Video Recording Meetings, Part 6/8: It doesn't matter if it's on video, it didn't happen

Video Recording Meetings, Part 6/8: It doesn't matter if it's on video, it didn't happen

I had an incident with our property manager at a meeting. We were discussing a critical issue, and she said she would look into it and have an answer at the next meeting. She wrote in her notes what she was to do, and it was made very clear for her to have an answer at the next meeting. This was not recorded in the minutes.

At the next meeting I asked her for the report. She said she had no idea what I was talking about. I refreshed her memory about the discussion and how she wrote it in her notes, and she said this was the first she was hearing about it. The other board members said nothing.

I have known her for years, and she has done this in the past. She had a history of not doing work and making excuses, but this time there was video.

This is why I record the meetings, so I have proof to confirm what I have said and what others say. I said that if needed we could review the video to refresh her memory since she was claiming the discussion never happened.

And then Mr. Liar said an amazing thing. He said, and I quote:

"It doesn't matter if it's on video, it didn't happen. She says there was no discussion, and even if it's on video, it didn't happen."

No residents or board members said anything. Ironically, what Mr. Liar said was recorded on video. I didn't know how to respond to something this crazy, and I still don't.

There is an important lesson here: Liars will lie even though they know they are being recorded. It is what they do, and a recording isn't going to change them. Some will even say the recording isn't real.

But if the need arises, a recording could be invaluable.

Next:
Part 7/8: The police aren't interested until I mention the video

I agree with you that your HOA has gone down the rabbit hole.

But again, I question your giving the HOA manager an instruction. With one exception, she takes instruction only from a board majority. The one exception is records reviews. If the manager had any smarts, she would tell you to submit a records request and otherwise, ignore these casual requests you make during board meetings.

Ben, you're right that I should have at least qualified my comment. I would need to know what the OP requested. Was it a task that would have taken hours? Was it effectively a records request?

Also I have seen managers who split hairs on the point and do all in their power not to help a minority board member. Where possible, the manager goes on the attack with the majority. Something like this seems to be happening at the OP's HOA. At this point it appears his battles are with people purposely behaving irrationally. It appears these people have made a conscious choice to harass the OP. Recording the meetings won't stop the irrational behavior. What will stop it is the OP's flipping the board so that with like-minded directors, he has majority control. This is unlikely, hence the OP's plan not to seek re-election. I suppose the OP is posting here for a reality check and to let others know that group dynamics at HOAs often yields grade school behavior.

We do it pretty much the way JohnC does.In fact our contract with our MC states the Board must choose one directors to be a liaison--usually the president. this is to keep 7 directors from asking about small maters every day and directing the onsite PM.

At meetings, no individual director may instruct our PM. If one director has a need, the Board must agree. If a director wants to inspect some records, they simply write the PM with their request like any other owner would.

so I agree with Augustin on that and his other fine insights too.

Isn't it lovely when that happens? Welcome to post-truth America. FWIW I'll wager that at the end of the day the police aren't interested after all, video or no video.

I used to do this, but she had gotten much better and was doing good on completing the tasks asked of her by the board, so I had greatly reduced the micromanaging I used to have to do.

I was surprised at her claim of no knowledge of the work she was supposed to do, as it was related to one of the biggest projects we would be doing that year.