I am at my wits end...

Hi Sue, I see you got a problem, no doubt of that!

First, you are not the first to have to cope with something like this. Second, part of your problem, and sticking to an abstract view, is you must be doing something wrong after all these years. Five years running is much too long for this kind of thing to drag out.
But, what to do? As you can see from reading your post, you present an array of individual objections. It would help you search for resolution if you broke this all done to bullet points and list them in order of importance. You need to analyse your concerns.

Nothing you are experiencing is brand new. Some of the items you list are more important in what they suggest than what they say. Let me give you a short overview.

First you have to know your covenants, the state statutes and have a resource to go to to get resolution. To say your board doesn't help with your problem nor your M/C nor the courts, nor any legal help is speaking more toward a serious crimp in your organization than your personal problem. I may be you can't solve your problem if your presentation is accurate. That means you have to work changing the system. If it don't work for you, it won't work for others, which means you probably have a lot of dissatisfied members. You need to identify them and organize them to seek change. That is a big order. From your post, it sounds as if you could get your renter neighbor gone, your life would improve somewhat and this may be, but you have not solved anything, it is just that the trouble is not bothering you. It also could be that you are wrong in what you expect to some degree or maybe completely wrong, but I doubt that.
I would put your individual problems on the side burner and do what you can to move them along with lawyer. Get a few of your neighbors and use that room you spoke of to announce a town hall meeting. The purpose would be to discuss similar concerns about your HOA. Strictly business, strictly non-confrontational, just a discussion. Set a time limit, keep it loose so people can speak and see what comes up. I bet you will discover some direction. Keep your person problem to a line or two and seek no solutions there. Seek support for common interests.

This is far too long a post on my part, but think it over, more important, talk it over with a few neighbors.

Sue... I am sorry to hear your issues. It's hard when a board essentially is not willing to communicate or enforce rules and regs. You have legal rights and if the board is found at fault for not enforcing them.. they too can have legal action taken upon them. Please read below.

I was a owner of a small condo in California.. There was issues of board members essentially being exempt from simple rules lets use as an example the wrong color fencing which ideally is outlinedin our hand books and governing documents. ( this is just a similiar example of what happened when I was on the board) I brought up my concerns to the board ,because if anyone bothered to read our governing docs which I did it was plain in sight that Suzy Q board member was not up to standing in her regards to the basic rules. It was argued that I had an "an agenda" against this board member and I was ignored... fully. Despite having it in the minutes, discussed openly in executive... They claimed that her "fence color" was never and issue before, nobody ever enfoced it and that they would not either.... I envited them to read our regs, ect. It still fell on deaf ears... It was not until I had my personal attourney submit a professional letter outlining that I have requested to paint my fence the same color as board member Suzy Q... and he quoated our regs, the legal action that I personally can take if the board denies me to paint my fence this color and that they could individually be suied for not holding up consistent rules, regs an observe the basic governing documents that bound us to the Davis Sterling Act..

Can you guess what the outcome was??? Suzy Q board member got a letter from her own board stating she had to "paint her fence" the same as all of us. The fence scenerio is not really what happened, but you get the idea.

Board members are not always ethical people, the do not get screened, and they volunteer thier time. They do not get paid a salary nor do they serve as on sight management.

I would suggest to you like I would anyone in your situation if you are not happy. DONT' BE AN APATHETIC HOMEOWNER WHO POINTS FINGERS AT A FAILING BOARD.. GET ON AND SERVE YOURSELF! Not meant as a disrespectuful comment, but it's often the issue that homeowner's are willing to complain about very legitmate issues, but will not step up to make a difference and make an effort to serve on the board themselves in order ot make a difference.

Thanks for asking Robert. I am asking my attorney to send a letter to the BOD. They could care less about enforcing the CCRs. I just don't see how to do this any other way. The same people are nominated to the board every year. However, I am going to try to get on the board. Thank you for checking in. Merry Christmas.

I would suggest you see if you can find an attorney who will take the enforcement case on a contingency basis. There is at least some chance that some others would prefer the Board take some action as well.

Sue,
Just my opinion but it seems you are taking steps to lead you in the right direction. You may not get all you want from the lawyer and the board might resist or stonewall. That is out of your control, but I bet the action of doing it will open a door or two. As I have posted many times, this is no slam dunk, this will take time, effort and persistance. It is clear you think straight and I also don't condon lawyering the Board to death. They do have a side to be considered. It also is odd to me that we hear so much about apathy and let an owner get a lawyer and everyone sees this as a trouble maker. It is probably true a small amount of the time. The very act of getting a lawyer shows interest, I'm serious. I have had a lawyer send the Boards a couple letters and I can't say results were dramatic, but that was not my intent, nor was it to take it to the supreme court. I am at a loss where members offer their help the Board just don't invite you to a meeting or personally discuss with you what your interest are.

Keep up the good work.