The absent director

Being a director is high-calling, one that can attract the best among us. Too often however, new board members are unprepared for the demands of the position. Managing budgets, liaising with managers, meeting the needs of the community – it’s a lot of work (and often uncompensated, unacknowledged, and frustrating!).

So what do you do when a member of your board isn’t attending meetings, and doesn’t seem to be able to handle their responsibilities? Often, frankness is the answer. Speak with your absentee director, acknowledge the demands of the position, and suggest they consider stepping down. Most condominiums have a by-law which allows the board to appoint an interim director when a vacancy arises. At the next annual general meeting (AGM), your absentee director can decide if she’s ready to run again.

Strong boards can be an amazing force for good. Directors are the caretakers of the community and, especially for smaller boards, it’s important to have the benefit and inspiration of all its members. Well-intentioned and considerate (read: good) absentee directors will acknowledge their limitations and step down for the good of the community. As for other types of absentee directors, well, we’ll discuss them later.

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Stan Moneta is an expert in condominium property management with over three decades of experience as a condo developer and property manager. Need some advice? Send questions to blog@sherwoodpm.com or comment below.