L/C Residents Meeting Cut Short Amid Yelling and Threats of Legal Action

NEEDHAM, MA  -  A special meeting of the Linden Chambers Residents Association (LCRA) was held in the 5 Chambers Street community room at 10:00 AM Monday April 21, 2025.  The five resident board members, elected a year ago, signed in, and the meeting began on time, which is often a good sign.

There was a passing conversation before we sat down, with Jim Burke offering to take the office of treasurer, implying he would open the bank account that the current treasurer was unwilling or unable to do.  We all agreed to start the meeting.  I had the outline of an agenda:

1. start on time, 2. introductions, 3. code of conduct, 4. reading of by-laws, 5. removal, 6. vote on the question, and 7. future events.

There was more procedural chit chat about taking and keeping an audio recording of the meeting. Nobody objected, so there are recordings.  The Agenda called for Introductions.  I started, as "Ross Donald, President." 

Jim Burke, said, "Jim Burke.  I am the Vice-president.  I'm an Attorney, and I will be representing Marlene."

Jim's intro was ominous, in that, while the subject of the meeting was "Removal" with "grounds for removal" listed, in the seven day advance notice for this special meeting, no one person was named for Removal. 

The Grounds for Removal, listed in the Notice, per the by-laws, were listed, but not attributed to any member.

Marlene said, "Marlene Costa, Treasurer."

John Kostuk, the elected Board Member-at-large, and a perfect gentleman, the next around the table was saying, "I'm here to support everybody."

And Dorina, the Secretary, spoke.  But was interrupted by Marlene, with a question, which we entertained, as a possible Point of Order.  She inquired, "Does John have a right to vote?"  Jim raised a similar challenge simultaneously.

The questions were out of order, in that we were not considering any vote at that moment, so I begged the matter be held off.  Too Late!   Dorina, ready next, to speak, did so, saying, "Ah... No.  Could we?  Let's continue... "

Suddenly, in the next instant, I saw everyone speaking, shouting with great urgency.  Me, too!  And - at the same time - each one yelling!  

Dorina tried to introduce herself.  Marlene was demanding an emergency meeting with the Executive Director of the Housing Authority.  She wanted answers to the letter, she wrote, with questions about the Notice for this Meeting. 

Dorina wanted it noted that Marlene was standing up, shouting and trying to take over the room.  Jim was saying to Marlene, "Marlene, you said.  You promised..." 

Jim turned to his demands for the legal citations, of the pertinent by-laws.  He was declaring with great volume that John, the Board Member-at-large, could NOT VOTE.  Jim insisted on a copy of the by-laws, a copy of the Notice, all of which was right on the table.  He also demanded a list of "witnesses." 

Jim and Marlene referred to this Meeting as an "impeachment."  I had to say, the word is not in our by-laws.  Jim objected to one anonymous Board Member, who called the Police before the meeting, to ask if a security officer, could be on call, because the situation was likely to be volatile and potentially unsafe.

Clearly I had no control of the meeting.  Roberts Rules did not apply.  We could not get through a round of introductions, without the situation devolving into chaos. 

We tried to think about our "Code of Conduct," at the start of every meeting, like a prayer.  To respect, to listen, to turn the volume down, etc.  I don't know why this should be difficult, but we didn't get very far.

I wanted to point out a few pertinent by-laws.  One, for instance, allows for any officer to call a meeting, which is what Marlene did in sending emails around to the board officers and to the Executive Director.  No one agreed to show up.  However, a meeting with a quorum is valid.

Another by-law states that a board member can remove themselves from the board voluntarily by voicing that desire and having it recorded in the minutes.  During the election, a year ago, one candidate voluntarily stepped aside in a tie vote to allow Marlene to be Treasurer.  So, members can remove themselves.

Finally, there is a by-law that states that the President shall preside over board meetings.  This proved to be impossible, for me, on this occasion, due to my lack of skills.  The meeting attendees were unable, as a group, to get to the matter of a change in the board, nor did we consider any solutions to our main problems, starting a bank account and acting civilly together.

The meeting concluded.  No seconded motion achieved a majority, and the loud cross talk became non-stop rhetorical attacks on extraneous matters.  As a failed exercise in self-government, we concluded, with Jim saying he was thinking about bringing a law suit against me for either, naming him for Removal, or not naming him.  It was not clear.  Marlene, likewise, claimed that she supported the residents and the union, and that all I cared about was the Linden Letter.  She threatened that if I wrote anything about her, she would sue me for libel.

So, here we are.