HELP!!! Our HOA Board is resigning!!!!

With all of the controversy over horrible HOA Boards, what if the tables are turned and the Residents are bullying the Board?
We have a Resident who is angry because he was not Elected for the Board in 2008-2010 and is retailiating. Please note that he was President from 1998 to 2002. While on the Board, He caused alot of fights and went into a Law suit that didnt fly and we lost money because of it. He is a bully and has beat the HOA into the ground along with a few followers. Now the whole Board is resigning when their term is up in December. No one wants to run and no one is standing up.
We have accomplished much for the Community but no one sees that. We have a good raport with management and each other. All they do is look for the negative and complain. Some Residents do not come to the HOA Meetings because this person monopolises the Meeting and others do not have a chance to talk. If the Board tries to shut him up, his followers chime in with him. The Board may be demolished soon. Please help!!!

How can a non board member monopolize board meetings?

Are members allowed to chime in at any time?

Even if this is an Annual Meeting, how is it that the presiding officer does not bang his gavel and get the meeting under control?

Do speakers have time limits?

I have to say thanks to all of the responses to this posting. I'm president of a small (107 homes) HOA in Virginia. We have a couple who were on the board previously and have become quite harassing and overbearing at meetings.

At our recent annual meeting, during open forum the wife dominated the session, angrily charging that I as president and the board were not doing enough to enforce covenants in the community. She has made these points in the past at open sessions during our regular meetings but this time she got personal towards me.

So, I lost my cool. I was heated in reply, stating that what she sees as a violation does not mean that the board is not taking action. Amazingly, she quieted after that outburst.

We are already struggling to find volunteers to serve on the board or work in our community and this behavior from this couple will only compound the problem.

Coming to this post reminds me that we must not let these folks win. While they may make valid points, their manner and demeanor towards volunteers, people who are trying to do good and to help their community, is unacceptable.

At my next meeting, coming up in a few weeks, I will instruct all attendees that during open forum all participants (board and homeowner) will be expected to behave and converse in a civil manner and to keep all points concise and direct. Any outbursts by any member of the board or homeowner that is deemed to be uncivil will result in a premature closing of the open forum.

This site is a great encouragement to all who serve on HOA boards. Thanks to all!

If your meetings are out of control, technology is the only answer. Do all meetings via conference calls. Anyone can call in but will be muted. Questions/comments will be taken one at a time at the end of each issue, callers can be muted and un-muted by one person. This can force structure of people who cant get along and give time for homeowners to reflect, before they open their mouth. Anyone who goes off track can simply be muted. No physical confrontation issues. No police. New issues can be discussed at the end of the meeting, for discussion at the next meeting.

Sit in a normal town meeting sometime. Your HOA can do the same through conference calls. If your meetings are this bad, I would go this route.

Paul,

I suggest you consider amending your instructions to the members regarding their conduct at meetings. Instead of saying the open forum will be closed, state that the unruly member will be removed from the meeting. Why punish the other member who may wish to speak by closing the open forum. If need be, hire an off-duty police officer to escort the unruly member(s) from the meeting. Let the members know you are not opposed to doing this.