Disruptive Homeowner

First, Don't take any of this advice without speaking to your attorney, but my non-professional opinion is:

Adopt Robert's Rules of Order. Publish the meeting rules and agenda prior to the meeting. These will say when certain people have the floor and for how long. Go over the rules and agenda at the beginning of the meeting and stick to them. The President should enforce the rules.

If you anticipate this person causing the same problem again, then consider hiring an off-duty police officer to act as security for the meeting. Do not physically touch the disruptive person.

If the person is continually out of order, then ask them leave the meeting; once asked to leave, due to breaking the rules they are trespassing so either (1) have your off-duty officer escort them out; (2) Call the police or (3) Inform the members that due to disruptive behavior, the meeting will be adjourned.

Consider setting up public (not hidden) video taping of the proceedings, which can sometimes calm individual behavior. Point out that the proceedings are being video taped at the beginning.

JodiL--- Please refer to State Statutes 720 Meetings.........Then refer to your Bylaws ....About the difference between a BOD Meeting and the Members meetings..Sometimes Members need to be "reminded" about the rules... when to speak and when not to speak.....Also at our HOA we usually place something on our agenda if we wish to address the BOD at their meeting... Best of Luck with your dispruptive Member.Also you may want to check with your local Sheriff if you could a temp trespass prder against him if he acts up again at the meetings...get him on video........and this is just my opinion not a legal one Linda C

Re: Roberts Rules - Easy to find on the Web, and/or any of the big book store chains, and library.

This is really helpful, we don't have an abusive person - but definitely a DISRUPTIVE homeowner that is a past President. (Who just comes to meetings to 'stir the pot') then of course the board gets sidetracked and NOTHING gets done.
I am actually the Pres. now - and I think I have to be more direct in using Roberts rules - and not back down!
Last meeting he actually raised his hand and said he had a question, and before I could answer he said 'I know you don't like questions, or at least questions from me'
I let him ask the question ( which was going to be covered in our next agenda subject ). But then he started talking to other homeowners in the room - and there was a bit of chaos.

I see that this is from 2007 - but am going to apply this to our next HOA board meeting. ~ thanks, Karen