Who serves on POA/homeowners associations, what do they oversee and how are such associations governed?
HOAs are usually governed by a board of volunteer owners elected by the remaining owners. The board holds regular meetings to enforce the CC&Rs, to establish a budget, authorize expenditures, collect assessments, problem solve, and oversee maintenance of the common property. The board acts in much the same way as a corporate board of directors. Many HOAs also utilize committees to help administer the association. For example, Architectural Control Committees are commonly used to maintain architectural consistency in the neighborhood.
