Here is the situation. A few years ago I volunteered to serve on the HOA board of directors, since they needed bodies. Up until now everything has been good for the most part. All of the board members get along, and we have been doing what we need to do, with no politics involved. However, that is about to change.
There is one long-time resident of the community who had served on the board for something like thirty out of the thirty-five years or so of the community’s existence. However, a few years ago, shortly before I came on board, he resigned from the board because he wasn’t getting his way on one issue. In my opinion, this was a very minor point and not worth quitting over, but it was his way or the highway and he walked.
During his time on the board he did not like to spend money at all, and a lot of things that should have been done during that time did not get done. We are now dealing with many of those issues, since they can not be put off any longer, and are paying now for the inaction over the years. The former agent for the management company told me that she thought the board needed new blood, and she was specifically thinking of him.
Well, this person now has decided he wants to serve on the board again. He did not run in the most recent election, which really did not matter since they never have enough members vote to meet the minimum requirement. Thus, for practical purposes, the only way to get appointed to the board is by vote of the existing members. The latest I have heard is that he wants to be appointed at the next meeting.
There are currently three members and two open positions. The first member is this person’s daughter-in-law, She has only been on the board for about a year and we all work well together. However, she could be expected to support him if he is appointed. She said that we need to appoint him at the next meeting.
The second person is another long-time resident who has been on the board for a long number of years. She has not said it directly to me, but reading between the lines she really does not want this person appointed again. She has talked about how he would probably oppose much of the work that needs to be done, and she also mentions how he had quit earlier. Her implied message is that if I vote against appointing him she will join me. She told the other member that we are not going to just appoint him as a formality but would interview him like any other person who wanted to join the board.
So, that is where I am. On one hand, I would prefer that this person not be on the board for the above reasons. On the other hand, he is a resident of the community in good standing and I really don’t see any valid reason to oppose his membership, other than I do not agree with many of his positions.
The easiest way out would be for another former board member to rejoin. He came on board just before me and stepped down last year. He was very critical of how the necessary work was not done, and he especially focuses on this one person. If he would join too, that would give a third member not tied to this person. However, he has no interest. And, if both of them did join I could see some acrimony between the two of them.
So, what would you all do if you were in my position?