SEBRING FALLS PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INCORPORATED
ARTICLE ONE
ORGANIZATION
- The name of this organization shall be:
SEBRING FALLS PROPERTY OWNER’S ASSOCIATION, INC.
ARTICLE TWO
PURPOSES
The following are the purposes for which this Association has been organized:
- To handle the acquisition, maintenance, and landscaping of properties administered by
the Association for the benefit of its members.
- To handle the operation and maintenance of the recreational facilities for the benefit
of its members.
- In general, to do all things which such an Association should do to make the subdivision a healthier and better place to live.
ARTICLE THREE
MEMBERSHIP
Every person or entity who is a record owner of a fee or undivided interest in any lot or parcel of land which is subject by a covenant of record to assessment by the corporation shall be a member of the corporation. Memberships shall be appurtenant to and shall pass with the title to each lot and may not be separated from ownership of the lot. Each member of the corporation shall have one vote for each lot owned, except when more than one person holds an interest in a lot. In that event, the one vote for the lot shall be exercised as the owners determine. In no event shall more than one vote be cast with respect to a lot. The foregoing shall not include persons or entities who hold an interest merely as security for the performance of an obligation. Membership shall be on the terms and conditions set forth from time to time in the by-laws of the corporation and as regulated by the board of Directors.
In addition to the membership of record owners as voting members, any person who resides with a record voting member may become a non-voting member of the Association, with a maximum of two (2) members per household. All members, by virtue of lot ownership only (land only without a home installed) who, as such, have voting rights only but no right to any Association amenities, may participate in the full privileges of the association to wit: use of the clubhouse, pool tables, pool compound, etc. by paying the current monthly maintenance assessment. All home owners shall continue to pay the current monthly maintenance assessment as always.
Notwithstanding the above provisions of this article, a member’s right to vote may not be exercised if the maintenance fees for that members lot or lots are not paid in full and current. A member is entitled to one vote for each lot for which all maintenance fees are paid in full and current.
ARTICLE FOUR
MEETINGS
The annual membership meeting of the Association shall be held on the second Monday of January of each year.
A regular membership meeting shall be held on the first Monday of December. Others may be called by the president.
The presence of thirty-five (35) voting members, including proxies, shall constitute a quorum and shall be necessary to conduct the business of the Association at regular monthly meetings.
Special meetings of this Association may be called when deemed in the best interest of the Association. Notices of such meetings, including the business to be transacted and by whom called, shall be announced in writing to all members at their addresses as they appear in the membership roll book at least fifteen (15), but not more than twenty (20) days before the scheduled date for such meeting.
SPECIAL MEETINGS may be called by:
- The President of the Association
- A majority of the Board of Directors
- Thirty-five (35) or more voting members of the Association, by written petition presented to the President, who shall cause a special meeting to be called. Such petition must be made at least thirty-five (35) days before requested meeting date. At least thirty five (35) members signing such petitions must be present at said special meeting or the petition shall be considered void.
All meetings shall take place at the SEBRING FALLS CLUBHOUSE, unless the Board of Directors finds a more suitable location nearby and designates said location as the meeting place.
ARTICLE FIVE
VOTING
Each member of the Association shall have one vote for each lot owned, except when more than one person holds an interest in a lot. In that event, the one vote shall be exercised as the owners determine. In no event shall more than one vote be cast with respect to a lot.
At all meetings, except for the election of Directors, any proper motion coming before the membership will require for approval a majority vote of the voting members represented at that meeting. All votes shall be by raising of hands for count.
This count shall be recorded as to “For”, “Against”, “Abstain”. Should a discrepancy appear in the tally, the vote shall be declared null and void and the vote shall be replaced by a ballot vote. Should there be an error or irregularities in the ballot vote, it shall be declared null and void.
For election of Directors, ballots shall be provided, and there shall not appear in any place on such ballot any mark, or marking, that might tend to indicate the person who cast such ballot.
At any regular or special meeting, if the President wishes, or if a majority so requires, any question may be voted upon by a ballot vote.
PROXIES AND ABSENTEE BALLOTS
A proxy is a Power of Attorney granted by a member of the Association to another member to vote at any annual, special, or regular meeting of the Association, except for election of the members of the Board of Directors. A proxy may be made by any person entitled to vote and shall be valid only for the particular meeting designated in the proxy and for a specific and designated issue. The proxy must be filed with a Director and validated before the appointed time of the meeting or any adjournment of the meeting.
Validation shall be done by a Director calling persons in the park for confirmation. The Director validating the proxy shall sign it. For those proxies from outside the park signatures of the lot owners must be witnessed by one person other than a relative.
A proxy is valid only for a period of no longer than ninety (90) days after the date of the meeting for which it was given or an adjournment thereof. A proxy shall be revocable at any time by written notice to a Director by the member giving the proxy. A proxy form may be obtained from the Secretary of the Association.
SAMPLE COPY
Receipt of the notice of the (date) __________ meeting is hereby acknowledged and I have selected ___________________to vote my proxy since I will not be able to attend. Purpose of vote ___________________ .
