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Board Member is a Bully!!!, What to do.

Started by MichaelS45 • 13 replies • 3024 views

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MichaelS45 (Nevada)
Posts: 2
Posted:
I have a Board Member who owns 11 units in a 140 Unit Condo Association.....He is a bully, he berates other unit owners, board members, and if improvements to the community do not directly involve his units he votes against them.Then when the rest of the Board votes for the said improvements he gets irate and starts yelling and screaming. We try to control him but it is very difficult....any ideas?
MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836
Posted:
Shoot him...;)

Just listen and then make the majority decisions...He's not on the board correct? Then board decides...
Former HOA President
MikeS1
Posts: 521
Posted:
Petition for Recall - Get rid of him. Not hard to do.
LarryB13 (Arizona)
Posts: 4,099
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By MelissaP1 on 08/30/2012 11:25 AM
Shoot him...;)

After you beat the crap out of him.
CarolR11 (Colorado)
Posts: 2,563
Posted:
Sounds like you're on the board, yes? How many directors are there, Michael? Won't they support basic courtesy & civility?

If he's an officer, a majority of the Board can vote him out of that position (but not off the Board)

For starters, go to davis-stirling.com and scroll to "censure" for some ideas. While the site mainly deals with CA legislation, there's a lot of advice that's useful to those in other states. The censure procedures, for instance, come from Robert's Rules of Order, I think.

Also there might be something helpful in your Bylaws.
BruceF1 (Connecticut)
Posts: 2,535
Posted:
Sounds like he's a baby, too.
BruceF1 (Connecticut)
Posts: 2,535
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By MelissaP1 on 08/30/2012 11:25 AM
Shoot him...;)

But first, only in the kneecaps.
LarryB13 (Arizona)
Posts: 4,099
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By MichaelS45 on 08/30/2012 11:19 AM
I have a Board Member who owns 11 units in a 140 Unit Condo Association.....He is a bully, he berates other unit owners, board members, and if improvements to the community do not directly involve his units he votes against them.Then when the rest of the Board votes for the said improvements he gets irate and starts yelling and screaming. We try to control him but it is very difficult....any ideas?

Check out state statutes on what a board member must do if he has a conflict of interest. If it prohibits voting by a conflicted member, inform him that he may not vote on anything that will directly benefit his own properties.

When he starts screaming, get out your video camera and start recording. Many times a person will cool off if he knows his behavior is being recorded. Most cell phones have a video recorder. Imagine his reaction if everyone else on the board started shooting video at once. If there are homeowners in attendance, I would encourage them to do the same.

If all else fails, arm yourself with one of those horns mounted on a can of compressed air. If he starts screaming, blow the horn until he calms down.
BruceF1 (Connecticut)
Posts: 2,535
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By LarryB13 on 08/30/2012 12:43 PM
If all else fails, arm yourself with one of those horns mounted on a can of compressed air. If he starts screaming, blow the horn until he calms down.

But issue earplugs to yourself and all the other board members, except this person, first.
MikeS1
Posts: 521
Posted:
Ttracheal thrust or strike would do wonders and leave him speechless. If only.
MichaelS45 (Nevada)
Posts: 2
Posted:
He is on the Board.....one of the main problems is the rest of the Board doesn't have big you know whats to tell him to sit down and shut up, I am thinking about bringing legal council to the next meeting.
BruceF1 (Connecticut)
Posts: 2,535
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By MichaelS45 on 08/30/2012 2:09 PM
He is on the Board.....one of the main problems is the rest of the Board doesn't have big you know whats to tell him to sit down and shut up, I am thinking about bringing legal council to the next meeting.

Actually, it;s the president's job to tell him when he's out of order.

Maybe your board members should "fire" the current president and elect a stronger person to do the job?
CarolR11 (Colorado)
Posts: 2,563
Posted:
Bruce is right. the president has the job of keeping order in the meeting, keeping it on task, etc. But any of you can call "point of order" and ask the president to instruct the bully to be civil, or whatever. Do it over & over again during meetings when Owners are present.

If he's disruptive during executive session, keep interrupting his rudeness. I also think that your Board can form an "Executive Committee" at least for executive session and exclude him entirely for discussions that involve a conflict of interest. Not sure though, better look it up at davis-stirling.com.

But why are the other directors afraid of him?? Are they all frail, older woman and he's a bulky guy? Has he threatened others with physical harm??

But, uh, oh; thinking about what you've written: Are you the President?? At least on my Board, only the prez has the authority to contact our legal counsel. And only a majority of the Board can ask that attorney to to something for which we'd have to pay him his hourly fee, e.g., come to a meeting (phone calls to him are free). But it might be worth the fee in this case!
CarolR11 (Colorado)
Posts: 2,563
Posted:
Bruce is right. the president has the job of keeping order in the meeting, keeping it on task, etc. But any of you can call "point of order" and ask the president to instruct the bully to be civil, or whatever. Do it over & over again during meetings when Owners are present.

If he's disruptive during executive session, keep interrupting his rudeness. I also think that your Board can form an "Executive Committee" at least for executive session and exclude him entirely for discussions that involve a conflict of interest. Not sure though, better look it up at davis-stirling.com.

But why are the other directors afraid of him?? Are they all frail, older woman and he's a bulky guy? Has he threatened others with physical harm??

But, uh, oh; thinking about what you've written: Are you the President?? At least on my Board, only the prez has the authority to contact our legal counsel. And only a majority of the Board can ask that attorney to to something for which we'd have to pay him his hourly fee, e.g., come to a meeting (phone calls to him are free). But it might be worth the fee in this case!

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