Unfortunately, but unsurprisingly, I have confirmed that the board views their function as something more like Pat's cabinet staff, rather than individual representatives elected by their community to represent their interests in the governance of the association.

This is a serious and systemic problem.  Really, it's likely the quantum of all our problems in this community.

It explains the overall board's silence at board meetings, and in the community in general.  The board, and it appears to be most or all members, believes they can't interact with the community without Pat's approval.

We don't have a board of nine members representing a diverse array of viewpoints.

We are living in the People's Republic of Pat.