8 Insights: What Councils Want Residents to Know
A community's council has a big job to lead an association successfully. That means enforcing rules, overseeing operations, and maintaining shared spaces while juggling deadlines, member communication, meetings, vendor support, and more.
A voluntary role, residents often wonder who makes up the council and what council member responsibilities are the most important. We asked Annette, one of our own community leaders, Annette, to share what it’s like to run an association and what she wishes new residents knew about the job. Here’s what she revealed.
“Every community is different.”
Understanding associations starts with knowing that not every association has the same rules. Depending on regional conditions, local laws, and homeowner needs, associations will have different guidelines and offerings that make sense for their community. If you've lived in an association before or know someone who has, expecting every community to be identical can lead to unrealistic expectations.
Councils want residents to understand that every community is unique. When buying a home, it’s important to review the governing documents and amenities offered in each community to find what’s best for you.
“The council is your best source of information on assessments.”
Regular assessments are an essential part of community living. They fund association operations, including repairs and capital improvements. However, many homeowners are unaware of how their contributions are used. They often make assumptions about where the money is going and, as a result, feel like the fees are too high.
If you have questions about assessments, your council should have answers. You can always reach out to council members to learn more about community funding and how your dues enhance your quality of living, such as:
- Maintaining landscaping and community grounds
- Inspecting and repairing community amenities
- Keeping streets well-lit and in good condition
- Hosting community events and speakers
“Council members also pay dues—and don’t like when they increase either.”
As association members and elected officers, councils don’t receive compensation to serve their communities. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Council members are equal homeowners bound by the same rules and expectations as the rest of the community. This means they also pay dues that keep the association running.
To maintain living standards and the community’s value, it’s sometimes necessary to increase assessment rates. While homeowners, including some council members, may be opposed to these increases, higher dues typically reflect higher overall prices for goods and services the association needs.
“The architectural control committee is strict for good reason.”
One of the perks of living in a community is strong property values. Homes usually maintain or increase their values because associations have strict architectural rules that promote beautiful, harmonious neighbourhoods. Many associations form architectural control committees to review and approve or deny proposed home alterations.
Because these rules may seem restrictive on the surface, it can feel like an ongoing battle between the community and residents. However, council members want residents to know that they’re a vital part of creating attractive communities. If one person decides to make changes that don’t align with the association’s aesthetic, it doesn’t just impact their home. It could drop the value of all comparable homes in the neighbourhood.
“Council members are volunteers who rely on experts to help make decisions.”
Councils consist of volunteer homeowners who choose to serve their communities and fellow residents. While they often have key characteristics that help them fulfill their council member duties, they also work closely with experts to make the most informed decisions on behalf of the community.
Common types of professionals who partner with councils include:
- Association attorney
- Certified public accountant
- Community manager
- Insurance agents
- Reserve specialists
“To discuss association business with a council member, contact them through the appropriate channels.”
Community residents may forget that council members are busy homeowners like themselves, with jobs, families, and other responsibilities outside their official association duties. It can quickly become overwhelming for council members when residents don’t use the appropriate channels to contact them.
Although council members are there to serve their communities, there’s a time and place to conduct association business. If you need to discuss anything with the council, your community likely offers helpful ways to connect, including:
- Regularly scheduled meetings
- Council member emails or voicemails
- Community website or app messaging
- Online discussion forums
Understand the avenue that works best for your council and use it to receive faster responses and more accurate information.
“Councils value residents and want to hear from them.”
The council is responsible for making decisions that are best for homeowners and contribute to the community’s success. To do that, council members must know what residents need and want. If you have any concerns, suggestions, or feedback, your council wants to hear them! Understanding what affects you allows councils to better prioritize issues and work to resolve them.
“Rules can be changed.”
Associations create and enforce rules to support a safe and enjoyable living experience for all. If rules no longer serve the community, there are ways to amend them. Although several steps are involved in the official amendment process, it may be well worth taking the time to improve your community. Council members often review the community’s governing documents for outdated or unnecessary guidelines, but residents can also help by directly bringing concerns to the council.