… and condo boards that legitimize it
The Condo Cabal is a minority group of condo owners that works to circumvent condo governance.
The Condo Cabal can hijack condo meetings. They shout down or interrupt residents who ask questions or pose views that differ from their own. Those who oppose the Condo Cabal view are typically shouted down or ridiculed. Disapproving nods by the Condo Cabal can be seen when contrary views are articulated. Rules of conduct for boards and meetings are irrelevant to the Condo Cabal.
The Condo Cabal typically opposes condo board initiatives or efforts. They may do so for perceived personal gain or simply because they oppose change. They have little use for outside expertise, unbiased information or logic conflicting with their view.
The Condo Act provides an elected condo board with authority to explore and evaluate options for the betterment of their community. The elected board is encouraged to give weight to outside expertise as a way to ascertain a proper course of action. The Cabal opposes this approach with rumour, lies and threats.
Far too often, condo boards succumb to the Condo Cabal.
What the Condo Cabal fails to recognize is that they do a disservice to themselves. They encourage a condo board to avoid making difficult decisions necessary to manage their condo corporation and improve the lifestyle of all. They promote mediocrity rather than striving to improve.
Condo corporations with a vocal and active Condo Cabal are not where most want to live. These condo corporations are often stuck in the past. They fail to manage expenses and get caught in a cycle of higher cost for reduced service and quality. Such buildings fall behind neighbouring buildings that are more proactive, imaginative and innovative. Condo Cabal controlled buildings, once identified, are avoided by the more desirable of condo owners. Resale values suffer.
The founding fathers of the USA understood the risks of the Condo Cabal. The Senate was, at the time, deemed too important an institution to be put in the hands of the general electorate. They were deemed not sufficiently educated and prone to rash decisions that could damage the country. Consequently, the majority of US citizens were not allowed to vote for members of the Senate.
Perhaps there is a lesson here for condo boards.
Publication Date: March 2017
