He read it twice.
Mandatory?
He was not a board member.
His attorney called ten minutes later.
“You going?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Curiosity.”
“Don’t sign anything.”
“I know.”
“Don’t agree to anything.”
“I know.”
“Don’t let them turn this into you asking permission to own property.”
The Homeowner smiled.
“That one was good.”
“I bill by the hour.”
“Apparently comedy is included.”
Monday evening, the clubhouse was full.
Much fuller than any normal HOA meeting.
Nearly sixty residents attended.
People who had not appeared at a meeting in years suddenly cared deeply about survey lines.
The HOA President sat at the center of the board table.
Cream suit.
Perfect hair.
Expression colder than the clubhouse air conditioning.
Beside her sat the Board Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and association attorney.
The Homeowner sat in the second row.
Gray polo this time.
No orange swim trunks.
Several neighbors seemed disappointed.
The President opened the meeting.
“This special session concerns an unexpected title claim.”
The Homeowner lifted one eyebrow.
Unexpected.
His attorney, seated beside him, wrote something on a legal pad.
The President continued.
“A resident has asserted private ownership over property historically managed as community lakefront.”
The Homeowner raised his hand.
She ignored him.
His attorney whispered:
“Let her talk.”
He lowered it.
The President continued.
“The board wants residents to understand that long-term association maintenance may create legal rights regardless of recorded title.”
The attorney beside the Homeowner quietly whispered:
“They’re going adverse possession.”
The Homeowner frowned.
“Can an HOA adversely possess its member’s land?”
“Complicated.”
“Good?”
“For me, yes.”
The President invited the association attorney to speak.
He looked uncomfortable.
That was encouraging.
“The title record does appear to place Parcel 14B under private ownership.”
Murmurs.
The President interrupted.
“But historical maintenance—”
The attorney lifted one hand.
“Historical maintenance alone does not automatically transfer title.”
More murmurs.
The President looked annoyed.
The Homeowner’s attorney smiled.
Then the association attorney added:
“We are reviewing whether recorded easements or implied common-use rights affect the parcel.”
The President nodded as though this saved everything.
The Homeowner raised his hand again.
This time she recognized him.
“Yes?”
He stood.
“I have one question.”
“Go ahead.”
“How much money has the HOA collected specifically for East Lake Reserve maintenance?”
The Treasurer looked toward the President.
The President frowned.
“That is not relevant to title.”
“It’s relevant to residents.”
The room stirred.
The Homeowner continued.
“Annual budget includes a lake-use assessment.”
“Correct?”
The Treasurer nodded reluctantly.
“How much?”
The President interrupted.
“Budget records are available online.”
The Homeowner looked toward her.
“I know.”
He pulled a page from his folder.
“Last year: eighty-four thousand dollars.”
Someone whistled.
The Homeowner continued.
“Previous year: seventy-nine.”
“Previous: seventy-six.”
“What portion was spent on Parcel 14B?”
The Treasurer looked confused.
“We don’t break it down by parcel.”