The decision was uncomfortable.
Some directors had known her for years.
Others feared that publicly acknowledging mistakes would damage the neighborhood's reputation.
But Ellen Price said something that changed the tone of the meeting.
"Our responsibility isn't to make the association look perfect."
Several directors looked toward her.
She continued.
"Our responsibility is to make sure we're doing what the homeowners authorized us to do."
For several seconds, the room was quiet.
Then another director asked whether residents should be notified about the survey concerns.
Ellen nodded.
"Yes."
The board began taking corrective action.
Not every director agreed on every issue.
But enough understood that the existing process could no longer continue unchanged.
The disputed boundary notices were placed under review.
Homeowners were advised not to rely solely on the questionable flags.
And the association initiated an independent examination of the greenbelt project and its related agreements.
Judith's control over the process was ending.
But the investigation into her conduct was far from over.
The homeowners' meeting that followed drew the largest crowd Briar Glen had seen in years.
People arrived carrying folders, property surveys, violation notices, and copies of proposed agreements.
Some looked angry.
Others appeared frightened.
And several simply wanted someone to explain whether their homes were still protected by the deeds they'd signed when they moved into the neighborhood.
I sat beside Hannah near the middle of the clubhouse.
Lucy was staying with her grandmother.
Thomas Reed occupied the seat in front of us, holding a neatly organized binder.
Martha Collins sat beside him.
Her hands were folded tightly in her lap.
She'd brought the original survey from the purchase of her home, along with a photograph of her late husband standing proudly beside the backyard fence.
I glanced toward her.
She smiled nervously.
"Never thought I'd be bringing this much paperwork to a neighborhood meeting."
I laughed softly.
"Me neither."
Then the interim board chair called the meeting to order.
The association's independent attorney explained that the disputed boundary markings had not been established as reliable legal boundaries.
He also clarified that any new access rights affecting private property required proper legal authority and valid agreements.
A proposed development plan couldn't override recorded ownership simply because the HOA president considered it beneficial.
Several homeowners began whispering.
Then the attorney addressed the financial relationship between Judith and Crestline.
He explained that the board was examining the disclosure failures and the potential effect on decisions made during the proposed greenbelt project.
For several seconds, the room was silent.