2017 Management Foibles

The Colonies hired a new General Manager who started January 3, 2017.  Changes have been needed at The Colonies but these Changes at The Colonies have not been so positive across the board since The Colonies board opted to make these changes.  The General Manager was not the only new change made at 7681 Provincial - known positions of The Colonies Management Dream Team include:

• General Manager
• Director of Operations
• Property Manager
• Assistant Property Manager
• Chief Engineer
• Accountant
• Front Office Staff

The Colonies Management Dream Team backgrounds are certainly varied and we can agree those 'experienced' professionals come at a price.  It is sure to be a hefty price 

An individual hired as General Manager started January 3, 2017 (his employment with The Colonies was over June 2018).  While The Colonies AT McLean have been going through changes that have included renovations to 7 buildings that started October 2015, there has been a lot of change among the staff, the majority occurring since January 2017.  I have a feeling these accomplishments that occurred in first 6 months are unlikely to be added to profile as 'Achievements':

• Elevator in one residential building was out of service commencing February 27, 2017 for nearly six (6) months, originally scheduled for 8 weeks!  People's daily life in that building was impacted on a grand scale (medical procedures as rehabilitation will not afford residing in that building afterward) and anyone trying to sell a unit in that building had to put those plans on hold!  The Colonies had nerve to initially charge people moving into the building during the elevator down-time the move-in fee ($400 on Saturday and $200 during week)!!  It took one person fighting it at a Board Meeting to get the fee waived!  Pathetic Management had not taken that initiative and it took a NEW resident sitting through a LENGTHY Board Meeting to get that decision!
• Long-Term Employee of the Administrative Staff for 31+ years resigned
• Property Manager/Engineer spanning 20+ years at Colonies 'retired'
• FIRED another Administrative Employee in the Management Office but reporting that employee quit (we all know it so person cannot collect Unemployment)
• Advocating to FIRE ALL Long-Term employees (Building Porters and Landscaping) and replace them with contractors (those employees have the institutional knowledge, dedication whereas first snow storm a contractor would call in sick)
• Security company that had been on property for years walked off property during first weeks after he started and that was in middle of contract as he made life so unbearable; ALL of a sudden he saved day with 'new' company at cheaper rate but just how new was that company to him?
• Numerous co-owners removed copies of their unit keys they had kept on file in the Management office after he had walked into a co-owner's unit UNAUTHORIZED
• Not supplying co-owners with financial data at March Board Meeting which was in violation of the Virginia Condominium Act
• Not providing co-owners with Time and Place information on a Board Meeting Executive Session Meeting Agenda Notice posting which conflicted with Virginia Condominium Act (http://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title55/chapter4.2/section55-79.75/); Time and Place information was intentionally not provided on Agenda/Notice so people would not attend as co-owners are able to attend an Executive Session until it is called to order.
• Locking co-owners out of the Clubhouse bathroom/showers during posted operating hours
• Disposing of supplies considered valuable resources to co-owners (water heaters, decorations, supplies)

Based on his background, some aspects to ponder:

• He has worked for some big companies (e.g., Bozzuto, Toll Brothers and ArchStone) and Property Management is not Federal contracting - the hopping to multiple companies vs. moving to other properties within said companies and being promoted from within
• He has NO Condo Management experience and managing condominium units which are ALL independently OWNED are far different than managing rental apartments
• He has likely amassed many contacts based on companies he has worked with - knowing a Developer or two who would be keen on buying The Colonies would be an ideal payday for him
• How are co-owners to pay for his elaborate spending habits not to mention his Audi (new acquisition since starting at Colonies; upgraded from Honda Accord)?  An increased Monthly Assessment Fee on a grand scale or assessing the co-owners with a Special Assessment?

Lets be frank, the salaries of all of the members of  Management has to come from somewhere and that Annual Budget Hearing Notice co-owners dread receiving each October will likely reveal that answer!  A rise in monthly assessment fees (perhaps we will get to $600 with the justification that we are in the Tysons market and it costs money for him to make us a Class A-/B+ Property or whatever bullcrap he feeds the co-owners); known positions of the Management Team include:

• General Manager
• Property Manager
• Assistant Property Manager
• Chief Engineer (allegedly under Maintenance)
• Chief Engineer Assistant
• Receptionist/Administrative Assistant
• Accountant