Good read for us all....We really need a new Board and Property Manager

How to elect a new board

Petition & First Meeting with the Board & Property Managers

As most of you know, the Board and Property Managers finally granted everyone's request by arranging for a meeting this Monday, October 22nd 2012 at the Radisson Plaza hotel on Derry east of Hurontario (10 minutes away). The Property Manager is aware of what is going on and is fearful that if we band together and vote on a new Board that they will eventually be replaced and a new Property Manager will be hired. They were supposed to give us a week's notice and find something right next door but instead decided to give us only 2 business days notice and found a place further and more inconvenient to meet. They were also aware that Monday was not the best date for a meeting and yet they still went a head with it. Many of you including our official contact outside of the Board have been trying to contact the Property Manager and no responses have been communicated or voicemails returned. Basically they are trying to go ahead with this and leave us in the dark.

After consultation with someone experienced in this area, it should be understood that the Property Manager is trying to get the most that they can to cover their own potential expenses in the long run and the Board is just letting this happen. Usually the Board is supposed to try their best to look at all options and if possible look at other Property Managers when necessary. Remington should be on the hook for all these expenses that are getting passed on to us and not the Board or the Property Manager is doing anything about it; in fact, Remington left the paving of the roads to be paid by our fees. We can't let this continue to happen.

Two other owners went around this Saturday morning to each of your homes and collected more then enough signatures to over throw the Board and eventually hire a new Property Manager. They will bring the signatures and official positions to the meeting on Monday to present to the current Board and Property Manager which would automatically allow for a new meeting to elect a new Board within 35 days. If you didn't get a chance to sign then please come on Monday evening to sign your name.

It is important that we all show up Monday night so that we could not only fight these increases in fees but also get well acquainted with each other and make sure that we are not bossed around when it comes to these matters.

2 owners already are having a hard time with selling their homes now that the fees have gone up and have been instructed to take up to 10% of their asking price(s) now that the fees are so high. Is it fair that the value of our hard earned equity in our homes has to be so low due to the mismanagement of our current Board and the greed of our Property Managers?

Please continue to support and speak up. We need to stick together and we could get this right. It's possible and their have been many cases, we just need to all be on the same page and be involved at this point so we could then after sit back and be rest assured that our Board is doing the right thing......while keeping us ALL in the loop.

We look forward to your association tomorrow.

Property Manager Response #2

Everyone;

I spoke with one of our residents who has been in touch with the Property Manager and they forwarded over an email that was sent by the Property Manager and their representative John. Please see below for more information.

Basically, it looks like we may have to wait until next week for a meeting with the Board to go over the fees and increase. The Property Manager is now aware that we are also considering not only a new board, but new Property Manager. A couple of residents will be coming around this Saturday morning between 9:30 to 11am to get more signatures from those that haven't already signed. Please try to be home at that time as this petition will strengthen our case. Please let others know as well that may not be checking this site.

Just so you know, this has been done before and we have options. It's just important that we work together in a fast fashion. Thank you.

Note from John:
cannot confirm an information session for Monday.  We are looking at sometime the following week.  If the owners want to go through with replacing the Board,  you will need to call for a requisition meeting and that takes time to set up.  There are procedures under the Condominium Act 1998 that must be followed.  Let me know if you want me to send you the procedures. 

 

I strongly recommend that you wait until after the information session to make a decision on that.  I have confirmed that the Corporations lawyer will be at the meeting, so I think it’s better to make an informed decision rather than one in the heat of the moment.

Property Manager Response

Everyone;

I just got off the phone with one of our owners and they mentioned to me that the Property Manager will be glad to meet with us all next week so that we can review and understand our options. It appears that the Property Manager also agrees that communication from the current board wasn't at par but we should at least look at our options. Please vote in the poll on the side as to which date and time works best for you so that we can schedule this meeting. It looks like we may be able to have this at Ray Lawson Public school across the street which was just completed in July of this year.

Again, please feel free to offer your opinions on the blog and start talking. Also, subscribe so that you can be updated with new info. Thank you.

Welcome Everyone. I'm certain that most of us received a letter in regards to our maintenance fees increasing to approx. $252 effective November 1st 2012. We need to review what has happened here and look at our options. The Board never discussed this with us and no fair warning was given to anyone.

I've been speaking with the head of the board from the Heathwood side of our complex and he shared the following with me which we can consider:

- They originally had an increase after the first year from $150 to $220 and had the same problem with communication from their Board.

- They had a petition signed by more then 50% of owners/residents/occupants and had the Board overthrown.

- They then elected a new Board which fired the property manager before the initial contract up and interview new groups before they hired a new one. The Group that we have was also in the running but was deemed to expensive and didn't have the best reputation. The group that they hired was able to operate at a lower cost and they now only pay $180 per month

- This was all done in a matter of 60 to 90 days.

- If you look at the items on our list for expenses, many of these items should be covered under the builders warranty.

Having an increase this high so fast doesn't benefit any of us now. I don't think it is fair to build a reserve fund that large for problems that may arise after most of us have sold or moved in 5 - 10 years at the least.

For those of you looking to sell within the year. I'm certain that the maintenance fee price will not be something that others will want to pay and could effectively reduce the price at which your home is sold for.

Please let us know your thoughts and lets try to work together to do something.

Thank you for your time.