Attendance at HOA Meetings

A friend's HOA has no conditions on who can attend open meetings of the HOA. The President's "boyfriend" attends and dominates the meeting with his opinion, suggestions for wording on resolutions, etc.

This is in Maryland; HOA's are close corporations, but to my knowledge there is no statutory barrier for non owners to attend meetings of the corporation.

Unless the HOA takes its own action to restrict attendance, is there any other aspect of the law that might apply here?

Thanks! I've scanned through the Maryland General Corporate Law (MGCL) but perhaps missed something. If a member raises an objection, then there are some legal grounds for denying participation and/or presence?

They are usually nonstock corporations. Not for a minute do I believe all Md HOAs are close corporations.

In HOA. world, " open meetings of the HOA" has no meaning. Either the meeting is a meeting of the members (owners) or a meeting of the board.

The HOA's Bylaws should state who may attend either kind of meeting. Ours say only members (owners) may attend board meetings unless the board agrees that a non-member may attend.

What do you friend's Bylaws say about this topic?

Invited non-owners in my HOA,s Dean typically are this associated with some kind of project on the premises. Right now, for instance, our entire pool area is torn apart as piping under the area must be changed our for PVC piping after 23 years

So the project manager gave a report to the Board with excellent drawing, photos, etc. of what has been done so far, nests steps and time anicpatd when pool are will be reopened.

A different non-owner was a translator for an older owner who does not speak English who wanted to contribute during the Board meeting's open forum.

In my community, HOA meetings are for owners only, and I think you can make that argument anywhere and win. A non-owner doesn't have an interest in the community - even tenants who rent a house or condo are there because they signed a lease with the owner. Ultimately, the owner would be responsible for the conduct of his/her tenants (another large issue in HOA land). As for other owners, they're legally obligated to comply with the governing documents, such as paying assessments, so it makes sense for them to come to meetings to see who's making decisions and where the money's going.

We have a lot of people who rent out their homes (I live in a townhouse community) and once upon a time, tenants could attend only if they got permission from their landlords. In recent years, most only show up if they have a question or problem and speak during the resident forum at the beginning of the meeting. Owners use that time to comment, suggest or complain (sometimes all three!) about association issues, and when the forum ends, those folks and the tenants usually leave, so we don't enforce the permission stuff.

In your case (because this sounds more like a SWIM question), it seems to me the board needs to have a discussion with the president about her boyfriend's behavior. In fact, once the resident forum ends, we encourage homeowners to stay and listen to the proceedings, but don't take comments or suggestions from the floor so the board can get through the agenda. This is supposed to be a business meeting, and sometimes the agenda has time- sensitive items that must be addressed at that time. People who jump in saying whatever are rude and make the meeting last all night.

The board should set up some rules regarding attendee conduct (which should apply to board members as well). The rest of them should tell the president that she needs to find a way to rein in her boyfriend - unless his name's on the title, he really has no business being there (I don't care if they live together). She should do her job and preside and remind the guy what the rules are and if he can't refuse to comply, he an stay home and watch the White Lotus or something. Otherwise, he can take notes and write the board with comments and suggestions (or tell his girlfriend after the meeting). In the meantime, act like an adult and know when to speak and STHU.

As noted above, my HOA's Bylaws say "only members (owners) may attend Board meetings unless the board agrees that a non-member may attend."

Any owner may "participate" (speak) during the Borad meetings' open forum that's required in my state. But no directors or owner or guest may speak ("participate") unless acknowledged by the meeting chair.

What do you friend's Bylaws say, Richard?? abut non-owners attendance (presence) at Board Meetings?

If silent, I'd say your friend needs to start speaking up at board meetings to ask the meeting chair to permit their bonfire to only participate during open forum.

Mt HOA have a very nice set of guidelines for ownrs conduct at opine boar meetings, but if your friends prez is just gonna let BF yak whoever he feels like, formal guiltiness will do no good

Especially with my typos, Dean.

My understanding of the scenario is that BF blabs ("participates) whenever he feels like it instead of solely at a time when "owners" may participate, IF there is such a period. Is there, Richard?

In addition, the BF is not an owner, which annoys the OP's friend.