Re: Bully Chairman

First of all I checked with a neighbour friend on my floor on Friday night, 24 March, and asked her if she was aware that an AGM had been called.  She said no.  She is one of the people who is not computer literate and has all notices mailed to her.  I also have my Notice of AGM mailed to me because I don’t have a printer and it is always a large document.  I had to go onto the strata website and send the Notice to myself and take it to an internet cafe to get it printed so I could know what they planned for the AGM.  It cost me $19.50, which I want reimbursed.  So, after reading all your excellent information here, I compiled a lengthy email to all strata committee members, the strata manager and three owners who are more interested than others at what is going on, setting out my concerns about a “secret” AGM.  I sent this on Sunday morning, giving everyone time to consume before Monday morning.  The emails started at 6:38am on Monday.  

First from the strata manager, who stated emphatically that everything had been done according to the rules and that the meeting would go ahead.  I should tell you at this point, that this strata manager (an independent strata manager – just her and an assistant) has only been managing our property for six months after we sacked the previous one and moved to her.  She said the Notices had been mailed or emailed out to all owners on 13 March 2017.  

Next  an email from the chairman saying he noted that the strata manager had replied to me so he would leave it to her (he’s such a coward).  I replied that it was odd that I and another owner with whom I am friendly seemed to be the only people who had not received a Notice of AGM.  The strata manager replied, getting more hostile with every response to me, that everything was in order and she sent me a screen shot of the labels created for the mailing and a screenshot of the email list to owners dated 13 March 2017.  She then replied with another email telling me that there had been a legitimate SCM settling the AGM agenda, to which I replied that I had never been advised that a SCM had been called and why hadn’t I been notified?  She didn’t answer that.  At no time did she suggest I could come into the office (5 minutes’ walk from my place) and pick up a couple of copies of the Notice.

The chairman then sent me another email stating that the meeting would go ahead regardless.

All this time (over a few hours), no one else threw in their two cents.  I finally sent an email to the strata manager telling her I was very unhappy with her behaviour, ignoring me as a committee member, omitting me from emails and her general hostility that day while I was asking legitimate questions about the AGM and that she should consider her business reputation.  Dead silence ever since – from everyone!!

I was so shocked by the whole episode and, feeling unwell, decided not to go to the meeting.  However, my neighbour attended.  Unbelievably, the strata manager did not have a hard copy of the Notice for her to read!!  My neighbour could only tell me a few things.  As I suspected, the rusted on committee is back, along with the non-financial member as secretary, and an additional woman who has previously served.  They are also planning on spending a lot of money on the building (which is bound to include the $15,000+ for the chairman’s unit)!  And a by-law to approve someone’s new bathroom.  I suspect the chairman manipulated the whole incident to make sure I did not get onto the committee again because the strata manager did not know me and it was very odd the way she treated me, as though she had been told “don’t take any notice of her”.  He’s a controlling bully and is always determined to get his way no matter what.

I won’t know much more until the minutes are posted on the website.

Can you tell me whether this person who is always non-financial is allowed to be on the strata committee? How is she allowed to vote?  I cannot find this information anywhere but I find it very odd that everyone knows she is not financial yet they go along with her being elected every year.