Same location.
Same quantity.
Then the contractor work order.
Twenty-five bollards.
Lot 41 driveway.
Residents murmured.
The vice president asked:
“Who changed this?”
The president leaned toward her microphone.
“The project location was adjusted after repeated safety complaints involving vehicle access at Lot 41.”
The homeowner’s attorney wrote something.
The vice president asked:
“Which complaints?”
“Pedestrian conflicts.”
“How many?”
“Several.”
“Written?”
“Some.”
“Where are they?”
The president looked toward the community manager.
He shook his head slightly.
The president’s face tightened.
“Residents have spoken to me directly.”
“Names?”
“I will not expose complainants to retaliation.”
The homeowner almost laughed.
The vice president did not.
“Were these complaints presented to the board?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“They were operational.”
“Did the board authorize relocating the project?”
“The president has authority to implement safety measures.”
The HOA attorney, attending remotely, interrupted.
“Not like this.”
Every head turned toward the speaker.
The president stared at the screen.
“Excuse me?”
The HOA attorney continued:
“The association may implement certain temporary safety measures within common property.”
“A permanent bollard installation on a privately owned residential parcel is not within unilateral presidential authority.”
The room exploded into murmurs.
The president snapped:
“There is an easement.”
The attorney replied:
“An easement is not ownership.”
The homeowner’s attorney smiled faintly.
The HOA counsel continued:
“And even if the governing documents permitted some form of access regulation, the municipal permit does not authorize the work performed today.”
The president’s cheeks flushed.
“I was told an amendment was unnecessary.”
“By who?”
Silence.
The vice president asked again.
“By who?”
The president looked toward the contractor representative sitting in the back.
He immediately shook his head.
“Not us.”
The room became quiet.
The president said:
“Management.”
The community manager spoke.
“No.”
Her head snapped toward him.
He continued:
“Our office specifically advised that location changes required municipal review.”
“When?”
He opened an email.
“Sixteen days ago.”
The treasurer asked:
“Can you read it?”
The manager did.
The email was painfully clear.
Any relocation away from Visitor Parking Area B will require revised drawings and city approval. Please do not direct contractor mobilization to alternate parcels until permit revision is complete.
The president stared at the table.