Page 32 - ACMO_CM_W24

Legal & Regulatory Updates

Mark Daye, RCM, OLCM,
Regional Manager,
ICC Property Management

Navigating the Unresponsive

Board of Directors

“It always seems impossible until it’s done”

These words of wisdom by the late Slow approvals may mean losing This frustration can snowball, leaving
Nobel Prize winner Nelson Mandela out on pricing incentives. Most prices a manager feeling defeated and looking
may strike a chord with managers deal- quoted are only valid for 30 days, and for greener pastures and a less stressful
ing with unresponsive board members. in the aftermath of the COVID-19 work environment.
We’ve all had to deal with microman- pandemic, prices in some sectors remain
aging board members or heard horrible unstable and may increase suddenly, What are the causes?
stories from colleagues in that difficult resulting in missed opportunities to save Board members may not be as engaged
position. This personality type may the corporation money. A vendor will as the manager would like for a variety
think they are helping you. The reality not hold the price if it will mean a loss of reasons. Does the director lack inter-
is that they lower morale while under- of profit for their company. est? Possibly, but remember this person
mining management’s authority. The financial impact on the corpora- volunteered for this position, so they, at
But what about the other side of this tion is not the only concern. These days some point in time, had some interest in
coin? What about the board members in condoland, we have many government being an active board member.
who are hard to reach, don’t respond to deadlines and mandatory filings. When But maybe they are on the board and
emails and/or texts, and fail to show up PICS, ICU’s budgets and audits aren’t don’t want to be. There are strategies to
for meetings or show up late? This type completed and distributed on time, it help in a situation like this, but it would
of director or board can be just as prob- sends the message to homeowners that be helpful to know why the person is
lematic for a manager or team trying to the board and management aren’t orga- acting the way they are. Let’s remember
complete essential tasks efficiently and nized and professional. This doesn’t instill that sometimes board members are in
professionally for their corporation(s). confidence in stakeholders. a position simply because nobody else
This article will provide some strat- Other issues will then arise, frustrat- would step up to the plate. We need to Photo: ©iStock.com/ ismagilov
egies for dealing with an unresponsive ing homeowners, residents, contractors, support this director by consistently
director or board. vendors, and, of course, management planning, communicating and provid-
First, let’s consider some of the issues and may result in a corporation being ing as much runway as possible for
this behaviour can create. unable to book the best contractors. decision-making.
32 I CM Magazine WINTER 2024