Ah ha, so the door was truly an example. Otherwise, important question in there from JT – ‘Your front door or building front door?’ I assumed SC member’s door. Exactly the situation our OC just paid to rectify. Door given a wink and nudge by the chair, replacement a different colour in an otherwise contiguous hall – and not even fire rated. SC member since sold and we couldn’t ask the new owner to pay the thousands for a compliant door. So you see my sensitivity to a private deal about common property, particularly a door!
My point was that a chair should immediately dispel any myth that the committee can make all decisions, and that the chair is the undisputed ruler of the SC. Chairs can even convince their own committees of this, good people included as Flame Tree says.
The committee will end up a being a couple despots and a bunch of yes folk, created by selected favours doled out by a chair who has has no authority to do so. Or worse, a fear of their deliberately implied power if wielded against the others.
Yes, a little legislation quoting can be effective, but just as JT warned, a perceived threat to their position can cause all manner of wrath to reign down on a member rightfully pointing out strata law. In turn, it generates a self perpetuating myth which becomes truth – they do end up with power.
That’s a dysfunctional situation that is too familiar to all of us who read these pages.