February 2024
Central to everything that goes on in a condominium corporation is the condo board. This self-governing body is elected by owners to direct the community, work to maintain a quality of life, and preserve their investments. Members of the board learn as they go along and do not require any specific experience.
Those who become board members do so for a variety of reasons including service to the community, sharing their experience and keeping fees low.
Communities with effective boards prepare well in advance to bring on new directors. One approach is for the board to appoint one or two non-voting members. They participate in all board meetings and deliberations. When a space comes up, they are prepared to seamlessly step in.
Most communities struggle to find individuals prepared to make the commitment to serve on a voluntary basis. Those prepared to do so should provide a resume or bio in advance of a meeting where they are up for election. Prior to the vote, each should have an opportunity to present their background and qualifications in an open forum, and to explain how they hope to add value to their community and the board.
Boards like to recommend new members they think they will work well with for vacant board positions. Board members may desire individuals who offer specific skills or expertise, are friends or individuals easy to get along with. This could result in a board made up only of lawyers, real estate agents, families with children or card players. It is inappropriate for condo boards to vet and recommend candidates despite their desire to do so.
One approach is to establish a nomination committee to seek out potential candidates and make specific recommendations. This gives owners greater confidence in the ability of director-candidates to be effective should they be elected. In the event that an elected director is unable to complete their term, nomination committee recommendations offer a candidate pool for appointments. A nomination committee is best comprised of current or past directors and owners.
The best boards are made up of people with divergent skills, education and backgrounds. Balance, while not required, is desirable.
