Manager Dating A Contractor

I just discovered that the manager of my condominium is dating a contractor.

It does not seem to be against FL statute (Ch 718).

Just the same, it hardly seems possible that she could be an advocate for our association if a dispute arose with this contractor. She has not disclosed the relationship to the board. When questioned, she told me she only knows the contractor through business.

Maybe I'm making too much of this, maybe not.

Opinions welcome.

Harry...... if you look hard enough you can find evil everywhere.

Is this contractor doing work on YOUR property? And in what amounts?

My view this manager has no obligation to inform the board who they are dating and if you wish to read their contract I doubt some public disclosure clause is included regarding personal relationships. Do your board member need to explain the status of their personal relationships?

More importantly for me would be IF they are doing acceptable work at a reasonable cost.
Do you lack trust in both the contracotr and the manager to the point you now question their ability to serve your property honestly?

I would not feel comfortable appraoching someone and asking who they are dating and what their relationship is to be that would be none of your business.

Plus she answered your question politely so time to move on.

Are you accusing them of "pillow talk"?

Thanks for all replies. Richard I tend to agree with you.

In Florida, like most other states I'm sure, the customer should have the contractor obtain lien releases from subs before payment is made. Otherwise the customer (be it association or individual homeowner) can find liens filed against their property when they thought the work was paid for.

Ie, it is not unheard of for the contractor to pay for other jobs with the proceeds from a later job. I am NOT saying it has happened here though.

What has happened is this contractor's work has been substandard.

I do not care who this manager dates, and want her to be happy. When I as association president get a quote, I tell the board how I came in contact with the bidder. I gave this manager a chance to tell me about the relationship, and she passed it up. That is not ethical behavior in my opinion.

Of course I'm old school. These days, sometimes it is anything goes.

In the end it SHOULD be the board who awards contracts not the manager.

And if this particular contractor's work is in fact substandard as you suggest I would place the blame on the board and you as the board President for allowing them to continue doing more work.

And being rather old school myself it has never been anyone's business I worked for who I was dating in my personal life.

What the line Harry one date? Two weeks? Or maybe just a casual relationship? When does that become your business as a member of an HOA
board?

People date. Sometimes they meet through their jobs old school or new school that's their business.

Harry

I repeat:

Are you accusing them of "pillow talk"?

If you are satisfied with the management company then state your concerns to the owner of the company and request different property manager. No hand-wringing or worrying. Just do it.

Then stand up at BOD Meeting and demand something be done to rectify the problem.

If the manager and contractor have no financial interest in what goes on in the association, I would say no problem. If the manager is giving jobs to the contractor or handyman, I don't care how good a job they are doing, it is a potential conflict of interest. If the same manager gives out the jobs and personally signs the association checks, that is a big red flag.

The contract stipulated that the management company be the sole signers on the operating account. Contract signed by both parties.

English must be your second langauage.

Here is a question? What if I as President or any other board member was dating a neighbor? Would you demand that disclosure??? What is it any business of yours on someones personal life? I keep mine from business anyways.

Actually, sir, it is my ninth.

However, the colloquialism (to coin a phrase [double pun intended]), did get your attention.

ps. bonder would be a glue or cement, bondor would be a person (as in mortgagor)

Jon,

I disagree. In fact, it is the exact problem that was stated by the OP:


Now, the appearance of a conflict could have been prevented IF the Board is doing everything you, I and others are advocating (Board solicits bids for all jobs, board makes the decision as to whom to award the contract to, etc.).

The appearance could also be prevented by having the contractor not bid on projects for Associations being managed by the PM.

The appearance can also be mitigated if the PM discloses this issue to the Board if a contract is bid on by the contractor in question.

However, the fact still remains that there is an appearance of a conflict of interest from the OP's perspective. Granted, an appearance does not mean that an actual conflict exists. Additionally, if there is an actual conflict and it is disclosed, then there isn't an issue in my mind.

To Harry,

Since you seem to be concerned with the PM being an advocate if a dispute arises with the contractor, until an actual dispute occurs, you really don't know if your concern is valid or not.

If you are on the Board, simply be aware of the issue so any potential conflict can be mitigated.

If you are not on the Board, it's your choice to bring your concerns to the Board or not.