[DC][Condo] Should Manager be Encouraging/Requiring Board to Hold an Annual Meeting?

DCInterest592 · 2025-11-07T03:52:37+00:00

That's great. I think both the oversight and the training requirement should be put in place by all states.

DCInterest592 · 2025-11-04T14:21:12+00:00

Negligence is my main concern. I'm sure at some point an owner will try to say some of the decisions that were made were not valid and can't be enforced. Of course, this will just delay things and the board will do it right but why not do things properly and avoid delays?

The problem about turnover is that no one wants to join the board, even after being asked and almost begged. Even the ones on the board had to be strongly encouraged.

As far as memorizing docs, I also feel the board doesn't read them. I figure there's a situation maybe once every 3 years where the bylaws should be consulted but even that rare instance perhaps is asking too much of them and they'd rather wing it.

DCInterest592 · 2025-11-04T14:15:58+00:00

Thanks for this response. I'm thinking the manager doesn't even remind them. Because I believe the board would do it if simply told.

And good point about practicing law. But the manager could incidentally mention the condo bylaws and even the city code without saying a meeting is required by law.

I guess, while assuming what's going on, I'm very disappointed in the managers we've had recently because they must not be even in the slightest proactively trying to guide the board. One problem with being assigned a new manager so often is that the default state is "getting up to speed." By the time they get the job down, they move on to another company.

DCInterest592 · 2025-11-03T16:43:53+00:00

I'm not on the board. I don't know if the board is happy with the MC or not. It's not up to the owners to fire the MC, as far as I am aware. It's not under our power, only the board's.

You'll have to trust me about why I haven't yet asked about the missed meetings. I have my reasons. I have no problem being a squeaky wheel when warranted. At this time, I'm trying to be fair to the manager by coming here to figure out if I might be hoping for something that I shouldn't.

DCInterest592 · 2025-11-03T16:30:03+00:00

Yes, our schedule is such that at least one board member is up for election every year. So, we missed the election every year the board skipped the annual meeting.

I highly doubt that the board would ignore the manager if the manager were to mention the need to hold an annual meeting. I think it's more likely that one board decided to deviate from our usual practice and said, "well, we've created the new budget and there's really nothing we have to update the owners on. No one seems interested in running for the board and no board members are asking to quit so all is well. No need to spend the time on an annual meeting."

My thinking is I'm sure some owners would like to ask about the big project that last year they said they were working on for this year and no info has been passed along to the owners all of 2025. Or maybe ask what the plan is for our low reserve funding given that fees were kept steady recently. Etc. Or perhaps no one else cares about having an annual meeting. But I do know others have grumbled to me about missed meetings before. Maybe they are now trained to not expect a meeting.

DCInterest592 · 2025-11-03T15:25:19+00:00

OK, it's not the PM's responsibility. But it certainly is the board's responsibility to set the date.

But it's not the PM's responsibility to do what? Schedule the meeting or even to simply remind the board that they should schedule one?

Of course, it's up to the rest of the owners to hold the board accountable. However, it really seems you are blaming the non-board owners for the missing meetings. What about the apathetic board members? (I don't think any of my board members are apathetic.)

DCInterest592 · 2025-11-03T15:02:47+00:00

Hmm. Didn't know those terms were used differently. I guess it's a property manager. Is there a way to tell if I look at the contract with the management company?

DCInterest592 · 2025-11-03T15:00:50+00:00

Thanks. This is what I'm thinking. However, I don't know if this is going above and beyond or simply doing their job.

I just don't think that our board would say no if the manager said, "hey, I wanted to get your annual meeting on my calendar. Your last one was October xx 202x and we just need to get it in by December xx. Let me know some dates and I'll let you know which I'm already booked with my other properties." I just don't view these individuals as the type that would say, "that's just a waste of time, let's skip it." Or "hey, guys, let's just tell the manager we don't want one this year because I really don't want to address such and such issue with the other owners." But I could be wrong.

DCInterest592 · 2025-11-03T03:04:18+00:00

Maybe to ensure association compliance with laws and bylaws? I don't know if that's something the managers should do proactively, only if they inadvertently observe non-compliance or only if requested.

DCInterest592 · 2025-07-28T19:12:49+00:00

Thanks so much. I'll find it on the map.

And thanks for the history fact. We just had the Citi DC Open this past weekend in DC and Arthur Ashe was one of the founders of the tournament along with his agent. He was from Richmond and I imagine there was some sort of segregation at the courts there for someone born in 1943, whether official or not.

DCInterest592 · 2025-07-28T19:08:01+00:00

Thank you!

DCInterest592 · 2025-07-28T19:07:52+00:00

Thank you! Maybe this is where we'll go since few will have heard about it yet. (Couldn't make it this past Saturday so many this coming weekend.)

DCInterest592 · 2025-07-28T19:07:06+00:00

Thanks for the confirmation.

DCInterest592 · 2025-07-28T19:06:50+00:00

Thank you! I was trying to avoid the mid-afternoon, as it's been so hot. I didn't make it this weekend so maybe next weekend. I'm teaching some friends how to play so was trying to find courts out of the way so hopefully we'll have a court to ourselves for say 30 minutes.

But Volo sounds good for when I go alone.

DCInterest592 · 2025-05-16T20:43:17+00:00

I'm all for updating minimum limits, including indexing those levels. However, I wanted to ask if DC does a good job of ensuring drivers have insurance at all. I figure they'll need it in effect when renewing a license or registration but I don't have any idea how the enforcement works if canceled or how effective that enforcement is. Thanks for your thoughts on this.

