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Q: Is it considered a conflict of interest if a board member is also a HOA employee? Our board is voting on matters which would affect the job duties of the board member/employee. Would this be considered a conflict of interest? The director acts as property manager.
— E.L., Simi Valley
A: A homeowner who is also an employee, let alone the manager, is burdened with major conflicts of interest. Is the manager making their home a higher priority? Does the manager issue violation notices against their friends? Managing HOAs under the Davis-Stirling Act is complicated, particularly under the growing body of technical requirements. Don’t hire a neighbor; hire a professional manager. They cost more, and there are reasons for that – professional managers have training, experience, and resources behind them which more than offset the cost.