As of January 1, 2016, Montgomery County requires everyone serving on the Board of Directors of a Homeowners or Condominium Association to successfully complete an online education program developed by the county’s Commission on Common Ownership Communities. All newly elected Directors must complete the educational training within 90 days after being elected or appointed for the first time. If you were appointed prior to January 1, 2016, you must complete the requirement within 90 days after being elected for a new term after the law takes effect. In other words, current Directors will not have to run out and meet the requirement until re-elected. This free online training should take about 2 to 2.5 hours to complete. It will include quizzes that the Director must pass to obtain certification. The Montgomery County training program can be found by going to the following link: http://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/CCOC-Training/.
Please note that the new law makes no distinction between those elected or appointed by the initial developer or builder versus those elected by the homeowners. So, developer/builder-appointed Directors will have to meet the requirement as well for any newly appointed positions they fill after January 1, 2016.
Each Association will be required to certify to the Commission that each Board member has completed the training, retain copies of the certification for inspection by the members of the association, and file an annual report with the Commission.
The new requirement is intended to ensure the continued success of the Homeowners and Condominium Associations throughout Montgomery County, through knowledgeable, educated and trained Directors.
If you have questions or need more information about the new training requirements, please contact me at (240) 778-2305 or by e-mail at mfaerber@mcmillanmetro.com.