DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
Bad Manners and Brimstone
HTML https://badmanners.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: The Work Day
*****************************************************
#Post#: 33509--------------------------------------------------
Re: Does this feel “off” to you? Board ethics issue
By: Contrarian Date: June 26, 2019, 1:57 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Sorry Nyachan! You’re not being unprofessional, Tom and
whatshername are.
You’re in a tough situation but good for you for staying strong.
That’s why there are a group of people directing, so someone
will speak some sense!
I’m sure the board is insured but still, if you feel something
illegal or unsafe is happening, make a point to put your
feelings with your name in the minutes. That should be enough to
rein them in, the rest won’t want to be seen as having heard
your concerns and then ignoring them. But also, get off that
board before any legal action happens which is why I say, have
your protest put in the minutes before you resign.
#Post#: 33515--------------------------------------------------
Re: Does this feel “off” to you? Board ethics issue
By: MiriamCatriona Date: June 26, 2019, 3:55 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
That is something that needed to be voted on before the ticket
was purchased (and I would have voted "no"). Tom's return was
not necessary and was not requested by the board. He should not
be reimbursed.
#Post#: 33517--------------------------------------------------
Re: Does this feel “off” to you? Board ethics issue
By: NFPwife Date: June 26, 2019, 4:13 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=MiriamCatriona link=topic=1207.msg33515#msg33515
date=1561582529]
That is something that needed to be voted on before the ticket
was purchased (and I would have voted "no"). Tom's return was
not necessary and was not requested by the board. He should not
be reimbursed.
[/quote]
My thoughts exactly. I think you go on record with that so the
minutes reflect, "Nyachan stated that expenses must be
pre-approved. Nyachan is not voting to support reimbursement for
unapproved expenditures."
I think Tom wanted to come back for something else and hatched
this plan for the board to cover the fare.
#Post#: 33521--------------------------------------------------
Re: Does this feel “off” to you? Board ethics issue
By: Pattycake Date: June 26, 2019, 5:37 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Been on a condo board before, and this is not right. Unless the
building is in imminent danger of falling down from the repairs
not being done, Tom had no need to come back right away. The
board should have agreed on reimbursement before he returned at
his own expense, and either way, if they agree to reimburse
after his return he most assuredly should be producing
appropriate receipts/documentation of his expenses. As a condo
owner, I would be very peeved if there was no documentation and
I would be calling the board out on it. As for him billing the
association for all his time (theoretically), he wouldn't have a
leg to stand on - if he accepts the unpaid position and chooses
to do all that work, that's on him and the board can laugh at
any invoice he may present to them that was not previously voted
on. And if he doesn't trust the agent to handle the bids, then
he should be bringing it up to the board to change agents.
#Post#: 33531--------------------------------------------------
Re: Does this feel “off” to you? Board ethics issue
By: TootsNYC Date: June 26, 2019, 6:22 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
I'm on a co-op board, and our president is a condescending,
controlling, manipulative person.
People on our board will just never reply to the email chain
because they don't want to deal with her. I do reply, and I get
snotty-ass emails from her.
And they may vote with her just to shut her up. I vote for what
I think is the best pathway (maybe they do too, and they figure,
why have the discussion, bcs the core decision she wants us to
make is fine).
That is why they are all quiet.
They don't want to be bombarded the way you are being.
Your instincts are totally good--and the fact that they're
bombarding you is because they know they are wrong.
I like either of the "I'm not talking to you anymore" scripts,
though I wouldn't say "I'm sure the vote will go your way" and
just stop at, "The board is the only entity authorized to make
that decision.
I sometimes think of contacting the other board members
privately to say, "Do you agree with me about the questions I'm
raising? Am I alone here? Would you speak up?"
And no, Tom is NOT "behaving as though the building were their
personal property," because if it were, he woudln't be talking
about reimbursement.