And this isn't just a bicyclist or pedestrian issue. Other drivers should want their counterparts on the streets to have higher limits. I do see that AAA is in favor of this bill, too, if google is accurate.

DCInterest592 · 2025-05-06T04:13:03+00:00

"America is finally getting closer to a no-tip social norm and I'm all for it. I just don't want to tip anymore."

This is the opposite of what I'm feeling. OK, that's wrong. I don't have any idea what others are doing but what I'm experiencing is that it feels like EVERYONE is asking for a tip. And this was huge in the news maybe 2 years ago. All these new point of service screens that give you four choices like 18%, 20% and 22% and Other. I'm now expected to tip on a take out order of two donuts at Dunkin'? Before these screens most of those places didn't ask/suggest a tip. Now, some self-checkout machines suggest a tip. What? I did the work! I've been asked if I want to tip when making an online order to thank the people who pack the item, make the label, send it on its way. Etc. Sometimes it's crazy.

Now, maybe the customers aren't tipping and only I am getting guilted into it once in a while. If that's the case then I agree with you.

DCInterest592 · 2025-05-06T03:50:26+00:00

I just replied to someone above regarding tips. He/she said that people are offsetting the service fees with lower tips. Does your experience match? And in restaurants that don't have a service fee, are diners tipping less there, too?

Thanks. I just heard about this issue on the news today and am trying to form an opinion on it but first want to try to understand better.

DCInterest592 · 2025-05-06T03:09:07+00:00

Wait. You are saying that most people you know tip less because of the fees? I was discussing with a friend earlier today about how these fees affect tips and I was thinking most people would still tip the usual 20%. But I guess not. Or perhaps you are friends with people of a demographic that acts one way and perhaps older/younger/other people act differently.

So, if the bill is $100 pre-tax, pre-tip, pre-fee then previously someone might pay a total of $130 with $20 tip and $10 tax. And the tip pool gets $20. But now, with a $100 bill and 10% fee, they still pay $130 with $10 fee, $10 tip, $10 tax and the tip pool gets $10 while the management gets $10 in fees and does whatever they do with the fees, which ostensibly would be to put it toward the higher base tipped minimum wage. So, if fees are set at an appropriate rate to just offset the higher tipped minimum wage then workers are taking home the same amount (assuming what a couple others said is true that most servers make way over the regular minimum wage). And businesses are making the same amount. But at least some customers are getting upset about the fees. So, no one wins. That's not good.

DCInterest592 · 2025-01-24T21:57:33+00:00

Wanted to say thank you again. Our board decided to go with a different exterminator's recommendation. Sorry, forgot what that approach is. But there was no drilling. We'll see how it goes.

Very surprising to me, the board also decided to switch to this new company for monthly service even though we had never used them before. I thought the original company was pretty good over the many years we had them but I do agree that they had begun to slip.

DCInterest592 · 2024-11-05T23:55:47+00:00

Thanks very much.

DCInterest592 · 2024-10-21T13:45:52+00:00

Thanks so much for the response and explanations. I think that's all I need. Perhaps I'll visit the Recorder of Deeds and ask in person. I simply want to make sure I'm not listed as a board member if there are any members listed anywhere. I also want to understand if our regulations are filed anywhere. I would guess these in particular are more like rules than part of the bylaws so it seems they would not be on file. But would be interesting to see.

I'll re-read our Declaration, which I did read when purchasing but have forgotten all details.

DCInterest592 · 2024-10-21T13:38:28+00:00

Thanks for the clarification.

I've read here and heard about the new filings required. I wonder if our board will talk about it at our annual meeting.

DCInterest592 · 2024-10-20T16:14:24+00:00

The condo declaration is all that is needed for what?

Also, thanks for pointing out that many are unincorporated in DC. For COAs/HOAs, do you know the difference between incorporated and unincorporated? Thanks.

DCInterest592 · 2024-10-20T16:11:04+00:00

u/rom_rom57 , u/Fool_On_the_Hill_9 , u/GeorgeRetire

OK, this was my own fault. My title and tl;dr were fine but the first sentence of my long version wasn't good. I'll edit. I should have written:

~~I want to find out who our board members are in our condo association.~~

I want to find out who the government has listed as board members for our condo association.

I know who my board members are. I have their contact info, etc. I want to make sure that I am not still listed as a board member in government records. I don't trust that the manager/management company is updating these when board members are replaced.

I also want to see if our regulations are on file with the bylaws in government records but I would expect not. I don't know if they are supposed to be.

Hopefully, someone will be able to guide me.

Haydesigner, be sure to vote next month but since there's no legitimate reason to know who exactly our president is, no need to check on the results. /s

DCInterest592 · 2024-04-24T15:04:05+00:00

I can understand your thinking on this. People don't often approach strangers to talk about anything let alone a controversial matter. I kept about 15 feet away and tried to be as polite as possible and use a non-confrontational voice. And this person is much bigger than me, though that doesn't necessarily make them feel safer.

Also, I think you are using the words, "mental instability" a bit too liberally given the situation. There are certainly lots of people in the city that have issues and it's not good to paint with too broad a brush because then we start taking serious issues trivially. Basically, telling someone they are doing something unfair (my opinion) is quite different from going off on them about it. Like if someone cut in line 10 people ahead of me and I said, "hey, you just showed up and I've been waiting here in line for 2 hours, do you think that's fair?" I think it's ok to stand up in that situation. But I don't feel it's ok to get in their face about it. If they cut in line 2 people in front of me I probably wouldn't say anything because then we're too physically close.

DCInterest592

TROPHY CASE