Dealing with Vindictive Former Board Members

Hi folks. I'm on the BOD for a community in PA with 138 single-family homes. About a year and a half ago the community demanded the impeachment of the BOD for their lack of fiscal responsibilty. A new BOD was elected and started getting things straightened out (funding our reserve account, etc). There are two members of the former board who have been especially obnoxious since the new BOD took over. They spend their time spreading lies and trying to cause rifts in the community. My question pertains to dealing with this type of individual. While I try to "turn the other cheek", it's not easy when they hurl personal attacks at me and my family. Any suggestions on positive approaches to this situation? I'm at my wits end with these two.

Thanks.

Peny:

That is a hard situation to deal with. I can't say I have dealt with that from former members but have dealt with it from a neighbor. This is what I would do in your situation, I am assuming you are on the new board. I think it is important for the new board to be as open as possible with the community, if they have questions, answer them, if they have issues address them. Use newsletters and your website to get information out about what you are doing, when meetings are, etc.

People are smarter than you think, while these two may for a little bit have others believing the lies, sooner or later they will be seen for what they are, a fungus. If they are just spreading rumors and personal attacks by mouth I would just ignore it. If they are presenting themselves as BOD when they spread the rumors I would have a conversation with your HOA attorney about sending a cease and desist letter. If they are sending out written material which contains personal attacks you have a couple options. You can ignore them, you can contact the police if you believe it is threatening or harassing to you, or you can contact a lawyer if you believe it to be written slander.

Bottom line is they are fungus searching for a host to sustain their life. If you ignore them and the board is open and honest and communicates with their membership sooner or later this fungus won't have a host to live off of and will fade away. But, you don't have to take harassment or threats, contact police immediately if that is happening, a stern talk from the cops often rights many wrongs.

You are right Harold, I'm dreaming of a better world (and A White Christmas).

I don't remember saying anything in my message about neighbors reporting on neighbors though. I'm a tell it to my face kind of person. It's amazing how much back-pedaling the gossips do when you talk to them face to face. I had one women on the board tells me that it was too dangerous to do that, but I spent 8 years in the military, and hopefully they don't shoot at me, or try to make me do push-ups.

I'm glad we are moving next year, no more HOA, but of course people are pretty much the same everywhere, just a different location.