Fiduciary vs. neighbor

You were elected as a fiduciary. You still live next door.

That is the job’s real tension. Own the building’s money and risk — then pass the same person in the elevator who wants a favor, a waiver, or “just this once.”

Neighboring is kindness. Fiduciary duty is loyalty to the association as a whole — every owner, including the quiet ones who never ask.

Where boards slip:

The friend exception. Approving a contractor because they’re a unit owner’s cousin. Selective enforcement because “they’re good people.” One exception teaches everyone else the rules are optional.

The hallway deal. Decisions that happen before the meeting, then get rubber-stamped. Sunshine and minutes exist so owners can see the work — not so the board can narrate a finished story.

The conflict nobody names. A director votes on a project that lifts their own view, parking, or assessment share without disclosing the personal stake. Disclosure doesn’t always bar participation — hiding it always damages trust.

The rescue fantasy. Fixing one owner’s problem with association funds because it feels right. Charity is not a budget line unless the docs and membership say so.

A simple test before you vote: Would I make the same call if this owner were a stranger — and if every other owner watched the tape?

If the answer is no, you are in neighbor mode. Step back, disclose, recuse when counsel says so, and put the association first.

Being a good neighbor after the meeting still matters. During the vote, the association is the client.

When did “helping someone out” last collide with what was fair to everyone else?

If your board wants a straight conversation about conflicts, disclosure, or consistent enforcement: tbcadvisory.com/contact