Signed ____________ Lot no. _
Absentee ballots shall be available to any member upon a signed, written request to any Director or Officer of the Association. Absentee ballots shall be returned to a Director who shall sign the official voting record and place the ballots in the sealed ballot box prior to the election.
Prior to the commencement of voting by ballot, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint a committee of three (3) who shall act as “inspectors of the elections”. These three shall certify to the chairman in writing the results of the vote and the certified copy shall be physically affixed in the minute book to the minutes of the meeting. All ballots shall be kept on file for ninety (90) days and shall be available for inspection by any member of the Association upon written request.
No “inspector of election” shall be a candidate for office.
Notwithstanding the above provision of this Article, a member’s right to vote may not be exercised if the maintenance fees for that members lot are not paid in full and current. A member is entitled to one vote for each lot for which all maintenance fees are paid in full and current.
ARTICLE SIX
ORDER OF BUSINESS
Roll call or report on attendance
Report on the number of proxies and/or absentee ballots
Reading of the minutes of the preceding meeting
Treasurer’s report
Reports of committees
Reports of officers
Unfinished business
New business
Good and welfare
Adjournment
ARTICLE SEVEN
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The business of this Association shall be managed by a Board of Directors consisting of seven (7) members. The Directors shall be members of the Association and shall be elected at the annual meeting. As many Directors as are needed to fill vacancies shall be elected to serve a term of two (2) years, with the candidates receiving the greatest number of votes filling these vacancies.
Co-owners of a property may not serve as members of the board of directors at the same time unless they own more than one property, or unless there are not enough eligible candidates to fill the vacancies on the board at the time of the vacancy. A property owner desiring to be a candidate for the board may not do so if the maintenance fees for the member’s property are not paid in full and current.
A search Committee of at least two (2) members shall be appointed by the President not less than sixty (60) days prior to the annual membership meeting. The purpose of this committee will be to canvas the membership to encourage candidates to seek election to the Board of Directors Nominations for the Board of Directors must be made from the floor at the regular meeting preceding the annual membership meeting, and only then.
The Board of Directors shall have the control and management of the affairs and business of the Association. Such Board of Directors shall only act in the name of the Association when it shall be convened by its Chairman, after due notice to all the Directors of such meeting.
Vacancies on the Board occurring between annual meetings of the Association shall be filled by appointment by the remaining members of the Board.
Any member of the Board of Directors may be removed by a 2/3 vote of all voting members of the Association at a special meeting of the membership called for that purpose.
Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be convened by the Chairman of the Board. A majority of the Board members shall be necessary to conduct any business of the Association. If at any meeting of the Board of Directors there be less than a majority
present, such meeting may be adjourned until a majority is present at a subsequent meeting. At that time any business that might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called, may be transacted without further notice.
Any Association member may petition, in writing, the Board of Directors to consider any subject specified which may have mutual interest to Association members. This petition may be introduced through any Board member.
Each Director shall have one vote, and voting may not be done by proxy.
The Board of Directors shall select from the members of the Board, a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman who, by virtue of his/her office, shall be President and Vice-President of the Association and shall hold this office for a period of one year.
The order of business of the meeting of the Board shall be:
Calling of the roll
Proof of due notice of meeting
Reading of the minutes of the preceding meeting
Reports of officers and committees
Election of officers
Unfinished business
New business
Adjournment
No member of the Board shall, by reason of his office, be entitled to receive any salary. The Board may, however, reimburse its members for actual expenses incurred on behalf of the Association. Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent a member from receiving any compensation from the Association for duties other than as a member of the Board.
The Board may exercise all corporate powers not specifically prohibited by statute or the Certificate of Incorporation.
The duties of the Board of Directors shall specifically include, but not limited to, the following.
Determination of the budget of common expenses required for the affairs of the Association including without limitation, the operation and maintenance of the property and installments of principal and interest on any obligations owed by the Association.
To allocate the proportionate expenses of the common areas.
To use and expend the assessments collected to maintain, care for and preserve the appurtenant property and common areas.
To make and collect assessments and supplemental assessments and establish a time within which payments are due. To collect delinquent assessments and supplemental assessments by suit or otherwise.
To purchase the necessary equipment, material, and tools required in the maintenance, care, and preservation referred to above.
To insure and keep insured said property against fire loss and other casualties and the Association members against public liability and to purchase such other and further insurance as the Board of Directors may deem advisable.
To employ such personnel as may be required for the maintenance and preservation of Association property and common areas.
To appoint a committee to audit the treasurer’s report each year.
The Board shall have the authority to expend, for the purposes of improvements to the Association’s property and common areas, a sum not greater at any time than ten percent (10%) of the current balance in the Association’s treasury but not to include any contingency funds. Such expenditures shall not be made more often than once per month. However, a greater sum may be expended by approval of the Association’s voting membership.
ARTICLE EIGHT
OFFICERS
The officers of the Association shall be as follows:
PRESIDENT, VICE-PRESIDENT, SECRETARY, AND TREASURER.
