Blogging Board Meetings?

Started by BillD16 • 7 replies • 93 views

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BillD16 (Texas)
Posts: 974

Posted:

I’ve been pondering running for my HOA Board with the following platform: “I’m tired of the Board ruling in secrecy. And so if I am elected, I will attend every Board meeting, including working meetings and workshops, and post a summary to a blog website so that everyone will be aware of what the Board is doing.”

I understand that there may be some discussions that are private, but in general: is there any prohibition against me doing this? This is Texas.

Part 2: the HOA / PMC makes various records (financial records, for instance) available to homeowners on a password-protected website. If I (as a homeowner)(ie, I’m not on the Board) post copies of those records to a public website[1] is there any specific legal prohibition against this? I realize I can get sued for *anything*. But is there any actual basis in law that says I am required to respect the HOA’s wishes about what is private? I do not believe this is addressed in any of the governing documents.

[1] for instance, as I mentioned in another post, I’d like to make an AI package available to other homeowners so that they can discuss HOA finances with the AI.

HOA Board ex-President
Austin, Texas USA

“You can’t put too much water in a nuclear reactor”

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,062

Posted:

When I was having my issue, I would attend board meetings and send out a newsletter to owners about what happened at the meeting. Mind you, this was only to members, and it was in printed form. I would expect a huge outcry if it was posted on a public website.

Buyers tend to do research on the internet prior to purchasing. If I came across a public website on a development I was interested in, depending on the content, I may become more or less interested in buying in that neighborhood. If it was concerning finances, I would certainly be less interested.

Worst case, I suspect a seller might be able to bring legal action for the difference if they could prove that a sale for $x fell through because of your website resulting in them having to take a lower offer.

BillD16 (Texas)
Posts: 974

Posted:

Hi Tim! The scenario about getting sued for posting something that resulted in a lower selling price is interesting. Although it strikes me as unlikely. Although Texas is the home of the False Disparagement of Perishable Food Products Act of 1995, and they tried (but failed) to nail Oprah with that. I think the key is to always tell the truth. I realize this can sometimes be challenging. But the reason I’m thinking about this blog is because I want to circulate the Truth.

That said, it probably wouldn’t hurt to keep audio recordings. Which I realize could be an issue, too, but Texas is a one-party state, and even then I wouldn’t have a problem telling everyone I’m recording the meeting for my notes.

Bill

HOA Board ex-President
Austin, Texas USA

“You can’t put too much water in a nuclear reactor”

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,062

Posted:

I would check with an attorney on that issue.
Making the recordings to a third party may carry some legal issues.

MrTexaS1 (Texas)
Posts: 25

Posted:

I was recently on a different HOA board and in that one, someone was recording all the public part of the board meetings and posting them on youtube.

Some of the other board members wanted to figure out who it was and make them stop.

Personally I didn't care- I'm on youtube, great. People who missed the meeting can now watch and see exactly what was said. I have no problem with transparency.

KellyM3 (North Carolina)
Posts: 2,239

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By BillD16 on 05/17/2026, 8:46 PM

I’ve been pondering running for my HOA Board with the following platform: “I’m tired of the Board ruling in secrecy. And so if I am elected, I will attend every Board meeting, including working meetings and workshops, and post a summary to a blog website so that everyone will be aware of what the Board is doing.”

I understand that there may be some discussions that are private, but in general: is there any prohibition against me doing this? This is Texas.

Part 2: the HOA / PMC makes various records (financial records, for instance) available to homeowners on a password-protected website. If I (as a homeowner)(ie, I’m not on the Board) post copies of those records to a public website[1] is there any specific legal prohibition against this? I realize I can get sued for *anything*. But is there any actual basis in law that says I am required to respect the HOA’s wishes about what is private? I do not believe this is addressed in any of the governing documents.

[1] for instance, as I mentioned in another post, I’d like to make an AI package available to other homeowners so that they can discuss HOA finances with the AI.

Unless you can vouch that the AI software is fool proof/error proof, I'd not put my name on a public service (though it would be insightful for private use).

Regarding writing about the HOA meetings, you should run and ask to be secretary of the board. Keep it factual, avoid opinion and could be a responsible service.

BillD16 (Texas)
Posts: 974

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By KellyM3 on 05/19/2026, 7:00 PM

--------------------------------------
Quoted Post:
Posted By BillD16 on 05/17/2026

, 8:46 PM

I’ve been pondering running for my HOA Board with the following platform: “I’m tired of the Board ruling in secrecy. And so if I am elected, I will attend every Board meeting, including working meetings and workshops, and post a summary to a blog website so that everyone will be aware of what the Board is doing.”

I understand that there may be some discussions that are private, but in general: is there any prohibition against me doing this? This is Texas.

Part 2: the HOA / PMC makes various records (financial records, for instance) available to homeowners on a password-protected website. If I (as a homeowner)(ie, I’m not on the Board) post copies of those records to a public website[1] is there any specific legal prohibition against this? I realize I can get sued for *anything*. But is there any actual basis in law that says I am required to respect the HOA’s wishes about what is private? I do not believe this is addressed in any of the governing documents.

[1] for instance, as I mentioned in another post, I’d like to make an AI package available to other homeowners so that they can discuss HOA finances with the AI.
--------------------------------------

Unless you can vouch that the AI software is fool proof/error proof, I'd not put my name on a public service (though it would be insightful for private use).

Regarding writing about the HOA meetings, you should run and ask to be secretary of the board. Keep it factual, avoid opinion and could be a responsible service.

The AI software itself says “___ is AI and can make mistakes” right under the place where you type your query. Someone can sue me for *anything*. But I’m not sweating this one.

But I appreciate your concern :)

I get what you mean about being Secretary. But there’s too much time and too many people between me and the notes: I want to get them out in a few days, not a few months. Which is how long it usually takes. And I dislike the notion that the same people who are up to no good get to vote to approve?

FWIW, if I do decide to go ahead with any of this, I’ll drop a few $$$s on a lawyer consult.

Bill

HOA Board ex-President
Austin, Texas USA

“You can’t put too much water in a nuclear reactor”

JackS20 (North Carolina)
Posts: 271

Posted:

We post ai summaries about 2 minutes after the meeting is over and members can view the online video recording and transcript too, no one has bothered to so far. I know because the link is to a google drive and the shared folder requires an interested party to ask for viewing permission. no one has asked, lol.

This was not possible because the board agreed to be this transparent. it was possible because I put forth a CCR amendment that required it and over 90% of the owners approved it. 3 board members have come and gone that did not like this policy, and point blank asked to have a "secret board meeting" aka non public.

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