New Legislation Would Increase Transparency in DC Condo Governance

• October 5th 2011

by Mark Wellborn

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Yesterday, Ward 3 Councilmember Mary Cheh introduced a bill aimed at “increasing transparency and improving governance” among condo associations in the District.

The Condominium Amendment Act of 2011 would make changes to the city’s 1976 condo law including:

• Allowing condo associations to deliver notice to members and conduct votes electronically.
• Requiring that associations maintain financial records and provide unit owners access to and the right to copy the association’s books and records.

Councilmember Cheh on the proposed bill:

“This bill would bring the D.C. Condominium Act in line with the other local jurisdictions. It would provide unit owners greater flexibility to control their own governance structure, require that all meetings of condo boards be open to members in good standing and provide unit owners a right of inspecting the condo association’s financial records.”

The 1976 law does not restrict access to condo board meetings or records, but also does not explicitly state that they are open/accessible to residents.

Cheh’s legislative director Jeremy Faust told UrbanTurf that Councilmember Michael Brown, who chairs the Housing Committee, will determine how the bill proceeds. The next step would be to schedule a hearing.

Similar Posts:

• The Pros of Joining Your Condo or Co-op Board
• The Cons of Condo Board Membership

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.production.logicbrush.com/articles/blog/new_legislation_would_increase_transparency_in_dc_condo_governance/4288.