Missing records/files

Last month I was elected to the HOA Board and also elected as the President. Two new BOD members were also elected. During our review of recent records, invoices, etc we cam across several invoices from the law firm representing us. The billing, which was sent to the MC, was for work they had done based on inquires sent to them from the MC. It appears from the very brief description we can read, that a major real estate/investment firm had made contact with the MC and was asking about a parcel of unused wooded land we own on the far end of the HOA. This property, about 11.4 acres, cannot be reached without traveling outside the HOA and driving about 2 miles to get to it. There are wetlands and a stream that prevents easy access from the side that borders us. However it is easily accessible from another state highway on the western side of the HOA.

We have owned the property since the HOA was developed some 22 years ago but it has remained vacant and unused. The interest in purchasing the pproperty intrigued us but we do not have any of the correspondence between any of the parites, the MC, the attorney or the investment firm. We have asked the MC for a copy of all the emails or written correspondence with the investment firm. Yesterday they replied to us that they don't have any files. Their email says all files were deleted/detroyed. I thought that records needed to be maintained 3-4 years, some even longer. Since we paid the MC for all the transaction that ocurred I believe we are entitled to this information.

Does anyone have a suggestion as to what our next step is in getting a copy of what transpired?

Thanks.
Dennisg7

So are the 3 of you new BOD Members the only BOD Members, or are there others? If others, I assume they aren't new and would have records that they can share with you.

Are previous BOD Members accessible? Contact them to see what they know and can share. If not accessible or refusing to assist, why is that the case?

If neither previous BOD Members nor MC are willing to help an entirely-new Board, then I assume there is a lot more going on that you either are (and are not sharing) or are not aware of.

I agree with John to move forward. Focusing on what happened in the past puts the future on hold. Times change rapidly. What was then isn't what's going on now.

Board members time is limited. Some Board members get so involved in the past, nothing gets done.

Does your HOA have a contract with the law firm you mention above? Whether you do or not, shouldn't you be contacting them for further details??? then, as Pat & JohnC advice, move forward. this could be a very nice thing for your HOA.