61B-75.007. Recall of One or More Members of a Board of Administration at a Unit Owner Meeting; Board Certification; Filling Vacancies

(1) Calling a Recall Meeting. Regardless of any provision to the contrary in the cooperative documents, 10 percent of the voting interests may call a meeting of the unit owners to recall one or more members of the board by the voting interests giving the notice specified in paragraphs (2)(a) and (b) below. As utilized in this rule, the phrase “cooperative documents” means the recorded articles of incorporation and bylaws of the association, and any amendments to each which are in effect, and any other documents establishing the cooperative.

(2) Noticing a Recall Meeting.

(a) Signature List. Prior to noticing a unit owner meeting to recall one or more members of the board, a list shall be circulated for the purpose of obtaining signatures of not less than ten percent of the voting interests. The signature list shall:

1. State that the purpose for obtaining signatures is to call a special unit owner meeting to recall one or more members of the board;

2. State that replacement board members shall be elected at the meeting if a majority or more of the existing board members are successfully recalled at the meeting; and,

3. Contain lines for the voting interest to fill in his unit number, signature and date of signature.

(b) Recall Meeting Notice. The recall meeting notice shall:

1. State that the purpose of the special unit owner meeting is to recall one or more members of the board and, if a majority or more of the board is subject to recall, the notice shall also state that an election to replace recalled board members will be conducted at the meeting;

2. List by name each board member sought to be recalled at the meeting, even if every board member is sought to be recalled;

3. Specify a person, other than a board member subject to recall at the meeting, who shall determine whether a quorum is present, call the recall meeting to order, preside, and proceed as provided in paragraph (3)(b) of this rule;

4. List at least as many eligible persons who are willing to be candidates for replacement board members as there are board members sought to be recalled, in those cases where a majority or more of the board is sought to be recalled. Candidates for replacement board members shall not be listed when a minority of the board is sought to be recalled, as the remaining members of the board may appoint replacements. In addition, the notice must state that nominations for replacement board members may be taken from the floor at the meeting;

5. Have attached to it a copy of the signature list referred to in paragraph (2)(a) above;

6. Be mailed or delivered to all unit owners at least 10 days prior to the recall meeting, if the association is incorporated, unless a different time for notice of the meeting is provided in the cooperative documents. If the association is unincorporated, notice shall be mailed or delivered according to the time requirements stated in the cooperative documents for sending unit owner meeting notices; and,

7. Be delivered to the board at least 10 days prior to the recall meeting, unless the cooperative documents provide a different notice requirement. The notice shall become an official record of the association upon actual receipt by the board.

(3) Recall Meeting; Electing Replacements.

(a) Date for Recall Meeting. If the association is incorporated, a recall meeting shall be held not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days from the date the notice of the recall meeting is mailed or delivered, unless otherwise provided in the cooperative documents.

(b) Conducting the Recall Meeting. After determining that a quorum exists (proxies may be used to establish a quorum) and the meeting is called to order, the voting interests shall proceed, as follows:

1. A representative to receive pleadings (e.g., copies of a petition for recall arbitration; motions), notices, or other papers on behalf of the recalling unit owners in the event the board disputes the recall, shall be elected or designated by the presiding officer.

2. A person to record the minutes of the recall meeting, who shall not be a board member subject to recall at that meeting, shall be elected or designated by the presiding officer.

3. The requirements of this subsection do not prohibit the voting interests from electing one person to perform one or more of these functions.

(c) Recall Meeting Minutes. The minutes of the recall meeting shall:

1. Record the date and time the recall meeting was called to order and adjourned;

2. Record the name or names of the person or persons chosen as the presiding officer, the recorder of the official minutes and the unit owner representative’s name and address;

3. Record the vote count taken on each member of the board sought to be recalled;

4. State whether the recall was effective as to each member sought to be recalled;

5. Record the vote count taken on each candidate to replace the board members subject to recall and, if applicable, record the specific seat the person was elected to, in those cases where a majority or more of the existing board was subject to recall; and,

6. Be delivered to the board and, upon such delivery to the board, become an official record of the association.

(d) Separate Recall Vote. The voting interests shall vote to recall each board member separately, unless otherwise provided in the declaration or bylaws.

(e) Filling Vacancies. When the voting interests have recalled one or more board members at a unit owner meeting, the following provisions apply regarding the filling of vacancies on the board:

1. If less than a majority of the existing board is recalled at the meeting, no election of replacement board members shall be conducted at the unit owner meeting as the existing board may, in its discretion, fill these vacancies, subject to the provisions of Section 719.301, Florida Statutes and Rule 61B-75.006, Florida Administrative Code, by the affirmative vote of the remaining board members. In the alternative, if less than a majority of the existing board is recalled at the unit owner meeting, the board may call and conduct an election which meets the requirements of Section 719.106(1)(d)1., Florida Statutes and Rule 61B-75.005, Florida Administrative Code, to fill a vacancy or vacancies;

2. If a majority or more of the existing board is recalled at the meeting, an election, which is subject to the provisions of Section 719.301, Florida Statutes, and Rule 61B-75.005, Florida Administrative Code, shall be conducted at the recall meeting to fill vacancies on the board occurring as a result of recall. The voting interests may vote in person or by limited proxy, to elect replacement board members in an amount equal to the number of recalled board members.