A secretary and a treasurer shall be appointed by the President and confirmed by the Board of Directors and shall serve a term of one (1) year. In the event of a vacancy occurring in the office of secretary or treasurer, the President shall appoint an interim officer.
The President shall:
Preside at all membership meetings.
Present at each annual meeting of the Association an annual report of the status of the Association.
With Board approval, appoint committees as needed to carry on the running of the business of the Association.
Ascertain that all books, reports, and certificates, as required by law, are properly kept or filed.
Be one of the officers who must co-sign the checks or drafts of the Association.
Have such powers as may be reasonably construed as belonging to the Chief Executive of the Association.
The Vice-President shall, in the absence or inability of the President to exercise his office, become acting President of the Association with all the rights, privileges, and powers as if he had been duly chosen President.
The Secretary shall:
Keep the minutes of the Association in appropriate books.
Give and serve all notices to members of the Association.
Submit to the Board, via the President, any communications addressed to the secretary of the Association.
Attend to correspondence of the Association and shall exercise all duties incident to the office of secretary.
The Treasurer shall:
Have the care, custody, and responsibility of all monies, securities, and records belonging to the Association.
Cause to be deposited in a regular business bank or Trust Company these funds.
Be one of the officers who must co-sign the checks or drafts of the Association.
Present at all regular meetings of the POA a financial report.
Exercise all other duties incident to the office of treasurer, including custody of and updating of the membership book.
ARTICLE NINE
FINANCES
The fiscal year of the Association will begin on March 1 and end as of close of business on the last day of February annually. Adoption of the annual budget for determination of monthly assessments to the members will be effective annually to coincide with the fiscal year. Once established, the monthly assessment may be changed as deemed necessary by the Board of Directors, provided at least sixty (60) days notice is given to each member, together with a report as to the reasons for the change.
Contingency funds must be established to cover the major expenditures as outlined by our accountant and may be altered from time to time by the Board of Directors as required.
Special assessments for capital improvements or additions to Association property will require a vote of the membership as set forth in the amended Certificate of Incorporation.
ARTICLE TEN
GOOD AND WELFARE
Since social activities are important to the welfare of the Association members, the President shall appoint a Chairman of Activities from the membership. In the event of a vacancy in that post, either the President or the Vice President will act in that capacity until another Chairman of Activities is appointed.
The Board of Directors may remove a Chairman of Activities only if the duties of the post are neglected.
The Chairman of Activities shall:
With the approval of the President, appoint a Secretary and Treasurer of Activities.
Will schedule all activities and distribute an activities bulletin. Any regularly scheduled activity may be pre-empted by a special event.
Will appoint members as sub-chairmen to run specific activities and be responsible to ensure the sub-chairmen are acting responsibly in their respective capacities.
Basic rules to govern use of Association property as permitted by the Board of Directors are as follows:
- Social affairs, activities, and facilities of the Association are not to be open to the general public except when the Board determines otherwise.
- The Board of Directors will oversee the activity funds and create a budget for the operating and managing specific social activities. These activities will not constitute an obligation of the Association, (except for usual budgeted items such as utilities, insurance, taxes, etc.) such expenses to be paid by members attending the various activities in amounts to be determined by the Activities Chairman. Monies collected from attending members in excess of expenses will be held in a special fund account. Monies in excess of budget will be used to promote good and welfare for the membership through added activities.
- Work of decorating and cleaning up, applicable to each activity, will be the responsibility of the committee for each event.
- Use of the clubhouse for the exclusive use of a private party sponsored by a resident must have the approval of the Chairman of Activities for coordinating with regular activities. This use must have approval of the Board of Directors who will establish and collect any charges deemed reasonable and be responsible for the conduct of the event including care of the facilities.
- Any and all recreational equipment and facilities owned by the Association will be available to the membership for use within the premises on an individual basis, provided that the use thereof does not constitute a nuisance or disturbance to any ongoing scheduled event or activity.
ARTICLE ELEVEN
AMENDMENTS TO THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
As per the Certificate of Incorporation, Article 1X Amendments, Section 2: Notice of amendment in its entirety, and by whom requested, shall be announced in writing to all members at their addresses as they appear in the membership roll book at least thirty-five (35) , but not more than sixty (60) days before the scheduled date for the meeting.
ARTICLE TWELVE
AMENDMENTS TO BY-LAWS
These by-laws may be altered, amended, repealed, or added to as per the Articles of incorporation, Article VIII By-Laws, Section 1 and 2.
ARTICLE THIRTEEN
These by-laws supercede and replace all other by-laws of the Association. Any items not covered with these by-laws shall be referred to Chapter 617 of the Florida Statutes or Roberts Rules of Order, Revised.
The foregoing by-laws were adopted by motion duly made and carried at a meeting of the Board of Directors held on the 13th day of March, 2023.
Billy E. Mingus – President
Greg Aldrich – Vice-President
Spence Haldeman – Director
Dawn Hassel – Director
John Martin – Director
Gene Page – Director
Sarah Williams – Director