I.I. from New Haven County, Connecticut writes:
Dear Mister Condo,
What is the most effective size for a condo board of directors? We have 16 units and presently a board of 3 directors. Some feel it would be more diverse and democratic to have a board of an uneven number, probably 5. Looking for support of such a change.
Mister Condo replies:
I.I., in a perfect world, I guess all 16 units would have a seat on the Board but that isn’t too practical, is it? Honestly with 3 of 16 units already represented on the Board, I wouldn’t think you need much more. Your governing documents likely spell out the requirements for Board service and the number of Board members on your Board. Changing the number of Board members will require an amendment to your documents so you would need to follow the rules for amending your documents to make the change if it is popularly decided to do so. Personally, I wouldn’t want to change the number. In as small a community as yours, it might be hard enough to find 3 folks willing to serve. Having empty seats on your Board because there weren’t enough volunteers to serve would be a problem. All the best!
I’d agree for 16 units, three directors is suitable. You could think about having a committee or two, if you don’t have any. It could provide unit owners with more involvement, especially if the association is self governed. Hopefully, there is already good attendance at board meetings, and attention to financials, etc. A committee could be based on needs and interest – landscape/garden, safety, welcome to new residents, decorating, events, maintenance, compliance, newsletter, etc.