C.R. from Cook County, Illinois writes:
Dear Mister Condo,
When a board member resigns, can the board appoint someone in that position without homeowners’ vote?
Mister Condo replies:
C.R., not only can they, they should! Your governing documents have a great section about serving on the Board. It details who is eligible, terms, roles, responsibilities, appointments (in case of death, resignation, or removal for cause). For most associations the Board is given the right to appoint eligible association members to fill any vacancies. It would be most unusual for the homeowners to vote on such an appointment. Keep in mind that this appointee will have to run for office at the end of the appointment if they wish to continue serving on the Board. All the best!
Sometimes its a good idea, sometimes not. We have a six member board that has functioned with five members for the last couple of years due to a lack of candidates and occasionally in years before that. Occasionally someone resigns and we have sometimes appointed someone. Yet, I would hesitate to appoint if there are only a few months to go before the next election. I would hesitate if nobody was willing to run in a recent election, unless there are special circumstances.