of using one is enjoying the mouth-watering smells that emanate for hours as the dish heats up.
The residential association world has its own version of “cooking” when it comes to important decisions. Some association boards rush into the process and pick the first solution offered, without considering consequences. This can occasionally have disastrous results, such as if an incompetent, inexperienced, or uninsured vendor for repairs is chosen because they had the lowest price, or are the friend or relative of a board member or homeowner, and not because they are the best company suited for the project. Making a decision just to speed the process along or to check a task or project off a list is similar to eating a bowl of instant noodles: sure, it’s cheap and easy to prepare and it will fill your stomach, but it doesn’t contain the proper nutrients or satisfying flavors of say, pasta made from scratch and sautéed with vegetables and a delicious sauce.
Board members and managers have a fiduciary duty to an association to put the whole association’s needs ahead of their own, and to make decisions that will provide benefit to all residents in the community. In order to so, managers and boards must spend time researching and discussing various solutions to a problem. Consult your “community association cookbook” – your industry professionals and experts, CAI Illinois educational forums and guides. Reach out and ask others who have experience in a particular area or situation for their advice; what worked for them and what didn’t. Spend time talking to different vendors for a project to have alternatives on how to address a repair matter or remedy a problem. There can often be more than one solution present, and it may only be through meetings and discussions where various options are weighed and evaluated. Sometimes decisions made in the heat of the moment, such as slapping on a fine on a homeowner without hearing the whole story or giving the homeowner a chance to explain or defend themselves, can have negative consequences. In this case, a penalty assessed hastily without research or following protocol can cause bigger issues between neighbors and homeowners that may result in fights, negative attitudes and emotions, wasted time and energy at board meetings dealing with the aftermath, even costly lawsuits.
Conversely, there are times when a board must not spend too much time in the decision-making process and needs to reach a decision quickly and implement it immediately. If an association is suffering water damage from an active leak, dangerous balconies or other unsafe living conditions, it may need to jump into prompt action without delay in order to protect homeowners and their property. In some circumstances, taking too long to act may result in injuries or illnesses, more property damage, higher costs, or other unwanted consequences.
In some circumstances, boards delay making a decision because the options are unpleasant or may not be well-
www.cai-illinois.org • 847.301.7505 | 49
received by homeowners. They may prefer to defer the problem to the incoming board to avoid the responsibility or avoid facing homeowner dissatisfaction and complaints. More often than not, postponing a difficult decision only serves to worsen the matter. Time, weather, environment, the economy and other factors can exacerbate a situation and when left unaddressed, can often turn a medium-sized problem into a larger (more costly) one.
and their drawbacks. Knowing which dishes turn out best under each method is half the battle. As an association board member, homeowner or property manager, knowing when you must “zap” out a quick decision and when you need to let the decision-mak- ing process simmer can produce the most successful results. bon appetit!
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56
