It’s usually up to the chairman (or woman). My building’s chair prides himself on getting AGMs over and done with quickly. People seem to like not having to listen to endless discussions so who am I to criticise? Other people see AGMs as the one chance that owners have to express an opinion and ask questions – which would be my idea of what they are designed for. However, there are people who do and say nothing all year but turn up at AGMs to vent their fury for problems (that they often haven’t reported) not having been fixed.
The Act seems contradictory on who gets to chair the meeting but I am told that the Strata Manger is empowered to do so when the chair is present but wishes to step down temporarily (often for the very good reason that he or she has a proposal that they want to argue for).
Some realise they just aren’t up to the task of controlling a large meeting – and that’s where a good set of standing orders comes in handy – stuff like people not being allowed to speak a second time until everyone who wants to speak has had their say.
I actually prefer meetings to be chaired by the strata manager because they are usually impartial, well-informed about strata law generally and across the items on the agenda. Better that than a know-all who takes every question as a personal affront and every discussion as a waste of time (because he or she has the votes to decide what’s going to happen, regardless).