Open Forum at Board Meetings

What does that really mean?

The Open Forum is that time set aside at a Board of Directors meeting or committee meeting for the owners to make comments, offer suggestions, and ask questions.

Virginia law ensures that, subject to reasonable rules, the Board or executive organ provides a designated period of time during a meeting to allow owners an opportunity to comment on any matter relating to the owners association. During a meeting at which the agenda is limited to specific topics, the comments may be limited to topics on the meeting agenda.

It is important to understand that a 'designated period of time' means the open forum has a beginning and an end. Whether the 'open forum' occurs before or after the business portion of the meeting, it is a discrete period of time.

With the exception of very specific items which may be discussed in executive session, the business portion of the meeting is conducted openly. But the 'open forum' does not extend to the business portion of the meeting. This means the audience should not, on its own initiative, interact, ask questions, offer suggestions, make comments, deride, interrupt, etc. during the business portion.

Both boards and owners should take advantage of the open forum. Many achievements and successful projects of communities have started as just a comment from one interested or irritated owner.