member threatened lawsuit

I know this is like suing yourself, but here is the story. The board received a petittion signed by owners with over the 25% interest required to call a members meeting to have a vote to allow dogs and cats to live in the building.
Our Master Deed states:
No use shall be made of the Property which would violiate the then municipal ordinances or state or federal laws, nor shall any act or use be permitted which would cause an increase in insurance rates on the Property or otherwise then to cause Liability or unwarrented expenses for the Association or any owner.

...All Owners, Occupants and their guests shall have a right of quiet enjoyment in the Property, and shall use the Property in such a manner as will not unduly restrict, interfere with or impede the use thereof by the Owners, Occupants and their quests.

We have a woman living in the building who is terrified of dogs. Her husband (former President) has threatened to sue if we allow cats and dogs to live here. This former President allowed a vote on animals at the animal meeting which was determined to be invalid by the board (with 2 new members)

Should we have the members meeting and allow a vote even though a lawsuit has been threatened. And do you think since this man allowed a vote on animals while President, that may work against him.

Many people for animals do not understand the extra expense this may cause us.

Thank you for your thoughts.

Thanks Glenl.

I am a new Board member and this is the first time I have heard (as a Board member) the threat of a lawsuit.

When I was President if someone threatened to sue, I would invite them to do so at their expense. The HOA can always counter-sue which doesn't cost anything but a reply...

The board must call the meeting if all rules have been followed for the meeting. That does not mean that a decision has to be made.

I am not susre what you mean by "rule". If this new "motion" to establish a "rule" is going to be in the bylaws or the CCRs will change, then I am sure there are other procedures you must follow.

Allowing pets is a HUGE step for an HOA that has never had them before. Much thought should be put into all the surrounding restrictions (size? number? cleanup? leash? noise? etc etc.)

Perhaps just establishing a committee to work on all this would be the prudent thing to do right now, with the vote on the actual "rule" to be set for later.

Our Master Deed states:
No use shall be made of the Property which would violate the then municipal ordinances or state or federal laws, nor shall any act or use be permitted which would cause an increase in insurance rates on the Property or otherwise then to cause Liability or unwarranted expenses for the Association or any owner.

...All Owners, Occupants and their guests shall have a right of quiet enjoyment in the Property, and shall use the Property in such a manner as will not unduly restrict, interfere with or impede the use thereof by the Owners, Occupants and their quests.

Very interesting wording, taken at literal reading. I would bet that most anything someone does violates a state or federal law now-a-days, somehow/somewhere. Heck, even thinking can be a federal crime now, if they Feds want it to be. So, you've likely already broken that regulation into pieces. Tack onto that the prohibition of doing anything that would cause an insurance rate to rise (dancing? gymnastics? having a party?) or doing something that would cause an unwarranted expense, and that could be a lot of things.

One last thing to remember, the Former Prez Wife may sue, because having pets unduly restricts/interferes with her use. However, everyone else can sue because a refusal to allow pets may unduly restrict and interfere with their use of the area as well.

So, do the meeting, write the ballot up, do the vote, and let the lawsuits fall where they may. If you have done everything properly, you have little to fear, honestly.