Originally Posted by calgarywinning
I think you have issues and should avail yourself to your ability to quit.
Sounds good, would love to, but the reality is there's no one else. In my time we've improved attendance at the AGM's every single year, it's still a dismal turnout, but at least we have a quoram and can conduct business. One of our next goals is recruiting members and inviting them to meetings so they see what actually gets done (that is when we're not sitting at home with nothing better to do) so they can understand the process and sign up.
I think your post and it's hateful nature express some of the points that I am trying to make about people in your position. The peanut gallery versus the almighty, yet at the condo there they are all equal owners not a peanut gallery. And by your own admission it was your choice to be involved but by the tone of your post you hate it.
I don't hate it, I hate the opinion that most owners don't have the time or can't participate because of their busy schedules. It's a choice, you prioritize how you spend your time and everyone is free to make that choice without judgement. I won't judge you if you don't come to AGM's or participate in the going ons of your investment of at least few hundred thousand dollars. But the second you accuse me or anyone I work with of having a schedule that's less than the average owner, or having a competence level beneath the work we're doing then you've just provided solid evidence of what is the issue between condo owners and the board. It's hilarious, we issue requests for maintenance items twice a year. But every time a unit goes for sale we end up with a list 10 items long that the owner demands must be fixed immediately because it's time sensitive for their sale. These are annoyances that we actually deal with and ensure get fixed to help an owner out, even considering that the quicker we respond reflects better on the sellers unit and sales value (as a reflection of the board). I'm pretty confident we'd be well within our rights to put it off until our next meeting. Sure, we'll discuss your request for repairs and vote on how quickly we can do them. We meet every month. Nope, we'll get to it ASAP and still get bitched at for how long it takes (sometimes, not all the time).
I am comparing the condo board to general government. That a common group of people tend to run and get elected, that regardless of platform they become the government and govern according to their own special interest. Incumbent politicians and their 'tudes are evident and abound and on display. They seem to linger and take on a holier than though attitude and forget the position is to serve.
And I'm suggesting if you don't participate in democracy, vote, educate yourself, know the candidates, understand what their jobs are - then you shouldn't get to bitch and moan when things don't go your way. That said, you do have the right to do just that, but I'm going to remember how you carried yourself and that will change my opinion of you. And when it comes time to fix your unit, you'll still get treated just like everyone else and it'll be done, but I'm not stopping what I'm doing on a Friday or Saturday night to take the time to write a letter explaining the ins and outs of what's going on with the problem and why we're moving ahead a certain way. That gets done for the other people.
I then go on to say that participation is a major factor for a good outcome but not everybody can be involved because of their schedule. You and a couple others argue that's bullcrap.. I disagree, I think most people sign up for condo life because they think everything will be managed but soon realized it is strata/board reliant and are disappointed because they were looking to minimize their household living management. So if your argument is you deserve to make these decisions because of the election at the AGM you are right by law. However, I would argue that the distress of a special assessment without consulting the people you are to serve is wrong.
Read your reserve fund study, get your monthly minutes. It's all in there. It's not like these decisions are completed in a day over a 2-3 hour meeting at the whims of the board. I'd love to consult the people every time we have a major decision. But the reality is the majority (of complainers) would rather not show up at the special meeting but still complain. The only time a special assessment should happen without it being in the reserve fund study is in the case of an unexpected emergency repair. At which point planning a special meeting, finding a venue, getting good attendance (quorum) isn't possible. In the case of the subject, it would be nice to have an information session, I find it hard to believe there wasn't, but it could have happened. Hopefully the information session will come as often the management company wants the assessment (notice of assessment) issued as soon as it's discussed because potential buyers have a right to know. If you wait until a special meeting is called you could be looking at 3-6 weeks at which point a property sale can happen and then the board is on the hook for a whole lot of problems and potentially a lawsuit. These are things that people don't seem to realize and all to quickly jump to "judge judge judge" and that's what becomes tiresome.
I then go on to offer my advise and consolation to the person who is faced with a 60,000 special assessment due in 30 days, may need to be dealt with as such to retain his investment value.
Your assumptive nature doesn't even assume that I have not served on a condo board.
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