L.B. from New Haven County, Connecticut writes:
Dear Mister Condo,
As a former Board member for my Association I am wondering if there is anything our current Board can do to remove a Board member who threatens, bullies and lies to owners to make the rest of the Board look bad and to get votes at election time? Our documents state he must be voted off by the owners, yet many are likely afraid of him. He makes personal verbal attacks on any female Board member in person and by e-mail. Myself and another female left the Board due to being continually harassed. He wants total control but has never educated himself on policies for the Association. He basically is trying to win a “popularity contest” however he has to do it with NO regards to the Code of Ethics for Board members. Anything we can do??
Mister Condo replies:
L.B., I appreciate the situation you have described but it is time for ALL unit owners to put the bully in his/her place. If you can’t wait for an election where you vote this person off the Board, then you can consult with your governing documents about holding a recall election. Keep in mind that other unit owners will need to volunteer to serve on the Board. If there are no other volunteers, the tyranny will continue. Associations are corporations run by volunteer leaders. They are bound by the association’s governance documents. They conduct the business of the association; no more, no less. Harassment is illegal but those being harassed need to alert the police and press charges. Bullies only win when no one challenges them. Time to fight back. Good luck!