It’s no secret that the consumption of alcohol can interfere with an individual’s judgment.  Continue Reading Alcohol and HOA Board Meetings Just Don’t Mix

If you are like me, you will be happy when the election is over tomorrow and the nasty political ads are off the air for a couple of years. However, regardless of your party affiliation or beliefs, I hope you take the time to cast your votes and return your ballot. After all, we live in the greatest democracy on the planet and voting is at the heart of our fundamental rights.

The election also got me thinking about HOA annual meetings and the election of directors. While hopefully your HOA is drama free and every member votes, I thought this was a great time to remind boards, managers and homeowners about the requirements for utilizing secret balloting. 

 

The Colorado Common Interest Ownership Act (“CCIOA”), at C.R.S. 38-33.3-310, requires secret ballots be utilized at membership meetings under the following circumstances:

 

●          Secret ballots must be utilized for contested positions on your board of directors. Simply put, this means secret ballots must be used when there are more folks running for the board than there are open seats. The requirement does not apply if your governing documents provide for the election of directors through delegates who cast votes on behalf of a segment of the membership. 

●          Secret ballots may be used at the discretion of the board of directors. Some boards like to use secret ballots for every item which is voted upon at a membership meeting. This gives members the ability to cast their vote without any perceived pressure from the board or their neighbors.

●          Secret ballots must be utilized on any issue where 20% of the owners, present in person or by proxy at the meeting of the members, request use of a secret ballot on an issue. 

 

Once votes are cast at a membership meeting by secret ballot, here’s what you need to know:Continue Reading Secret Ballots in HOA Elections – Keeping it Drama Free!

On Friday, October 23rd, we will be making the move to our new offices located at 8020 Shaffer Parkway, Suite 300 in Littleton, Colorado!  In order to facilitate our move, we will not have phone or email service on Friday.  While we regret any inconvenience this may cause, we will be back up and running normally…

Our law firm is moving to new offices this month and we promise to take you with us!  Beginning on Monday, October 27th, our new address will be: 

Winzenburg, Leff, Purvis & Payne

8020 Shaffer Parkway, Suite 300

Littleton, CO 80127

 

Our telephone number will remain the same – (303) 863-1870

 

On Friday, October 24th…

Community Association managers in Colorado know that licensure is just around the corner.  Beginning on July 1, 2015, every community association manager in Colorado must be licensed by the Colorado Division of Real Estate.  Part of the licensure requirement is that managers must pass an examination that tests their basic understanding of applicable provisions of Colorado…