Condo Association Management Blog

Have you talked to your board members about why they did what they did? Maybe it was the best decision? Did their family members do the job they were hired to do? If so what's the problem? Did all employees get Christmas bonuses? If so what's the problem.  
 
There is so much whining here about board members and it's always from people who have not served a day on any non profit board.  
 
Being a board member is not a full time job, people don't get paid for it so yes sometimes decision will be made that are 'easy' solutions. As long as laws are not violated there is nothing wrong with it in my opinion. 
 

I am a board member and would NEVER hire a family member to complete work. They might be qualified but there are many qualified people. Did they get more than one bid to do the work? I think it is improper to hire a board member's family member and would try every way not to do so. I don't call this whining!

I'm with you Mary. I don't call it whining. I live in a condo in NJ. Our board has hired the property managers two sons, son's girlfriend, 2 board members. There not giving us a cut in rate either, we are paying top dollar. Just gave them all a 3.19% bonus while we're about to go bankrupt. Hooray for you from NY state. We're about to get a petition together ourselves to get rid of our board and property manager. So there ya go Zhenya, I'm whining as well. Boooooo Hoooooo 
 
 
 
Judi

This is why I am very disappointed in the Florida Condo / HOA Statutes. Basically they can't do anything about this pervasive Board of Director and/or Management Company problem.... Basically their attitude is: They can't legislate stupid. . . But where does that leave the unit or home owners? You got it. . . Up the creek without a paddle !!!

Thanks for the response back. to answer your question. The family member hired was hired to weed around the complex. Our landscape contract covers weeding, so she should never have been hired. Besides how many part time temp employes get a christmas bonus from the employee? As far as it being the best decision to hire our lawyer to help represent them??? Are you kidding? 280 units, we have 130 proxy's, need 141 to remove them. It's pretty obvious there is a large portion of the community that want them removed. It's a none paying job! If your not appreciated by the people you represent then why not give it up. Unless you have a personal agenda! Oh they also fired the only maintenace person who actually did things around here, for lack of work. Then hired the presidents son to vacuum the hallways of the units for $500.00 a week.

Why untilnow have you not put yourself out there as a Board Member during elections. It is so easy to complain, when you have never been in a board members shoes. As stated in other responses, a Board Member does not receive any pay, just headaches. 
 
I am not saying, that the instances you quoted are the right avenues to take. But why is it, that owners are so complacent but are quick to complain.Are you attendind the Board Meetings, question should be asked than.

It sounds like you have a right to complain. If you remove (most of) your present board members, are you willing to be on the board? Also, you need to recruit other owners to fill the vacant positions on the board.  
 
If you win on this, I hope that you can keep at least a few of your present board members, as it would be good to have some continuity.

Giving out bonuses at this time during a poor economy, and when some homeowners are out of work, or facing foreclosures, is just not right. For those of you who think there is nothing wrong for a board to do this, and especially without notifying the homeowners regarding this matter, should be ashamed. I was a board president. My understanding of the bylaws in Illinois, clearly states that no board director is to be compensated for the position they hold. What my board is presently doing is appointing family members and friends for other job responsibilities, for which they are compensated. What a great way to get around this!!!The Condo Law in Illinois is nothing but "generalities", opening the door for creative boards, along with their property manager and attorneys to find ways to bypass the current laws. There is nothing wrong in their eyes. What ever happen to just plain common sense and having a conscious, when making decisions. Yes, holding a board position is sometimes a very thankless job, and time consuming. 
 
Just because you receive comments from blog members who never been on a board, doesn't make them whiners or idiots.

I have been on a board. Not good to hire family. How do people give bonouses when times are hard. I don't call this whining, just smart. Most boards are spending mostly other peoples money so they don't get it.