10 Commandments For Common Interest Community Association Board Members – Revisited
In 1981, Terrence P. Crawford drafted his well-regarded “10 Commandments”. Over the past 25 years, Terry’s Commandments have withstood the test of time. The following list has been created as a supplement to the original 10:
- Thou shalt strive to maintain the highest standard of ethical conduct in the performance of the common interest community Association’s affairs and operation, and to ensure that the Association members maintain confidence in and respect for the entire Board.
- Thou shalt act in the best interests of the common interest community Association as a whole.
- Thou shalt comply with the common interest community Association’s governing documents and relevant law. You should be familiar with the Association’s master deed, bylaws, and other governing documents and should always attempt to make reasonable decisions that are consistent with these documents.
- Thou shalt act within the framework of the common interest community Association and not take action contrary to the Board’s decisions or act unilaterally.
- Thou shalt not use your position for private gain, for example:
You should not accept or solicit, in any way, any gift, favor, gratuity, loan, or any other thing of monetary value from a person who is seeking a contractual or other business or financial relationship with the common interest community Association. You should never use your position for financial or personal gain. You should never seek preferential treatment from the Board or any of its committees. You should never accept a gift or favor made with the intent of influencing your decision or action on any official matter. You should never willingly misrepresent facts to advance a personal cause or influence the membership to advance a personal cause.
- Thou shalt act professionally at meetings. You should strive to conduct yourself in a professional and businesslike manner at all meetings. You should never make personal attacks against other common interest community Board Members, Association members, residents, officers, management, or guests. Your language at meetings should be kept professional. You should always express any differences of opinion in a courteous and respectful manner.
- Thou shalt maintain confidentiality. You should strive to maintain the confidentiality of all legal, personnel, contractual and management matters involving the common interest community Association. You should also strive to maintain confidentiality of the personal lives of other Board Members, Association members, residents and management staff.
- Thou shalt disclose conflicts of interests. You should immediately disclose to the common interest community Board any perceived or potential conflict of interest regarding any aspect of the business operations of the Association.
- Thou shalt refrain from defaming or harassing anyone in the common interest community. You should never engage in defamation (libel and slander), by any means, of any other Board Member, Association member, resident, or management staff member. Furthermore, you should refrain from harassing Association members or residents. In your position as a Board Member, you should never threaten, harass, or otherwise attempt to intimidate, in any way, any other person.
- Thou shalt attend meetings on a regular basis.