The attorney laughed.
Then became serious.
“Send me everything.”
The homeowner did.
By noon, the HOA board had begun imploding.
The board vice president called the community manager.
“Why is the city saying we altered a permit?”
The manager answered:
“We didn’t.”
“Then who did?”
Silence.
The vice president knew.
Still asked.
“The president?”
“We need to review records.”
“That means yes.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t need to.”
The board treasurer joined the call.
She had another question.
“Why were twenty-five bollards ordered?”
The original board vote had approved eight.
The management company opened the purchase order.
Quantity:
Change approved three weeks earlier.
Authorization:
HOA president.
Cost increased from $4,600 to $14,375.
The treasurer stared.
“What?”
The manager looked uncomfortable.
“President classified it as an operational field adjustment.”
“She can’t triple a capital project without board approval.”
The management contract allowed minor field adjustments under five percent.
This was not five percent.
The vice president asked:
“Who approved payment?”
The invoice had not been paid yet.
Good.
The board called an emergency meeting for that evening.
The homeowner received notice.
She almost did not attend.
Her attorney advised:
“Go.”
“Why?”
“Listen.”
“Don’t argue?”
“You can speak.”
“But mostly listen.”
She did.
At 7:00 p.m., the clubhouse meeting room was full.
Word had spread.
Of course.
The HOA president sat at the front wearing a fitted coral jacket over a white blouse.
The floral outfit was gone.
Her expression had returned to controlled confidence.
The board vice president opened the meeting.
“This is a special session concerning the bollard installation project and the city stop-work notice issued this morning.”
The president interrupted.
“I would like it reflected that the city inspector acted on incomplete information supplied by a hostile homeowner.”
The room shifted.
The Black homeowner sat in the second row.
She said nothing.
Her attorney sat beside her.
The vice president looked toward the president.
“You’ll have time.”
“I’m correcting the record.”
“The record hasn’t been presented.”
The president folded her arms.
The treasurer displayed the original board resolution.
Eight bollards.
Visitor Parking Area B.
Approved unanimously.
Then the original city permit.