Board clique to protect jobs

Usually our five member BOD operates without a full board. They have a problem getting volunteers. Recently one of our board members had to step down.(we did have a full board) Upon learning of this one of my friend applied for the board position. Our "Ombudsman/homeowner" came to my friends house to ask all kinds of questions. He seems to be interisted in my friends views on hiring an Ombudsman, along with other things. He left my friends house with these words.

Quote;
I will present your application to the board, they will need to interview you and take a vote. But we really don't need another board member at this time, as we have a quorum with just four members. However you can still run for the board at the next election.

My friend is more than qualified, He is a member in good standing. His wife has served on the board in the past. His only problem is he is a friend of mine, they know my position on hiring an expensive "in house" Ombudsman/Homeowner for $82.500 a year, along with an "in house" attorney for $170,000 plus a year. (Ombudsman & Attorney are friends)both are usually present at every executive session. Many of our homeowners are against hiring an Ombudsman, so I am sure he is worried about his job. In the past it was the Ombudsman that beat the bushes to find another board member when their was a vacancy. So we ended up with a clique board. (more like a dictatorship)

I was told that at our next general session, if the position was still open another homeowner could nominate my friend from the floor, and take a vote of the members present. Is that possible, or do we need to wait for the next election ?

If their was one point I could get across to this board, it would be that their fudicery duty is to PROTECT THE HOMEOWNERS not someone's job.

NancyM2

Roger; In other words we would have to ask our Mgmt Co to put this on the agenda for the next meeting. Then we could nominate someone from the floor, and take a vote of the members at that time. (fat chance that will happen) However one of the new board members has been in touch with me and is alarmed about what is going on. He is starting to question all the secert stuff going on, he is against it. He wanted to bring up a subject at the last meeting and the board Pres told him to put it on next months agenda, (shut him right down)

My husband tells me if we try to nominate someone from the floor at the next meeting, they they would tell us to put it on the agenda for the next meeting. Is that correct? In the meantime they could take a vote to NOT except my friends application. Is that what you are trying to tell me? Our Ombudsman told me we didn't have a nominating committee at this time. Apparenty he has appointed hmself a party of one for this job.

Thanks again
NancyM2