Retaining power
“It is not power that corrupts but
fear.
Fear of losing power corrupts those
who wield it.”
—Aung San Suu Kyi
The first priority for the vast majority of elected politicians is to
retain their positions. Condo board members are no different. There is
a large selection of tools that a board can use to stay in office.
Owner apathy
In far too many condos, it is hard to find anyone who is interested in
being a board member. The owners are too busy and are not interested in
getting involved with a volunteer position that requires work and
diligence but gives little but headaches in return.
In these condos the incumbents may stay in office, unopposed, for years
and challengers looking to being elected to the board are almost
unheard of.
In other condominiums, the opposite is true and up to a dozen or more
candidates may run for the two open positions. In these condos,
politics
can be played hard and dirty.
Challenging the
incumbents
It can be very difficult for challengers to defeat board members as the
incumbents use their offices in many different ways to curry favour
with the owners and to make it difficult for their opponents.
Code of silence
“Secrecy, once accepted, becomes an
addiction.”
—Edward Teller
Some condominium by-laws contain a provision that states that
all
newly
elected directors must sign a confidentiality agreement and that any
violation of the agreement is grounds for immediate removal.
One
entrenched condo board, that was opposed by an organized group of
owners, went so far as to demand that a new director
report back to the board everything that she told any of the owners and
everything the owners asked her about the board.
It appears that any dissident board member is expected to resign and
then may run against the existing board members at the next AGM.
However, they may receive a warning to keep all board activities they
witnessed a secret or face possible legal action for violating the
confidentiality agreement.
Natural
advantages
A board may prepare a welcoming package for new residents. Along with a
reminder of various condo rules it could contain a letter introducing
the board members and all the work they do to help the owners. Some
discount coupons from local merchants and literature from the local
city councilor may also be included.
Quarterly newsletters, monthly e-mails and a condo website while giving
information to the residents provide effective advertising vehicles for
the board members. Along with the normal reminders about the window
washing and the poop and scoop rules, they can write about the work the
board is doing to keep the fees low and what improvements they are
providing.
Social events such as an annual barbecue or running a monthly movie
night, euchre nights or bingos build relationships between the board
and the owners.
A board member may accept courier packages for an owner who is
on vacation or will take care of their cat.
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