(f) Taking office. When a majority or more of the board is recalled at a unit owner meeting, replacement board members shall take office:

1. Upon the expiration of five full business days after adjournment of the unit owner recall meeting, if the board fails to hold its board meeting to determine whether to certify the recall within five full business days of the adjournment of the unit owner recall meeting; or,

2. Upon the expiration of five full business days after adjournment of the board meeting to determine whether to certify the recall, if the board fails to certify the recall and fails to file a petition for arbitration; or,

3. Upon certification of the recall by the board; or,

4. Upon certification of the recall by the arbitrator in accordance with subparagraph (3)(b)4. of this rule, if the board files a petition for recall arbitration.

(g) After adjournment of the meeting to recall one or more members of the board of administration:

              1. Any rescission of an individual unit owner vote or any additional unit owner votes received in regard to the recall shall be ineffective.

              2. Where the board determines not to certify the recall of a director and that director resigns, any appointment to fill the resulting vacancy shall be temporary pending the arbitration decision.

(4) Substantial compliance with the provisions of subsections (1), (2), and (3) of this rule shall be required for the effective recall of a board member or members.

(5) Board Meeting Concerning a Recall at a Unit Owner Meeting; Filling Vacancies. The board shall properly notice the board meeting at which it will determine whether to certify the recall of one or more board members at a unit owner meeting. It shall be presumed that recall of one or more board members at a unit owner meeting shall not, in and of itself, constitute grounds for an emergency meeting of the board if the board has been provided notice of the recall meeting as provided in subparagraph (2)(b)7. of this rule.

(a) Certified Recall. If the recall of one or more board members at a unit owner meeting is certified by the board, the recall shall be effective upon certification, and the following provisions apply:

1. Each recalled board member shall return to the board all association records in his possession within five full business days after adjournment of the board meeting at which the recall was certified.

2. If less than a majority of the existing board is recalled in a certified recall, a vacancy or vacancies on the board may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining board members, subject to the provisions of Section 719.301, Florida Statutes, and Rule 61B-75.006, Florida Administrative Code, regardless of whether the authority to fill vacancies in this manner is provided in the cooperative documents. No recalled board member shall be appointed by the board to fill any vacancy on the board. A board member appointed pursuant to this rule shall fill the vacancy for the unexpired term of the seat being filled. If the board determines not to fill vacancies by vote of the remaining board members or if it is unable to fill vacancies in this manner (e.g., if there is a tie vote on the proposed replacement member; if a quorum is not obtained, or otherwise), the board may, in its discretion, call and hold an election in the manner provided by Section 719.106(1)(d)1., Florida Statutes and Rule 61B-75.005, Florida Administrative Code, in which case any person elected shall fill the entire remaining term.

3. If a majority or more of the board is recalled in a certified recall, those replacement board members elected at the recall meeting shall take office upon adjournment of the board meeting at which it was determined to certify the recall. A board member who is elected to fill a vacancy caused by recall shall fill the vacancy for the unexpired term of the seat being filled.

(b) Non-certification of Recall by the board. If the board votes not to certify the recall of one or more board members at a unit owner meeting for any reason, the following provisions apply:

1. The board shall, subject to the provisions of Chapter 61B-50, Florida Administrative Code, file a petition for arbitration with the division (i.e., be received by the division) within five full business days after adjournment of the board meeting at which the board determined not to certify the recall of one or more members of the board.

2. Any board member sought to be recalled shall, unless he resigns, continue to serve on the board until a final order regarding the validity of the recall is mailed by the arbitrator.

3. If the arbitrator certifies the recall of less than a majority of the board, the remaining board members may fill the vacancy or vacancies as provided in subparagraph (5)(a)2. of this rule.

4. If the arbitrator certifies the recall of a majority or more of the board, the term of office of those replacement board members elected at the recall meeting shall become effective upon mailing of the final order of arbitration. The term of office of any replacement board member shall expire in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (5)(a)3. of this rule.

(6) Board Meeting Minutes. The minutes of the board meeting at which the board determines whether to certify the recall by vote at a unit owner meeting are an official record of the association and shall record the following information:

(a) The date and time the board meeting is called to order and adjourned;

(b) Whether the recall is certified by the board;

(c) The manner in which any vacancy on the board occurring as a result of recall will be filled, if the recall is certified; and,

(d) If the recall was not certified, the specific reasons it was not certified.

(7) Failure to duly notice and hold the board meeting. If the board fails to duly notice and hold a meeting to determine whether to certify the recall within five full business days of the adjournment of the unit owner recall meeting, the following shall apply:

(a) The recall shall be deemed effective immediately upon expiration of the last day of five full business days after adjournment of the unit owner recall meeting.

(b) If a majority of the board is recalled, replacement board members elected at the unit owner meeting shall take office immediately upon expiration of the last day of five full business days after adjournment of the unit owner recall meeting, in the manner specified in this rule.

(c) If the entire board is recalled, each recalled board member shall immediately return to the replacement board all association records in his possession. If less than the entire board is recalled, each recalled board member shall immediately return to the board all association records in his possession.

(8) Computation of five full business days. In computing the five full business days prescribed by Section 718.112(2)(k), Florida Statutes, and these rules, the day of the act from which the period of time begins to run shall not be included. Intervening days which are a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday as designated in Section 683.01, Florida Statutes, or as that section may subsequently be renumbered, shall not be included. The last day of the period which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday as designated in Section 683.01, Florida Statutes, shall be included.

Specific Authority 719.501(1)(f) FS. Law Implemented 719.106(1)(f) FS. History–New 12-29-92, Formerly 7D-75.007, Amended 8-24-94, 11-15-95, 2-19-01.