C.C. from New Haven County, Connecticut writes:
Dear Mister Condo,
I have many concerns about the condo association and management company handling the condominium. Such as:
Management and association officers have dual interests, the association and their contracting business servicing the condo.
Condo association does not abide to by-laws.
Lack of clear financial accountability.
Lack of grounds and property maintenance.
I look forward to any feedback you can provide. Our drawback is that most of the current unit owners do not have a way to share our individual concerns.
Mister Condo replies:
C.C., I am sorry that you and your fellow unit owners find the condo living experience lacking. The democratically-elected Board is the party responsible for hiring and managing the management company. You and your fellow unit owners have elected these folks to conduct the business of the association. In turn, the Board has hired the management company to perform certain tasks on their behalf. You and your fellow unit owner can most certainly express your concerns to the Board, either in writing or in person at a Board meeting or the association’s Annual Meeting. It all starts with electing the right leaders. People can’t simply volunteer and then not do anything. Sounds like you could use some fresh blood on your Board. Perhaps you should consider running? Without the right leadership from within the association, I wouldn’t expect much to change. All the best!