Threats

JC,

If the people feel that the threats were serious, they should make a police report. It's especially helpful if all four of them file separate reports, even more so if the person making the threats was a male and the victims were female. That way it becomes something official and not just a "feeling". Probably 99% of threats are just hot air, but you never know nowadays with all the kooks running around.

Then if the people who filed the police report wants to show it to other people running for office, it's up to them. That shouldn't be something that the HOA undertakes as part of their duties.

Unless you plan to have airport type security at your Board meetings, a guard isn't going to able to stop a violent person from doing something, so having security at Board meetings is pretty useless.

A male owner mailed the management co which then reported to the board. His says he is being harassed about minor things such as weeds and oil stains on his driveway when there is serious gang activity in the neighborhood that the management and board is doing nothing about. His threat is implied, and the management company did file a police report. The threat was implied and was not made to any individual. The board is both male and female.
A second is similar, complaining about unaddressed crime, s/he will take steps if the board doesn’t.
Another is a posting of notices by an unknown owner on light poles and in common areas describing that person’s complaints. This person basically does not like what happens to the money collected. He is also concerned that the board is not addressing the growing amount of crime.

We do have crime probably similar to other HOAs: graffitti to drugs, to gang activity and murder, and breakins of houses and vehicles. The board's message is for people to contact the police, the police handle such things,and to contact the manaagement co, to keep the mc and the board informed.

Two thngs come to mind: law and enforcement.

Your Board cannot do either and is not qualified to do either.

These incidents you relate are police issues.

Your Board DOES have the responsibility to approach the powers that be (mayor, council, sherrif dept. police department, fire department, code violations officer, etc. etc etc) to set up a Neighborhood Watch and ask for more patrols and better response from the law enforcement. Call a special meeting inviting the powers that be to speak to your neighborhood association on how to HELP fight crime.

Anyone threatening your board should be reported to the police.

I would hope that the Membership supports anyone who tries to serve their community by being on the Board.

But let's get a realistic handle on just what the Board's job is!! It's not to act as cops.

JC3, most of the posters here have stated to file a police report - as a former police officer, I agree. Now for follow-up or reverse question... Is the HOA doing what is appropriate in terms of addressing the issues which have caused the "threats?" You mentioned gang activity, grafitti, etc - what steps is the HOA taking to remedy/address the issue, AND what steps are being done to INFORM the owners that such action is taking place? If the response from owners is that they feel nothing is being done, they do have a right to address in any manner which is LEGAL. If that means setting up a Neighborhood Watch, independent of the HOA, that is appropriate. Saddling up and creating a "posse" to handle situations, probably is not "legal" and definitely is stupid; however if folks feel that they are not being heard, you never know.

Find out what is really "ailing" the community and work to correct that - and keep the community informed and encourage participation. Out of ten owners informed, you may get 1-2 actually involved - that is the "breaks" sometimes with an HOA. If you have four (out of no matter how many, I would assume that this is a healthy majority), resigning there is a brain, activity, and otherwise "drain" of your community's resources that is going to need to be corrected FAST!!! If you think you have "crime" now, wait and see what happens if enforcement of regular HOA issues (weeds, grass, decks, fencing, etc) is not monitored/policed - it only goes further downhill after that.

JC3: HOAs in our neck of the woods DO NOT have these problems. And I go further to say, it is not usual for an HOA to have the problems you are noting in your post.

The Board and MC are correct to inform owners to call the police. Not only that, if it is indeed a valid break-in or gang violence, the police should come to the 'scene of the crime' as they would for any other violation, write up the report and have it be a matter of record.

It's not wise, as a 'newbie' in a community, to arrive at wrong conclusions based on hearsay. The best way to help any situation is to be willing to serve in whatever capacity is needed and what would fit your abilities. Think about it. Good Luck! in your new residency and welcome to community living!