(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrat Daniel Benson (D-Mercer, Middlesex) to require local Homeowner’s Associations meetings adhere to the rules and regulations of the Open Public Meetings Act was approved by an Assembly panel on Monday.
Benson said he introduced the legislation to require newly developed communities that have yet to establish a homeowner’s association and of which the developer is currently serving as the executive board to maintain public transparency in all dealings and decisions on behalf of the property.
“It is important for governing bodies of residences, whether it is one person or ten members, to display complete transparency and accountability for the duties performed on behalf of current and future residents,” Benson said.
The bill (A-400) provides that a homeowners’ association is which the developer’s control of the executive board has not been surrendered under current law is a “public body” under the Senator Byron M. Baer Open Public Meetings Act and will be subject to all of the provisions under the law.
“This is legislation is a consumer protection measure that allows all interested parties, new tenants or prospective partners, to take part in meetings and be kept informed,” Benson continued.
The measure was released by the Assembly Housing Community Development Committee. It now awaits further consideration by the Assembly Speaker.