disgruntled ex board president

We are a small 56 unit HOA. We have a 5 person board. Our president quit by sending an e-mail to all owners stating I quit. I'm sick of this B***S***.
He had become toxic over the past year as president. Before being president, he was member at large. He got the presidents job as our treasurer and secretary,(myself) are handicapped and didn't feel capable of checking owners concerns physically. Our other 2 members, 1 is gone 1/2 to warmer climate. The other works long hours and didn't want the responsibility.
As president his strategy is to belittle the rest of board, calling them liars, refusing to accept motions, name calling, etc. Must have an anger management problem We had reached the point of possibly removing him as president when he quit. In June our Treasurer died and he stated he didn't want to be president next year, he wanted to be treasurer and so he took over the books.
He was asked when projects came up if we had the money and his response was yes.
Since he quit we have added a new treasurer and found we are almost broke for the year. Over budget in many areas and will not be able to complete some contracted items.

We will make do until the end of the year but now he has taken to writing almost daily e-mails to all unit owners. Here is his last one.

I would like to thank my friends for the kind words, the thank you and congratulations when I resigned from the board.
I know that some of you were truly saddened to see that I had resigned but after nearly 2 years I had enough. Especially when the one person I thought was a friend turned on me for something that was none of their business. That really hurt.
Out of all of the ex-board members that I had talked to none of them left the board happy. Especially when they worked with some certain board members who's names I won't mention. But I'm sure you already know.
Again I would like to say thank you.

Believe me no one on the board was sorry to see him leave.

The one before this was questioning why some work wasn't completed.
We have ignored his e-mails.

One of the large contracts we completed this year was many tree and shrub replacements. When we were compiling the list of these items, the ex president requested new shrubs around his deck.
As we only replace dead or dying bushes his request was denied. Believe me he wasn't happy. He then proceeded to ask the contractor to replace his bushes at his own expense and bill him
today he called the contractor and stated he won't pay for them.
As a board we have decided that we will not pay this. The contract was between him and the contractor, but we are sure he will be sending more e-mails to all owners.
I feel we should discuss at our board meeting and state in the minutes that a past board member contracted to have work done is now refusing to pay, No names mentioned but it should be pretty obvious.
We have not told anyone about his behavior, but our Annual meeting is in 2 weeks and we are pretty sure he will be disruptive.
We have now added rules regarding behavior to our rules and regulations.

Board members and residents shall not engage in any abusive or harassing
behavior, either, verbal, written or physical, or any form of intimidation or aggression directed
at other members, residents, guests, or vendors.
Everyday it's some new drama.
We didn't want to disclose his behavior to owners but how do we handle all this. We do not have a private e-mail system and as president he has everyone's e-mail so we can't stop him from sending e-mails.

the e-mail list is available to all owners. It is part of our directory so I can't limit his access to the list.
Haven't had any requests for him to stop e-mailing yet.
Do the owners have the right to know why he really quit.
We have one board member who is afraid of him. We have told her to call the police if he says or does anything that she feels threatened about.
We have not responded to his e-mails or told anyone outside the board about the nasty defamatory e-mails or blow ups.
when he quit he actually put all anything related to the board including our checkbook outside in his driveway.
Anyone could have taken it.
Luckily my husband went over and picked everything up.

Hmmm ... as the Board, simply don't pay any invoice for anything you haven't agreed to.

Ignore all the other stuff.

Ignore him. Plain and simple. He sounds like the type that will eventually fade away when he realizes he's not getting the attention he craves. Don't play his game.

Our insurance agent advised us to not permit Owners to do hardly any tasks s many could involve possible injury. Digging two small shrubs out of the ground probably wouldn't be risky. His examples were getting on ladders, messing with electricity, being in our mechanical rooms (high rise) or walking near mechanical equipment. Still If the landscaper tries to make your HOA pay for his separate agreement with them, in writing, remind the vendor of the ex-prez's agreement with them.

Otherwise, ignore as other recommend.

If you feel you most protect your association, I suppose you could place his behavior on an executive session agenda and, as a Board, vote to reject his incivility or some such. This could be part of a discussion among directors about whether you want to have an attorney write a cease and desist letter to him. Now, I don't think that this really is a choice. But you can talk about it and include all his emails as supporting materials in your board packet. I'd call this agenda item Potential Legal Matter. This way, you have a record of being aware of all his harassing emails and you'd have a physical collection of them.

Others may have a better take on this possibility.

I would respond once providing the Board's position and inform the members you will not respond anymore. My concern with you taking the high rode and not responding is some members will believe him and think your silence is an admission of your guilt. I saw where one member was able to cause divisiveness, mistrust and chaos in an HOA by her mis-truths and rumors. It take years to clean up her damage. I believe the only responsible thing to do is cut out the cancer (shut him down) before he is allowed to infect the whole HOA. You need to do it with clear, honest communications that stick to facts and omit emotions. I know this is not easy and few like conflict but I wouldn't let it fester under the surface. Sticking your head in the sand never works.

Excellent advice, especially when someone perpetually asks if a question is real or hypothetical.