Councilor Maeximillian introduced an ordinance to the County Council on October 12th that would, for the first time, create a legal framework authorizing and regulating Homeowners Associations and Neighborhood Watches within the Township of Kaslo and the City of Jamestown.
The bill, formally titled the “Keeping Associations Responsible, Engaged, and Neighborly Ordinance” — or the “KAREN Ordinance,” alternatively backronymed as the “David Actually Violated International Decency (DAVID) Ordinance” — would require HOAs and Neighborhood Watches to register with the Department of Commerce as Private Municipal Organizations and would spell out, in detail, what each may and may not do.
How HOAs Would Be Formed
Under the bill, an HOA could be established only within Kaslo or Jamestown, and only by the Council. Owners within a proposed “Neighborhood” — a contiguous residential area of at least three Lots — could petition for formation with the written consent of at least two-thirds of the Lots’ owners, a list of interim directors, and proposed Governing Documents. The Council would have 14 days to hold a session on the petition and could reject it if, among other things, it overlapped an existing HOA, included public property, or if an interim director belonged to a registered criminal organization or gang.
Owners who did not consent to an HOA’s formation would become “Non-Member Owners” — exempt from dues, fines, and Covenants, though still required to follow Common Area Rules. No one could be required to join an HOA as a condition of buying, renting, or occupying property, and sellers would have to disclose an HOA’s existence before a sale.
Boards would be capped at three to seven directors, serving terms of no more than 60 days, elected by in-game ballot or a poll on the HOA’s official Discord server. The bill sets detailed rules for HOA finances, including a $2,500 per-Lot cap on assessments every 14 days, mandatory board approval for expenditures over $1,000, and member approval for anything over $10,000.
Guardrails on HOA Power
Section 11 of the bill lists activities explicitly prohibited to HOAs and their boards, including claiming any power reserved to a peace officer, towing vehicles from public property, restricting access to public roads or sidewalks, barring firearms from a resident’s dwelling or lot, limiting political signage, retaliating against residents who file complaints, or imposing fines through threats of violence or arrest. Any Covenant or Rule adopted in violation of the section would be void and unenforceable.
HOAs could hire private security, but only from a “Registered Security Organization” operating under a written agreement, and such security personnel would be barred from arresting, detaining, or searching anyone, from carrying non-civilian grade equipment, and from using uniforms, badges, or vehicle lighting resembling law enforcement.
Neighborhood Watches Get Their Own Rules
The ordinance separately authorizes Neighborhood Watches, which could be formed by an HOA’s board or by petition of at least three residents, subject to Council approval and a recommendation from the local police chief. Watch coordinators could be disqualified for a recent felony conviction, a conviction for impersonating a public servant, or gang membership.
Watch members would be permitted to observe and report suspected criminal activity, patrol public roads on foot or by vehicle, and post “Neighborhood Watch” signage — but would be barred from arresting or detaining anyone, searching persons or vehicles, carrying a firearm during a patrol, entering private property without consent, or using any badge, insignia, or emergency lighting resembling a law enforcement agency’s. Each registered Watch would be assigned a police department “Liaison Officer” to provide orientation and serve as a point of contact, though law enforcement would be barred from delegating any police duty to a Watch.
New Criminal Offenses
Section 19 of the ordinance would add a new chapter to the Harrison Criminal Code specifically covering conduct by homeowners associations and neighborhood watches. Among the new offenses: “Unauthorized Association Enforcement,” a misdemeanor for anyone who arrests, detains, or tows on an HOA’s or Watch’s behalf; “Unlawful Collection of Association Charges,” for collecting dues or fines without valid registration; “Misappropriation of Association Funds,” a felony for directors or coordinators who use HOA or Watch funds for personal benefit; “False Representation of Association Authority,” for claiming governmental or police authority; and “Armed Neighborhood Watch Patrol,” for carrying a weapon while on patrol.
Enforcement and Oversight
The Commerce Office would maintain a public registry of HOAs and Neighborhood Watches, and both would be required to renew registration every 90 days. Residents could file written complaints alleging violations, and the Commerce Office could issue warnings, order corrective action, suspend an association’s registration for up to 30 days, or recommend the Council revoke its establishment outright for serious or repeated violations. Decisions could be appealed to the County Court.
The ordinance would also create a formal dissolution process: HOAs could be dissolved by a two-thirds vote of members or by Council revocation, and associations that lapse in registration or lose all active officers for 14 days would be automatically marked inactive and eventually dissolved.
What’s Next
As introduced, the ordinance would take effect upon becoming law under Sections 25 and 26 of the County Charter. The Harrison Independent will follow the bill through the legislative process and report on any amendments or a final Council vote.
This is a developing story.