Any responsible resident who has noticed that the curtains in the elevator have been up for over two months, will tell you that it is very much a disgrace to our building!
Management, the caretaker and of course the Board, all deserve hearing some of the many well deserved comments about their disrespect for even the most moderate standards of care. It really does say something about a primarily absent and most dysfunctional Board that couldn’t care less about the interests of their fellow residents. The only response to date has basically been, WAIT UNTIL WE ARE BACK IN THE SPRING! Dysfunctional Board? Of course! Residents deserve much better representation than that!
We can no longer tolerate an absentee Board, which has proven to be to the detriment of our residents. As is common practice with properly governed condominium associations, should any Board member be physically absent for 3 consecutive monthly Board meetings, they shall be dismissed from the Board. This is obviously a most responsible measure of responsible governance, and is certainly in the best interest of residents.
Unfortunately, it continues to be a very reasonable option, the need to bring in qualified candidates for our Board of Directors, from outside the Corporation, in order to provide willing and responsible Board representation, that is not unduly influenced by the current controlling interest of the Corporation. It is most unfortunate, that residents must be continuously reminded, that our Corporation is very unique, in that two individuals, one commercial and one residential owner, dictate not only who will be elected to the Board but also, DICTATE EVERY DECISION OF THE CORPORATION unless a special resolution is required. No reasonably minded resident, would permit their name to be considered as a nominee, given these most unjust circumstances, which are clearly most damaging to all residential unit owners.
As long as residents refuse to acknowledge this FACT, they will continue to be subjected to the many continuing breaches of both our Bylaws and the Condominium Property Act. It is obviously the silence of these residents, that prohibits any meaningful address and resolution to the many serious issues facing the interests of both they and their fellow residents.
THE IRRESPONSIBLE SILENCE OF RESIDENTS MUST BE BROKEN! Continuing requests for your cheques DOES IN FACT REQUIRE YOUR APPROVAL! Yet residents simply bow to these requests for their money, which is very much unlawful as per our Bylaws and the Condominium Property Act. Your PREAPPROVAL of any Reserve Fund Expenditure (Elevators) was required, YET NO RESPECT OR REQUEST FOR YOUR APPROVAL WAS MADE BY THE BOARD. Stand up for your rights! Or, simply continue to be taken advantage of!
People visiting the building have asked if our residential elevator is our FREIGHT elevator? Many residents have finally conceded and responded, yes it is! In addition to disrespect, it is very clear that management, the caretaker, and the Board, are all being very LAZY in performing their duties. Such practises are obviously unacceptable and very damaging to the interests of our residents.
The commercial elevator has not been permitted for use by common area mechanical contractors for their access and FREIGHT usage for a number of years. Contractors serving residential units over the past several months, have used the elevator for FREIGHT purposes on very few days, yet the curtains remain up. The caretaker has been demanding a $25 fee for placing the curtains for “freight” use of the elevator, yet the curtains never come down. Why are residents subject to such neglect and inappropriate conduct on the part of the caretaker/management/and the Board?
Yet, the curtains remain in place, very much in disrespect of even the most moderate standards of residents. One must really sympathize with all residents who are embarrassed with the reaction of their guests that are repeatedly subjected to a most disconcerting impression on not only one but repeated visits. The commercial owner of course, could not care less. Sympathy is extended to those currently attempting to sell their condominium unit.. Potential purchasers are obviously, very much turned off with such building governance practices and disrespect for residents.
It is time residents speak up and demand that the Board is the responsible party and insist upon their immediate address to this yet again, another failure to respect the interests of our residents. For most of us, our living standards have certainly proven to be much more demanding, than those of our Board members. Residents were forced to participate in the $350,000 cost of the elevator replacement which did not receive the required support or even an opportunity to vote, by residents, whose approval is required by both our Bylaws and the Condominium Property Act. Yet, it was residents, who bore the vast majority of not only the cost, but also the unnecessary, excessive, inconvenience of this project.
Residents continue to bare the major inconvenience and interruptions of the misuse of their elevator via the Board’s unfortunate and irresponsible directive to permit its inappropriate use. Unfortunately, our resident Board members, continue to bow to the preferences and demands of their fellow commercial Board members on such matters.
There are those residents who unfortunately, will accept in silence their acceptance to such Board conduct, for various reasons, including those that have conflicting interests with the Corporation. Their silent voice, will simply be accepted as unsupportive of their fellow residents in seeking address to the issues referenced above.
It’s been a long winter with no meaningful response from the Board. The President has apparently agreed with the WAIT UNTIL SPRING and return of the snow bird position of the Board. Do we wait for April, May or June for address to the many issues expressed by residents?