This is some bullshit.

So when are these elections? And can a neighborhood recall their member or something like that?

How do you run for this. Ngl this is crazy let the people work or tell us what the problem was.

Are there options to get rid of the board at this point before they waste half a million?

This is terrible. It makes me angrier because there seems to be nothing we as citizens can do to stop them.

I believe April typically but some terms are two years. In terms of action you can speak at a board meeting (virtual option available I think) or email the board.

https://www.columbiaassociation.org/about-us/leadership/board-of-directors/resident-speakout/

Could stop collectively paying CA fees. But, I realize that would take some significant level of organization.

This isn't germane to the overall issue at hand, which is serious, but this statement in the article isn't correct and paints an inaccurate picture to people who aren't familiar with Columbia or Howard County: "effectively governed like a huge homeowners association with more than 100,000 resident"

The CA is not really like a full government. They manage the HOA rules for homes and businesses while maintaining large swaths of recreational infrastructure. But, they are not effectively governing Columbia. The county manages emergency services, the school system, local building codes, the courts, parks, roads, waste management, and more. That statement also neglects the thousands of people who live in Columbia's "out parcels" (that is, those areas not under the CA umbrella).

Yeah and they're paid already.

Villages can recall a board member by a vote of the village board. But I doubt any village board would be willing to do it. Though it would be something residents could lobby for - start a recall petition, get signatures, and take it to their village board and ask them to remove their CA rep. If you could get 200+ signatures that would be more than the average number of votes cast in most village elections! 😂

The best that could be done is for residents to start demanding resignations in Resident Speakout at the CA Board meetings or try to get their rep recalled by their village board.

Election rules are posted by each village in Jan-March (varies by village).

Ahh ok well looking forward to that.