I would like to be a fly on the board meeting’s wall
Q. We purchased our condo unit over a year ago. It seems there is always a little trouble brewing when it comes to communication between the owners and the board. Sometimes board members quit and others are appointed until the next annual meeting. I was thinking of volunteering for this job but would like to sit in on a few board meetings prior to my decision. This way I can learn whether or not I could handle such a commitment. Are owners permitted to sit in on the meetings? I would like to know my options before I make such a request. A. Sometimes the board of directors will set aside time at the end of their board meeting to speak with an owner who has an issue. Even though you may have been invited to attend the board meeting, you cannot be present when the board is discussing matters that owners are not permitted to hear. Those particular matters are set out in the Condominium Act. They are: records relating to employees of the corporation except for employment contracts, or relating to actual or pending litigation, or ongoing insurance investigations involving the corporation, other owners or other units.
It is refreshing to read of your interest in becoming a board member. Unfortunately, unless invited, no persons other than board members are permitted to attend board meetings. You may want to contact the board and inform them of your interest. Your other option is to consider taking a director’s course from the Canadian Condominium Institute. There are many chapters of this organization throughout Canada and you can look them up on the Internet for further information.
Once you educate yourself, you will have a much better understanding as to whether or not this volunteer position is for you. I think the more educated a director becomes, the more he or she will be able to expertly handle the situations they face on a daily basis. Good communication between owners and directors is the key to a well-managed condominium corporation.