Dear Residents,
Salutations to Pradyot for the effort he has put in to begin this blog. For me, personally, this is a totally new experience - blogging - but if my views will help in taking us forward in our attempt to put back all the pieces together, to achieve our objective of integrating our complex into one (not merely on paper), to live in harmony, respect and regard for one and all, it will be worthwhile.
RETREAT is a unique complex, and while the developers did not intend it, by giving the 3 buildings different names - Rakshak, Heights and Ivory Tower, they created a divide. All the residents are highly intelligent, well-placed, and we should look for an opportunity. Thus, unlike being given numbers, as in other condominiums, we have names. Let us use this diversity as an advantage and unite to achieve a common objective.
Mr Banga has very clearly, once again, explained the philosphy that went into the framing of the current bye-laws of RAOA. Mr Parminder Singh has expressed his views on how the future administration of the complex should be carried out. In fact, it follows the clauses laid down in the bye-laws. Understandably, the bye-laws cannot detail all actions that a Governing Body must follow: certain activities, e.g issue of Notices for Meetings (Governing Body, GBMs, etc) and/or Minutes. It is the responsibility of the Secretary to do so, but implicit in this is the fact that the Secretary cannot, and should not issue Notices for meetings without consultation of the President. Similarly, Secretary is required to record decisions taken at meetings. Such Minutes should be recorded by the Secretary and should be signed both by the President and Secretary. However, it is equally important that the draft of such Minutes is first circulated amongst the Governing Body Members to elicit their views, before these are displayed. This is only an example, and therefore detailed actions cannot be part of any bye-laws.
Conduct of the Governing Body Members:
Use of uncivil language and profainities is a total no-no. There has to be transparency in their actions because they are elected to carry out the administration of the complex and to improve/upgrade the living standards. The bye-laws have clearly spelt out the manner in which the Governing Body must conduct their business at the AGMs. This was not done at the first AGM held after the elections. Limited budget copies were distributed to those who attended the meeting. However, as per the bye-laws, these should have been circulated in advance to enable the residents to give their view-point. Similarly, no budget was presented for the Common Areas. It is important and mandatory for the Governing Body Members to adhere to the clauses laid down in the Bye-Laws: these cannot be interpreted to suit any one, not until these are amended. The Bye-Laws also state that both Maintenance Committees will have one Member from the other Maintenance Committee. This clause has been flouted by the Governing Body. What I am trying to say is that we should sincerely adhere to the Bye-Laws, which contain the seeds of integration. That we have moved away from observing certain clauses, has perhaps led to this peculiar situation.
The Bye-Laws should be up-dated constantly, to cater to the changing needs of the people. If it is now felt that these need more clarity, a sub-committee must be set up. Until that is done, the Members must observe the Bye-Laws as they are.
Common Areas and its funding:
The Bye-Laws are very clear on the funding of the third account. Mr Banga has clearly explained this in his note and there is no ambiguity. All expenses in the Common Areas, such as water, electricity, repair of roads, horticulture, security,etc., have to be paid out of the Common Area Account. The Governing Body has to fix an amount payable by each flat-owner to the Common Area Fund, and inform the residents. This amount will be common to all owners, regardless of the size of the flat or building. All owners are required to send their payment directly into this Account. The Bye-Laws clearly lay down the persons who will operate this account. In the present scenario, the Governing Body should hasten to do this and intimate to all owners the amount so fixed. Payment can be made by both the Maintenance Committees from their respective accounts as bills have already been raised for Maintenance charges and paid by the owners to the respective Maintenance Committees.
The Governing Body must hasten to put up a Note for the benefit of the residents, detailing projects they intend to take up in the current year (in the common areas), with estimated expenditure, time to execute the projects, etc.
Since the first quarterly AGM broke up, the meeting could not be held and issues concerning the complex were not taken up. It is imperative that, as a special case, the meeting is convened once again, giving sufficient notice to the residents, so that we can move forward. However, before the meeting is convened, all Members of the Governing Body must meet along with some senior members of all the 3 buildings, and I repeat, all the 3 buildings, to resolve the issues. I wish to add that in most meetings of this nature,
women are excluded. It is important to remember that women constitute at least 50% of the population in the Complex and their views matter equally. Their representation should be equal, therefore, for more than one reason.
I hope we are able to meet sooner than later.
With my best wishes
Mrs I S Bhandari
