Meeting transcript

I don't think I'd use it. The secretary is supposed to be paying attention to the proceedings anyway so the minutes are accurate. Remember, minutes aren't supposed to be a note for note recap of who said what, only a reflection of what the board discussed and the action taken. It might be tempting to post a transcript, but I'd worry about publishing a transcript where there could be some inflammatory language because a discussion got heated. Even if it's available on a secured website, this would become part of the association records and therefore subject to discovery of someone decided to sue over what was said.

If the secretary is worried about capturing everything, he or she could prepare an outline of the meeting and take notes under the pertinent section and note what the board did. For example, under Landscaping, he/she could write the board discussed two RPFs and voted to accept the RPF submitted by X company. If you want to say who made the motion and who seconded it, that's fine. You can also note if someone abstained due to a conflict of interest. That's all the information the minutes need, so if you're not already doing this, you need to start.

And once again, Henry, please, please, PLEASE invest in some education about best practices for HOAs, perhaps starting with best practices for running meetings! You and your colleagues may be happier in the long run.

I use the function for every meeting held on Zoom.

I would caution against posting an automated transcript unless you, at least, attach a warning that they may not be accurate. My limited experience with automated transcripts is that they are not usually very good at differentiating similar sounding words and can leave out words that are not spoken loudly enough. Leaving out a "not" or "un" can, obviously, change the meaning of a sentence.

I am an advocate of recording meetings in case there is ever a question of what was said. No matter how good the secretary is, they can make mistakes.

Why, is that important?

The question to Tim was redundant. I do know the law and I know how it is applied to HOA meetings in California. The question is, do you? Do I know everything? Never said I did, but none of my clients have ever been sue by anyone while I have managed their properties.

Do you care to comment on what you wrote in another thread, Nuisance or Troll, as I never posted a comment there? Or did you think I was RollandE?

hat's your opinion Max, and you know what they say about opinions and a-holes - everyone has one. You don't have to agree with what's written - people should be capable of taking some, none, or all of what's said and if it works, hooray. Yes, I know you've run a property management company and served on an HOA board, but that doesn't mean you know EVERYTHING. Life is constantly evolving and you will continue to learn something (or not) until it's time for you to take your dirt nap. Make your suggestion and be done with it.

I've always said this isn't an amen corner. Sometimes people come here with their minds already made up and want approval. When they're asked for more information or offered suggestions on what may really be happening they get mad because they're so convinced they're right. It never downs on them that there is another side (usually several) to consider, and that they may actually be wrong.

The trolling is one of the many double-edged swords in social media. There are people who try to help and others who just want to stir up nonsense then sit back and watch things explode - similar to using a magnifying glass to kill ants. You know these people wouldn't say half this crap in person because they don't want to get royally cussed out or worse. Or have someone point out their BS in front of everyone. Personally, I've learned to ignore what I consider foolishness and try to avoid name-calling. If all else fails, I go do something else.

I did a test yesterday and found that a transcript is only created when a recording of the meeting is created. I don't wish to record the meetings because it will stifle conversation and be uncomfortable for us, so the idea of creating an automated meeting transcript will not work after all.

Tim,

This is the opinion of legal counsel:

Recording Open Meetings. With the board's permission, the secretary may record open board meetings to assist in the preparation of minutes. Once the minutes have been approved by the board, the recording should be erased. The recording secretary can, but is not required, to announce that he/she is recording the meeting. Even though the secretary may record meetings for the purpose of preparing minutes, the board can disallow recordings by others, whether it be members or other directors.

Recording Executive Session. Because of the sensitive nature of subjects dealt with in executive session (litigation matters, attorney-client communications, members discipline, personnel matters, etc.) executive session meetings should not be recorded.

Below are Zoom requirements when a meeting is being recorded. As I am the host, the recording feature is turned on before other individuals enter the meeting.

When joining a meeting that is already being recorded or the host begins recording, participants are asked to provide consent to being recorded. Depending on the account, admins can adjust this consent notification to only affect external participants, or apply to all meeting participants, internal or external alike. This notification can also be customized with additional information and a link, to a privacy policy, for example.

Note: If enabled by Zoom and an account admin, your microphone will be muted and your video will be off if you join a meeting with recording or live streaming already in progress. Once you provide consent, your microphone and video settings will revert back to the default for that meeting.

Sheila and others have suggested I present myself as someone who knows everything. What I don't know, I do my research. I also attend two HOA legal seminars each year and for the past two, because of virtual meetings being held because of the pandemic, this topic has been discussed.

The bigger question for the people who have been doing virtual meetings, why didn't they know this?

Max,

A yes or no to my question would have been simpler.