Comments on Piano Controversy and Upcoming Election

COMMENTARY ON THE PIANO CONTROVERSY: The following is my opinion. I was not in favor of buying a piano, given the money we need to spend on fixing our infrastructure. However, because the piano is now here in our beautifully refurbished West lobby and people, including me, are enjoying it both as a handsome item of furniture and as a high-quality musical instrument, I feel it is absolutely mandatory that if the Board is seriously considering selling the piano that it must send a questionnaire to every unit owner asking them to vote on whether to keep or sell this valuable item. However, I would like to point out that after spending $300,000 on furnishings, we have sofas that cost $$8,000 and $12,000, chairs that cost over $3,000 a piece, barstools that cost just under $1,000 a piece, and etc. We also have a first floor adorned with artwork that cost a total of $35,000. Does that mean we should also consider selling these items, and that the Association should vote item by item on what to keep and what to sell? I say it is time to move on.

The piano was no secret. It had always been part of the design plan and that design plan was presented in public forum to owners and residents by The Hartman Design Group. It is inconceivable that any Board member could have been unaware of the intention to purchase a piano. Furthermore, there had never been any Board decision to discuss, much less debate, whether to purchase a piano. What is unfortunate is that the Board failed to solicit comments from Association members starting at the very beginning of the refurbishment project. This is basic psychology in how leaders need to deal with a large group of people who share common space. Getting agreement and buy in on the basic goals guiding the refurbishment process would have probably headed off many of the problems we are hearing people complain about.

COMMUNICATING WITH THE BOARD: Recently I learned that the most effective way of delivering praise or complaints to the Board is to submit these letters to the management office. Why? Because these letters will then be made part of the monthly management report and then become part of the official Association record.

COMMENTARY ON THE ECA BOARD & UPCOMING ELECTION: One other comment that I feel must be made is that very idea of punishing a Board member for following the direction of the President of the Board is petty and completely unacceptable. All too often, those of us who attend monthly Board meetings see Board members act unprofessionally. Furthermore, Board members act like they are adversaries instead of teammates looking out for the good of the entire Association.

We are approaching our annual meeting where three Board members, if they choose to run, will be up for re-election. It’s time to think hard about who you want to represent you. I want Board members who communicate well; have no axes to grind; can work together respectfully while making hard choices; are honest, impartial, dependable, competent; have a track record of sound financial responsibility; promote community; and enforce the rules equitably.