Sorry to hear that you’re dealing with inconsistent messages. Laws regarding recording conversations vary from state to state.
Since HOAs are private organizations, in some cases they may have the authority to forbid attendees from recording meetings, while in others, you might have more leeway to record the meeting regardless of their preference.
Each state may have varying rules and exceptions, so make sure to get an understanding of what your state’s laws say.
If your HOA doesn’t have any rules in place about meeting recordings, it might be worth discussing recording options with the board members first to find out their stances and their reasons.