Illinois condo board responsibilities: Your comprehensive guide

To be successful, Illinois condominium associations rely on a dedicated board of directors. Board members need to understand general condo board responsibilities, as well as their own unique roles.

Since associations function like businesses, the volunteer board of directors should take a strategic approach to protect the investment and interests of all the owners. This includes maintaining the common property, managing the finances, and creating policies that promote harmony between the people living in the community. To make this happen, the condo board must meet regularly to set goals, share updates, and make decisions on behalf of their community.
 

What is a condo board?

A condominium board, or “condo board,” is a group of elected individuals responsible for managing a condominium association. Comprised of volunteer unit owners, the condo board is tasked with making decisions that benefit the community, enforcing bylaws, overseeing finances, and maintaining common areas. The board serves as the governing body of the condo association, helping the community operate smoothly and in the best interest of all residents.
 

What does a condo board do?

The condo board plays a crucial role in the daily operations and long-term planning of a condominium community. Key condo board responsibilities include:

• Financial management: Overseeing budgets, managing reserves, and setting maintenance fees to cover community expenses.
   
• Enforcing bylaws: Seeing that all residents adhere to the rules and regulations set forth in the governing documents.
   
• Maintenance and repairs: Managing upkeep of common areas, approving repairs, and working with property management companies to handle routine maintenance.
   
• Hiring and oversight: Selecting vendors, contractors, and management companies to assist with property operations.
   
• Conflict resolution: Addressing disputes between residents and enforcing community policies in a fair and transparent manner.
   
• Strategic planning: Setting long-term goals for the community, like capital improvement projects or policy updates.

Condo board responsibilities

There are five essential positions on a condo board:  

• President
   
• Vice president
   
• Secretary
   
• Treasurer
   
• Community association manager

Each position has unique responsibilities requiring different skill sets. Understanding these roles can help condo board members contribute effectively to their community. To better understand each role and determine which one suits you best, read on.
 

President

The condo board president guides the association’s operations and leads meetings to keep discussion focused and productive. They serve as the primary liaison between the board and the community association manager, providing direction and insight.

What makes a great condo board president: Good communication skills are an asset for this role. They are often the board member who needs to mediate when disagreements between other members arise. Other beneficial qualities are fairness, openness, leadership skills, and being a team player. As the president, they must collaborate with a wide variety of people and personalities and can’t be afraid to delegate tasks.
 

Vice president 

The vice president steps in when the president is unavailable, but their role is much more than just a backup. They often take on additional responsibilities to support the board’s initiatives, like overseeing projects and committees to help lighten the workload.

What makes a great condo board vice president: A vice president should be flexible, organized, and have good time management skills. This is important because their role is most susceptible to variation from day to day.
 

Secretary 

The secretary’s job is to accurately record the proceedings of board meetings and distribute the minutes to the board for approval. Once approved, the management company makes them available to those who need them for real estate transactions, mortgages, insurance, and legal purposes.

What makes a great condo board secretary: Being a good listener with strong attention to detail is an essential quality for the person who decides to take on this role. Being responsible and organized is also a benefit.
 

Treasurer

The treasurer helps draft and monitor the budgets, reviews financial reports, and aligns spending with the board’s financial plan. The treasurer is the board member most involved with the preparation of the budget draft, which is reviewed, adjusted, and approved by the board. Effective treasurers work closely with their property management company to streamline processes and optimize expenditures.

What makes a great condo board treasurer: Financial acumen, attention to detail, and a commitment to sound fiscal management are imperative for the long-term success of the community.
 

Community association manager 

Contracting a reputable, experienced property management company lightens the board’s workload immensely. The community association manager is the board’s link to the management company. They attend board meetings and are a resource to the board as they set policies, determine maintenance requirements, and manage the common property in compliance with the bylaws. They implement the decisions of the board, supported by a team that includes an administrator, accountant, and full-service office.

FirstService Residential brings decades of experience to condo association management, offering comprehensive solutions that enhance community operations, communication, and financial stability.
 

The needs of your association board may vary 

You may be on the board of a large community that would benefit from the addition of association commissions. These commissions are made up of residents, and assist boards by addressing specific community issues and tasks and serve in an advisory role.
Commissions can be formed to deal with a variety of community issues, and they go a long way in improving the effectiveness of an association board. They are also a great way to get the residents involved and more invested in the success of the community.
 

Clear understanding goes a long way 

When condo board responsibilities and roles are clearly understood, boards operate more effectively, and residents gain confidence in their leadership. Condo board members should bring diverse backgrounds and experiences, but partnering with an experienced property management company can provide the guidance and knowledge to help the board successfully fulfill their duties. All of this leads to a thriving community that people are proud to call home.

FirstService Residential partners with Illinois condo boards to simplify community management, offering expert solutions tailored to each association’s unique needs. To better understand how the right property management company can bring out the best in your Illinois condo board, contact our team today.