Article VII — Board of Director Accountability

Sound Legal — Original

Section 7.1 Due Care and Loyalty. Directors and Officers shall perform their duties (i) in good faith, (ii) in a manner the person reasonably believes to be in the best interest of the Association, (iii) with the care an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would use under similar circumstances, and (iv) with the degree of care and loyalty required of a Director or officer of a corporation organized under RCW 24.03A (or RCW 24.06 instead, if and only if the Association is fully bound by RCW 64.90). A person performing such duties may rely on information, opinions, reports, or statements, including financial statements or other financial data, prepared or presented by a source the person reasonably believes to be reliable and competent in the matters presented, unless and until the person has reasonable cause to believe that such reliance is no longer warranted. A Board may also exercise its judgment when deciding if, and how, to enforce the governing documents.

Section 7.1 — Due Care and Loyalty

Directors and Officers shall perform their duties (i) in good faith, (ii) in a manner the person reasonably believes to be in the best interest of the Association, (iii) with the care an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would use under similar circumstances, and (iv) with the degree of care and loyalty required of a Director or officer of a corporation organized under RCW 24.03A (or RCW 24.06 instead, if and only if the Association is fully bound by RCW 64.90). A person performing such duties may rely on information, opinions, reports, or statements, including financial statements or other financial data, prepared or presented by a source the person reasonably believes to be reliable and competent in the matters presented, unless and until the person has reasonable cause to believe that such reliance is no longer warranted. A Board may also exercise its judgment when deciding if, and how, to enforce the governing documents.

What Changed & Why

How Directors must act. Directors and officers must act in good faith, in the Association's best interest, and with the care a sensible person would use in the same role.

They can rely on reports and advice from sources they reasonably trust, like the managing agent or an accountant, unless they have reason to doubt them. The board can also use its judgment about whether and how to enforce the rules.

No changes from the Sound Legal draft.

Sound Legal — Original

Section 7.2 Code of Conduct. A person who serves as a Director is hereby deemed to have made the following six commitments: I Will Respect My Neighbors — I will set a good example by treating neighbors as my equals, by listening attentively to what they say, and by not embarrassing them in what I say or do. I Will Keep My Governing Documents Promises — I will comply with use restrictions, pay my assessment obligations, and faithfully fulfill the obligations of homeownership set out in our governing documents. I Will Respect My Fellow Directors — I will listen to, and consider, the viewpoints of others. I will cast my vote on issues in a way I believe best serves the long-term best interests of our community. I will respect decisions I have voted against. I will not say or do things to undermine a Board decision. I Will Respect Legal Boundaries — I will not disclose confidential information to someone who does not have a right to receive it. I will not use my position to advance my own self-interest, nor to obtain a benefit not afforded to those who are not on the Board. I Will Be Prepared — I will prepare for Board meetings. I will read materials furnished to me to inform me on matters to be discussed at an upcoming meeting. I will listen attentively to viewpoints expressed at a meeting and give due consideration to material facts in the course of deciding how to cast my vote on a matter. I Will Be Honest — I will disclose to the Board the relevant, non-confidential, factual information I have that bears on whether I might have a conflict of interest on a particular matter that has come before the Board. I will abstain from taking part in Board decision making where I have a personal stake in the matter the Board is considering.

Section 7.2 — Code of Conduct

The board shall adopt a code of conduct to be signed by all board members.

What Changed & Why

From a list of promises to a signed code. The Sound Legal draft wrote six personal promises into the bylaws, such as respecting neighbors, being prepared, and being honest. This draft replaces them with one requirement: the board adopts a code of conduct, and every board member signs it.

The six promises were well meant but vague and emotional in tone, which makes it hard to say when one has been broken. A separate code can be written in clearer, more specific terms.

Still under discussion. The committee hasn't decided whether this section is worth keeping. The open question is enforcement: if a board member breaks the code, what happens? Even a board majority can't remove a Director; only the members can (see Section 3.6).

Sound Legal — Original

Section 7.3 No Personal Liability. So long as a Director, or Officer, or Managing Agent has acted in good faith, without willful or intentional misconduct, upon the basis of such information as is then possessed by such person, no such person shall be personally liable to any Owner, or to any other person, including the Association, for any damage, loss, or prejudice suffered or claimed on account of any act, omission, error, or negligence of such Person; provided, that this exemption from personal liability shall not apply where the consequences of such act, omission, error, or negligence is covered by insurance obtained by the Board and the insurer(s) have confirmed coverage in writing.

