Condo Association Management Blog

We are a self managed condo association and we have the same problem. Our maintenance man is vastly under utilized but is given full support in exchange for being supportive of the Board. He has more say so and strength than the unit owners simply because he pretends to care about the lonely seniors. Most of the units are extremely small, relatively inexpensive, pay low taxes, and as a result, assessments seem not to be much. Money is being squandered by a board president who awards himself multiple contracts and benefits greatly. People think of his landscaping as a positive because it makes him highly visible and they forget that he is getting rewarded greatly for these efforts. The visibility is all that matters. The maintenance man should be cutting the grass, doing janitorial, shoveling snow but he does none of this. At best he putz's, waters the grass while holding the hose and therefore can talk to people endlessly. Again, the visibility allows him to talk with people and he is rewarded with a positive perception by very lonely seniors. We have essentially a cult like place led by Jim Jones. Those who dare think or speak up are attacked viciously and lies and rumors are spread about them. Anything to maintain the absolute strangehold this board President has over these Seniors. He manipulates via fear, favors, phony charm, threats, and intimidation. He does not like me because he knows I see through this. He constantly threatens to bury me in legal fee's, has called the Police (who leave after telling me what a wacky place this is) because I asked why we don't have any methodical parking program in place. Of course, this allows him to place notes on my visitors cars telling them they will be towed. I talk politely to a new neighbor and I received a call informing that I was being fined $100.00 with no explanation. 
The place is insane but Condos are almost protected from accountability via laws that offer little recourse. Other than filing a lawsuit and spending huge sums of money, little can be done. If any of the readers has any thoughts on this I would like to communicate with them. I can be reached @ idealist2@aol.com or by phone @ 708-367-7253. 
 
Sincerely, 
 
Jim Court

Jim are u in IL?

Why do you ask?

Ur area code

Cell phone numbers often originate in one place but moving may change, with the number remaining. You must be curious for a reason. Do you face similar problems? 
 
Take care, 
 
Jim

Jim you should state where you live so that others can give you advice based on state statutes. In Florida there are ways to demand information and there is an Ombudsman set up to field questions and give advice to unit owners. Board members, as far as I know, in Florida are not supposed to be holding contracts with the bldg and sitting on the board. If you are being fined for no reason then I am guessing there are legal remedies for that. This person probably can't use bldg funds to bury you in legal fees but you have to check the state statutes and your bldg's by laws.

IL is the most corrupt state in the USA there is no help for homeowners that live in an association they have the last say. I have caught ours breaksing laws and bylaws twice and took them to court. We still lost! The judge rules in favor of the ASSOC and the law empowers the ASSOCIATION not the homeowner. IL has no ombudsman or regulatory board... SUCKS!

I live in Elmhurst Illinois and the other writer is absolutely correct in suggesting that Ill annoys is the most corrupt State in the nation. Lawyers, retained by the Board, with money from unit owners, only concern themselves with protecting the Board. They never seem to consider the moral stance that they should be guiding and protecting ALL unit owners. Their loyalty is solely to the Board. Of course, this allows them to grind out fee's, which hurts cash reserves and ultimately, everyone. Interestingly and a very sad fact is, that those who seek positions on the Board are often narcissist with anti-social proclivities who know how to manipulate for their own self interest and benefit. That is why two sets of rules exist. Those for insiders and those for others. Board members often flagrantly violate rules and then attempt to micromanage and control others, especially those individuals who are independent thinkers and point any of this out. A narcissist cannot tolerate any "criticism" even it is not malicious or mean spirited. Their fragile self needs constant adulation and has a sense of entitlement. I mentioned the threat to tow a visitors car. Yes, I could hold my ground (literally) but the car would be towed, it would cost money and time, and my only recourse would be to sue in small claims Court, which I would do. The police tell me it is civil even though I suggest to them that in reality it is theft.If I am in no violation how does the Board retain any right to take my car? My parking space is deeded to me and visitors are not against any rules or regulations. As a result, the Board members can become bullies and suffer little accountability. If any of you are familiar with the Stockholm principle whereby captors and victims start to side with and protect their captors, possibly simply to avoid pain and often do not understand the psychological processes that underlie this, then you might understand why our Seniors end up supporting these behaviors. By going along to get along, they avoid the attacks and conflict. What we have in our Board is very similar to all authoritarian Governments and also to cults. One man rule who benefits financially, metes out selective punishment, rules with an iron fist. This is a person who had an order of protection placed against him by his ex-wife and has been a bully all of his life. Lying, cheating, addictions and gambling are part of this persons history. Just like Scott Peterson, sociopaths can be cunning, even charming, and are always manipulative because they do so in the service of their selfish and grandiose desires, Interestingly, the can never be disagreed with because their fragile ego's cannot stand it. Filled with rage and contempt for everyone, they do not form healthy relationships. They take prisoners.Our society has many such individuals. Politicians and Hollywood. Notice me, adore me, look at me. Our modern plague. Illinois and the Attorney Generals office needs to really address this. it appears that this is a pervasive problem that victimizes many. The Board is supposed to protect unit owners, not be dictators who violate rules and line their own pockets. Until Illinois law changes in significant ways, this type of behavior will continue to go unchallenged. The Board even pays for insurance, with our money, that somewhat protects them from liability. We give bullets to the enemies and then lay down our arms. I would like comments from others and please feel free to forward this e-mail to others, including the Illinois Attorney General.  
 
Sincerely, 
 
Jim Court 
Elmhurst, Illinois

Jim I wrote the IL attorney general twice and have filed many complaintsw with other homwonwers. Their stand is its a civil matter. Just like the police issue! They police are in our community on a regular basis due to the constant harrassment and hate crimes that take place against one family inparticular and they have small children 3 to be exact. They attorney general addressed our complaints by writting the management company and asking them to respond with how they will deal with the situation. NOTHING WAS EVER DONE. Just like the BBB. Funny enough our management company just changed names and got a fresh start. This is our third management company with this BOD in three years we were dropped by two others and the BOARD PRESIDENT was named directly in the letter as the reason. Your words are written beautifully above. SO VERY VERY TRUE... When I moved in I was not here 3 weeks and was getting interrupted during dinner and bath time by no other then BOD at my back door or front door or on the phone. Due to exterior issues that were there problem not mine and the signed off on the items at closing well the management company did. My husband went out and place a for sale sign in the front yard after the first visit. I figured can't beat em JOIN EM... Just like you stated HUGE MISTAKE I resigned from my board positiion 9 months later and NO ONE took over in my place no one wants anything to do with this kinda of EVIL! AMEN TO EVERYTHING YOU SAID JIM AMEN~!