Over the last several years, Spadina Condominium Corporation, has experienced many problems and issues relating to the mechanical systems in the building. These have included the new hot water heating system, the cooling tower, humidification, the domestic hot water system, etc.
Many of these issues could have been addressed in a much more efficient and effective manner. The most recent issue was of course the fourth failure of the domestic hot water system. Even though the board has been advised on numerous occasions by residents and others, what appropriate action must be taken, the board has failed to act upon this advice and has resulted in a great cost to residents.
The Board as per the wishes of the commercial owner, has refused to replace the humdification system. Should the commercial owner not wish to have humidification in the commercial units, fine, but residents have experienced health related problems over the past few years due to the extremely dry atmosphere in their units. The commercial owner has claimed that the engineer advised the Board that we do not require humidification and that the previous humidifier “didn’t work anyway”. The engineer has in writing and stated at a general meeting just the opposite, that the reason the humidifier was removed and was not replaced was because the Board advised him that they wished to save money on the overall new heating system and therefore he was given instructions to not install the humidifier. The unit owners had approved albeit without a required special resolution, a heating system which included humidification. The engineer further advised, that at the time of his review, it was only the commercial humidifier that was not working. We have a number of former health care professionals residing in the building and you can be assured that they will acknowledge the health risk factors that exist without sufficient humidification. The residential humidifier must be installed immediately.
It has been suggested that a much different and more responsible approach be taken by the Board in addressing these mechanical issues. Considering the required level of knowledge and experience with mechanical systems, it has been suggested that because our most recently appointed Board member is in fact qualified and experienced in this area, that he be appointed to act as the building operations committee chairman. Questions and concerns of residents may very well then be be addressed with a qualified response.