Section 7.3 — No Personal Liability

This section has been removed. Open the Sound Legal tab to see the original wording.

What Changed & Why

Removed. This section said Directors, officers, and the managing agent couldn't be held personally liable for good-faith mistakes.

Washington law already protects nonprofit directors and officers from personal liability for their decisions unless they're grossly negligent (RCW 4.24.264). Volunteers are also still protected by indemnification (Section 7.4) and insurance (Section 7.5).

Sound Legal — Original

Section 7.4 Indemnification. Each Director, officer and committee member shall be indemnified by the Association against all expenses and liabilities, including attorney's fees, reasonably incurred by or imposed in connection with any proceeding to which such person may be a party, or in which such person may become involved, by reason of holding or having held such position, or any settlement of such a proceeding. Any indemnification provided under this Section shall, unless limited by the terms of the undertaking to indemnify, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a Director, officer or committee member, and shall inure to the benefit of their heirs, executors, and administrators. However, this indemnification shall not apply to any action by or on behalf of the Association against a Director, officer or committee member in which such person has been adjudged guilty of any breach of duty toward the Association. By means of a resolution or of a contract specifically approved by the Board, the Association may indemnify an employee or agent to such degree as the Board determines to be reasonable, appropriate, and consistent with applicable law and to be in the best interests of the Association.

Section 7.4 — Indemnification

Each Director, officer and committee member shall be indemnified by the Association against all expenses and liabilities, including attorney's fees, reasonably incurred by or imposed in connection with any proceeding to which such person may be a party, or in which such person may become involved, by reason of holding or having held such position, or any settlement of such a proceeding. Any indemnification provided under this Section shall, unless limited by the terms of the undertaking to indemnify, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a Director, officer or committee member, and shall inure to the benefit of their heirs, executors, and administrators.

However, this indemnification shall not apply to any action by or on behalf of the Association against a Director, officer or committee member in which such person has been adjudged guilty of any breach of duty toward the Association. Provided, that the Association shall only indemnify a Director, officer or committee member seeking indemnification in connection with a proceeding (or a part of a proceeding) initiated by such person if such proceeding or part of a proceeding was authorized by the Board or if such proceeding or part of a proceeding was brought by a Director or officer to enforce a claim for indemnification under this section and a court or an arbitrator determines that the Director, officer or committee member is entitled to the relief claimed. By means of a resolution or of a contract specifically approved by the Board, the Association may indemnify an employee or agent to such degree as the Board determines to be reasonable, appropriate, and consistent with applicable law and to be in the best interests of the Association.

What Changed & Why

The Association covers volunteers' legal costs. If a Director, officer, or committee member is sued or pulled into a legal matter because of their role, the Association pays their reasonable legal costs, even after they've left the role. It doesn't apply if a court finds they breached their duty to the Association. Without this, few people would agree to volunteer.

New: limits on lawsuits a volunteer starts. If the volunteer files the lawsuit themselves, the Association pays only if the board approved it, or if they're suing to enforce their right to this coverage and a court or arbitrator agrees with them. That keeps Association money from paying for lawsuits a volunteer brings on their own.

The board can also choose to cover employees and agents, by resolution or contract.

Sound Legal — Original

Section 7.5 Insurance. The Association may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is a Director, officer, committee member, employee, or agent of the Association or is serving at the request or consent of the Association as an officer, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise, or employee benefit plan against any liability incurred by such person because of such person's status, whether or not the Association would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this article.

Section 7.5 — Insurance

The Association may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is a Director, officer, committee member, employee, or agent of the Association or is providing services at the request of the Association against any liability incurred by such person because of such person's status, whether or not the Association would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this article.

What Changed & Why

Insurance for the people who serve. The Association may buy insurance, often called D&O (directors and officers) insurance, that protects volunteers and staff if they're sued because of their role. Insurance can cover some cases that indemnification (Section 7.4) can't.

Changed: coverage can include anyone providing services at the Association's request. That replaces a long list of outside organizations someone might serve on the Association's behalf. Buying insurance is allowed, not required.