A Pugnacious Homeowner

Started by DeborahH6 • 7 replies • 200 views

💬 Join us to post & get advice from 50,000 HOA & Condo leaders.

⚡ Takes 30 seconds

Already a member? Log in

DeborahH6 (Maryland)
Posts: 2

Posted:

We have a Homeowner who was on the board but was voted off. She is not happy about this and is causing all sorts of problems for our HOA. The main issue is ever since she was voted off the board claims that she no longer has access to the community portal. We contacted the provider for our portal and they did some testing and assure us that this person has not been blocked in any way from having access. She is registered and the account is in good standing.
Any time the board sends out a blast to the community to go in to view a document she contacts us within a few days demanding copies and continues to say she has no access (this person is a 35 year old woman who is very tech savvy. We know this because we know her occupation.) (NOTE: a Blast come in via the Homeowner email this is why she is aware of what goes on)
This is driving our board in particular our secretary crazy. We are obligated to provide copies if requested but this has gone beyond rediculous.
Do any of you have an idea how to handle this situation?

Thank you for any help or suggestions you might provide.

ElleN (Idaho)
Posts: 1,335

Posted:

I think the quickest path to resolution may be this:

Have her come in with her computer and show you all exactly what she is doing.

Then have her borrow a director's laptop and try to login.

Is this her computer's problem? Is the problem the way she is logging in?

Give her the benefit of the doubt until then. Be unflappable. The woman has a right to access the portal yada.

SheliaH (Indiana)
Posts: 6,964

Posted:

I think she's doing this to be petty - it bites when youre sacked from the board, but it seems she deserved it. If she's as tech savvy as you say, she knows how to make screenshots of what happens and send them to you so your IT department would have something to go on.

Take Ellen's suggestion, adding you'd like to help, but can only do that if she comes in. Or she can use something like Microsoft teams to share the screen and show IT that way. Otherwise, you can't help.

If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it. Marcus Aurelius

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059

Posted:

If she is still an owner, she should have access to her account on the portal but not administrative or board level items.

If she is sending emails, she might not need administrative access.
She would simply need the email addresses of the membership which she most likely has simply by being a previous board member.

Of you are on the Board, the question to ask the website provider is who has admin access.

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059

Posted:

Realistically, the issue of being a contractor or employee will only come to a boil if someone complains to the IRS.

The individual could make the complaint.

A disgruntled member could make a complaint.

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

Ae you on the Board, Deborah?

And your HOA has no community manager who'd deal with these requests?

Is there any reason why the portal provider cannot contact her directly and "instruct" her how to use the portal?

Just curious: Our Community manager (25 story twin high rises) sends us owners eblasts probably 4 times a week. Almost all are things like "The pool will be closed for servicing from xx, xx, etc." In other words, there are very few "documents" to review on the portal. Typically in a month it'd be the financials, approved meeting minutes of open board meetings. And we owners aren't notified when they're posted, owners just go to the owners portal if they' interested.

So, to what kind of documents does your Board need to post so frequently? Sample of a few?

I'm starting to think, as Tim might be hinting, that she's requesting access to documents to which she's no longer qualified?

IWe've only had a few directors defeated for reelection and they all were for very good reasons, by the way.

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059

Posted:

BTW, just because she is quick to argue doesn't make her arguments invalid.

I hope that the board is taking complaints seriously and not dismissing them simply because they don't like the messenger or how it was presented.

DeanJ
Posts: 1,786

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By DeborahH6 on 01/16/2025 12:12 PM
We have a Homeowner who was on the board but was voted off. She is not happy about this and is causing all sorts of problems for our HOA. The main issue is ever since she was voted off the board claims that she no longer has access to the community portal. We contacted the provider for our portal and they did some testing and assure us that this person has not been blocked in any way from having access. She is registered and the account is in good standing.
Any time the board sends out a blast to the community to go in to view a document she contacts us within a few days demanding copies and continues to say she has no access (this person is a 35 year old woman who is very tech savvy. We know this because we know her occupation.) (NOTE: a Blast come in via the Homeowner email this is why she is aware of what goes on)
This is driving our board in particular our secretary crazy. We are obligated to provide copies if requested but this has gone beyond rediculous.
Do any of you have an idea how to handle this situation?

Thank you for any help or suggestions you might provide.

If you are “obligated” to provide printed copies, it really doesn’t matter if she has access or not. She can simply advise you she prefers printed copies and you need to provide them.

If this person is disgruntled, she is knowing inconveniencing the board for no reason other than irritate you. Speak to your attorney and determine if you have charge for copies and start making her pay in advance,

🎯 You've read this entire discussion

Join the conversation with 50,000 HOA & Condo Leaders:

✓ Ask follow-up questions
✓ Share your experience
✓ Get expert advice
✓ Access 350,000 discussions

Create Free Account →

⚡ Takes 30 seconds

Already a member? Log in here