Privacy Policy

Who We Are

Cove is operated by GrowDirect Inc. on behalf of the Community of Abalone Cove (legally the West Portuguese Bend Community Association). This platform is used exclusively by its members to conduct community governance.

Information We Collect

We collect information necessary to administer your membership, including:

• Name, lot address, and Assessor's Parcel Number (APN)
• Lot email address and personal email address (for login and notifications)
• Voting records — a vote you cast in Cove is recorded against your lot, with your identity attached (see "How Votes Are Recorded" below)
• Document uploads and governance participation records
• Login timestamps and session data

How We Use Your Information

Your information is used solely to:

• Authenticate your access to Cove
• Record your participation in governance activities
• Send official community notices and login links
• Maintain records required by the Davis-Stirling Act

How Votes Are Recorded

Cove handles votes in two different ways, depending on what is being decided.

Votes cast in Cove are attributed, not secret. For matters the law does not require to be decided by secret ballot — board resolutions and operating rules — you vote in the platform, and Cove stores your choice together with your member record and your lot. After voting you are shown a receipt that names your choice. Because the stored record links your identity to your choice, the board, the association's administrators, and anyone with lawful access to the association's records can determine how you voted on these matters. Do not assume a vote you cast in Cove is anonymous, because it is not.

Matters the law reserves to a secret ballot are decided on paper, off the platform. Under California Civil Code §5100(a) that covers director elections, removal of a director, assessments requiring a member vote, and amendments to the bylaws or the CC&Rs. For those, ballots are distributed and counted on paper by an independent inspector of elections, and Cove plays no part in casting or counting them. Cove does not accept a vote on these matters and holds no individual paper ballot. What it stores is the inspector's certified result — the totals for each choice or candidate, the number of ballots received, and the certification document. Because the platform never sees an individual paper ballot, it cannot reveal how you voted on these matters.

Data Sharing

We do not sell your data. Member information is not shared with third parties except as required by law or to operate the platform (e.g., email delivery).

Data Retention

Governance records (votes, proposals, meeting minutes) are retained for the period required by California HOA law. Account data is retained while your membership is active.

Contact

Questions about this policy may be directed to the board at [email protected].