“Then document that.”
The spreadsheet had another column.
Potential containment removal.
“What does that mean?”
The former secretary explained.
The HOA President wanted new rules limiting certain outdoor animal structures.
The Homeowner’s secure python enclosure was one of the largest examples.
But there was a problem.
It had already been approved.
The HOA could change future rules.
Retrospective enforcement would be harder.
Unless the existing structure could be classified as a nuisance.
The attorney understood.
“So if they established a dangerous animal pattern…”
“They could pressure removal.”
The Homeowner shook his head.
“But she thought it was a dog.”
“Apparently.”
The former secretary looked embarrassed.
“The President never showed us inspection photographs.”
“She just kept saying she had verified it.”
The Homeowner laughed once.
“So the board was discussing removing an enclosure nobody had looked inside.”
“Yes.”
That became the second scandal.
Not criminal like the bait.
Governance failure.
The board had relied on the President’s representations without requiring evidence.
The animal-control contractor benefited financially from repeated calls.
The President’s brother owned the contractor.
The conflict had been disclosed in small print during contracting.
But the board accepted the arrangement because the brother’s company had offered a discount.
A discount attached to per-call billing.
The more calls, the more revenue.
Some board members now looked horrified.
One defended the contract.
“We followed procurement procedure.”
The Homeowner’s attorney replied:
“That doesn’t answer whether the complaints themselves were valid.”
The emergency HOA meeting filled the clubhouse.
Residents stood along walls.
The HOA President did not attend.
Her attorney advised against it.
The vice president chaired.
The Homeowner sat beside his attorney.
He did not want attention.
He got it anyway.
The vice president began.
“We are here to address concerns involving animal-control enforcement and recent events.”
A resident raised her hand.
“Why was the President entering backyards?”
The vice president looked uncomfortable.
“We don’t yet know the full circumstances.”
The Homeowner’s attorney whispered:
“Good answer.”
The Homeowner frowned.
“You’re praising him?”
“He said what he knows.”
Facts first.
Another resident stood.
“My security camera caught the contractor opening my side gate last year.”
The room changed.
“Did you authorize?”
“No.”
“Were you home?”
“No.”
“Why didn’t you report it?”
“I thought the HOA could.”
Several voices responded at once.
Apparently many residents had believed the same thing.