Even though many would call this a generous and thoughtful act, it has recently landed Martin in trouble with his homeowners association, better known as the HOA. According to KPHO, what started as kindness has now led to a series of fines and a push by Martin to make big changes to the board itself.
“It’s for anyone out in the heat.” Martin told KPHO. “What better way to be a good neighbor than by offering cold water?”
But what was meant as a kind gesture soon drew criticism from the HOA and its management group, FirstService Residential. Last year, Martin received a $50 fine just for having the cooler visible from the street. When he didn’t pay it, the HOA bumped the fines to $100 per month for what they called ongoing noncompliance.
The HOA, however, insists that the issue isn’t about handing out water. According to them, it’s more about how the water is being distributed. They say the visible cooler is considered a violation because it looks like a form of advertising, which breaks the rules of the community.
“The community’s rules do not allow advertising distribution of water bottles from a portable ice chest that is visible from neighboring property,” the board explained in a statement to the New York Post.
To make that happen, he began collecting signatures from neighbors. His goal was to remove three of the board’s members. On July 10, a special meeting was held and about two dozen people showed up. According to the Post, 190 out of 210 ballots cast voted in favor of removing those board members—enough to meet the supermajority requirement.
But the HOA board quickly pushed back, claiming that the vote didn’t meet all the legal requirements. They said the notice and quorum rules weren’t followed properly and held an emergency meeting to throw out the results.
“This isn’t just about water.” he told reporters. “It’s about standing up for the community, and doing what’s right.”