#Post#: 33532--------------------------------------------------
Re: Does this feel “off” to you? Board ethics issue
By: Texan Date: June 26, 2019, 6:27 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
I was a condo board president for 5 years. They are very wrong
and certainly in violation of the rules. We had a bully on the
board for a few years. It’s difficult. Continue to insist on
following the rules. I bet the unit owners wouldn’t take too
kindly to all this.
#Post#: 33537--------------------------------------------------
Re: Does this feel “off” to you? Board ethics issue
By: NyaChan Date: June 26, 2019, 7:20 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Thank you all so much for giving me your opinions and support.
I had such a strong reaction to it but when no one else would
say something to them, I started second guessing myself and
wondering if I’m overly straightlaced because of my job and the
emphasis we place on ethics, especially where money is
concerned.
To answer some questions:
Kana looked to me to second because she, Tom and I have the
longest history on the board. Tom actually asked me to be the
President but I declined because he described it as me being his
eyes, ears and hands while he isn’t in the country. The other
two board members were elected only this year, probably part of
why they will say privately that they are concerned but not say
anything in writing.
We do have a code of ethics at Tom’s urging because most of last
year was spent trying to drive out the former president for
giving the appearance of a conflict of interest and he wanted to
hold that guy’s feet to the fire. The exhausting conflict ended
when I called the guy privately, let him know how serious the
others were and advised him (as a friend) to consider whether
running for re-election was in his best interests.
Ours is not a large building and while we do have a management
company, it is legal in our state to have owner-managed
properties so as long as the board member doesnt have an
interest in the vendor they are asking for bids, it hasn’t been
seen as a conflict. What usually happens is that we’ll say to
the agent “there is hail damage on the roof from last year. Can
you get some bids for localized repair and alternatively,
replacement?” Normally we should vote on which bid to go with
(usually after Tom tells us what he thinks the proper methods
are) but lately he has taken to going out and contacting other
vendors for alternative bids because the agent doesn’t make the
vendors meet with Tom and walk the site with him as a
prerequisite to having a bid accepted.
I actually did respond to those emails I summarized (with
shockingly similar content to your suggestions actually, so that
is very reassuring!) but thought my post was way too long and
cut it. I told the group that only three votes were needed to
move forward and if the others did not agree with me, they had
enough people to reimburse now, but that I would not discuss the
matter any further unless it was at a public meeting. The truth
is, I think this is about control, not money. The ticket
actually wasn’t expensive once he finally disclosed the amount,
less than 1k and hardly worth the angst they are causing. I’m
left to wonder if he is just angry that we didn’t all show the
gratitude Kana did for his return and go along with what he
asked.
#Post#: 33540--------------------------------------------------
Re: Does this feel “off” to you? Board ethics issue. More info
#16
By: WinterKat Date: June 26, 2019, 9:06 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
If I as a condo owner fond out you were using my money to
reimburse a board member for personal travel, there would be
hell to pay, and I'd seriously consider contacting my own lawyer
to see how to withhold dues. Regardless of whether the
reimbursement is made, this needs to go public - this is not
what people are paying dues for.
#Post#: 33542--------------------------------------------------
Re: Does this feel “off” to you? Board ethics issue. More info
#16
By: Hanna Date: June 26, 2019, 11:14 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
I wondered if this was about power instead of money. It’s wild
they would call and email so many times about such a minor
expense. They seem to be creating drama because it makes them
feel important.
#Post#: 33560--------------------------------------------------
Re: Does this feel “off” to you? Board ethics issue. More info
#16
By: TootsNYC Date: June 27, 2019, 3:13 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
I think you need to meet with the other board members and
discuss Tom's taking over the building like this.
We are getting to that point in my building as well; there are
10 votes, and the prez has 2, and her best friend has 1, and
that best friend is now chums with the treasurer, so they have
4. The outgoing treasurer is a 5th vote--which is a split.
**IF** the outgoing treasurer dies and sells to someone who sees
it our way, then and only then will we have 6 votes. And the
moment we do, we'll put someone/anyone in place.
She does similar sort of stuff--just announces it as though she
expects everyone to agree with her and vote to approve that very
moment.
*****************************************************
DIR Next Page