Surrey strata president told he can’t use cameras to fine residents. He disagrees
Global News
By Jesse Ferreras
11 August 2017
Paul Johnson
speaks with the president of a Surrey strata condo building, who many
residents accuse of creating a prison-like environment in the building.
He claims he’s done nothing wrong.
The president of an embattled strata council at a Surrey condo building
defended its use of surveillance cameras to enforce bylaws after
residents complained about $40,000 in fines allegedly being issued in a
single month.
Alin Stana is the president of the strata council at the D’Corize building, at 104th Avenue in Surrey’s Whalley area.
Residents of the building have complained about how the council has
enforced its bylaws, which has included the issuance of fines of up to
$400 for improperly disposing of cardboard.
The executive director of the Condo Homeowners’ Association of B.C.
told Global News that privacy laws don’t allow stratas to enforce their
bylaws using cameras.
Stana feels differently.
“He would be wrong about that, respectfully,” he told Global News.
“We will just have to go to the Privacy Information and Protection Act section 1, section 11, and section 14.”
Stana’s remarks came one day after Global News reported on an ongoing
protest by residents concerned about the size of the fines that are
being issued.
Errol Polvah said he received a $200 fine for driving away before the parking gate was completely closed.
Amy Ulici said she received a $280 fine for putting up signs to alert residents to the enforcement.
And Ila Ieraci said her daughter received a $200 fine for improper
cardboard disposal and another $200 penalty for a trash-related
infraction.
READ MORE: Surrey condo residents rise up against strata after over $40K in fines in 1 month, they say
But residents have also raised concern about the use of cameras around
the building. As many as three were spotted in the garbage room alone
when Global News visited this week.
For his part, Stana said the $40,000 figure is wrong, and he feels that the camera issue is overblown.
“The cameras are not watching them,” he said.
“The cameras are installed in the common areas. We need to make that distinction.”
Stana admits there’s a problem in the building, but he said it’s with residents who need to learn its rules.
“I would say that there is a possibility that they are confused,” he said.
Comments
Karly Yu
I live in this building and love it.
A year ago before this council took over it was a nightmare because a
good part of the tenants in here are like pigs, trash everywhere, dog
excrement in the lobby, elevators & elevators, escorts and drug
dealers. I had my car and storage broken into so many times before and
nobody would do anything. When this council took over things turned
around, like fast...scratch that super fast. They saved us from a
deficit of 90k last year and even my condo fee is lower now by 20% or
so ($700+ lower this year). And you should see the upgrades and how
they take care of things, something goes wrong and bang in minutes or
hours at best it's back to normal. A bunch of tenants breaking the
rules can complain about it or they just need to follow the bylaws and
it's all good, but if you know what they do and what a terrible shape
this was, it's nothing short of impressive today. My hats off to you
Alin and thank you council for doing an amazing job!!!
Lanny Scott · Vancouver, British Columbia
Strata nazi
Sandeep Bains
So vote him out
John Haywood
The strata president is treating his tenants as his property.
Paul Simas
I'll never live in a condo ever again! It sucks!
Dougal Fingal
The building manager looks and talks like Col Klink.
Rhea Kruschov · Vancouver, British Columbia
Someone I know used to live there and hated the "building manager".
Propaganda Con Job
The strata president needs to be sued
by home owners for breaking the law, extorting their money and causing
distress, then he needs to cover the legal bills
Malcolm Tent
“The cameras are not watching them,” he said. “The cameras are installed in the common areas. We need to make that distinction.”
Um, yeah the cameras ARE watching them. That's what cameras do. It doesn't matter where they're located. Idiot.
Johnny Levy · Delta, British Columbia
Yeah, whats more likely. The
residents are all hypersensistive or the one person involved in all
cases has caused a problem by illegally surveiling and fining people.
He should be removed from authority by the residents.
Sino General · CEO & Founder at Enter-Tribal Entertainment Inc.
They did but he snaked his way back
in. My friend lives there and this guy threatens ppl with hacking
phones and turns fob's off. Charges $100 cash to use the gym.
Propaganda Con Job
Sino General, the residents need to learn their rights, then take this guy down.
Debbie Helem · Registered Nurse at Fraser Health Authority
I would say the chances that this Wing Nut will ever be voted in as Strata President again are slim to none. What a jerk!!
Sino General · CEO & Founder at Enter-Tribal Entertainment Inc.
He snaked his way in. He's a snake and threatens residents. Bully. A renter not even a owner
Cecile Pauline Grenier · Owner-operator at CCG Drywall
Sino is there a way to remove him
again?? Now that more people are aware of his illegal behaviours?!? A
drone flying around windows?!?!? Wtf
Steve Pomanski
This guy is nuts, he better watch his
back as he is really screwing with people's homes & lives PLUS he
actually thinks he knows the privacey act better than CHOA ... Keep up
pressure Strata residents & take this guy to court as you can sue
him civily as he is NO longer protected by the Strata Property act
because of his behavior & you cannot just give out fines wiothout
residents having the resident responding to council.
Ligia Ulici · Trinity Western University
tl;dr: Your strata can't use surveillance footage to try and enforce minor bylaws or other nuisance issues. Know your rights.
There was a recent thread about a
fellow who was engaged in stretching activities in an elevator. An
elevator sensor tripped and required a maintenance call and he was
charged with a fine by his strata. The question was raised about
whether the strata had used video footage to determine that he was
doing his stretching in the elevator at the time it broke.
Birgit Schinke
How does a strata enforce bylaws if they can't use the cameras to see who's ie making a mess or so forth?
Sheila Falconer · Vancouver, British Columbia
All owners collectively ARE the
strata. The council is just a group of representatives elected to look
afte the complex, including upholding the bylaws that the owners (not
the council) voted on and approved. The camera surveillance here might
be an issue, but in terms of fines, council is presumably only
enforcing fines for bylaws that have been approved by the ownership,
and applying the fine amounts that are listed in the bylaws. This is
one of a strata council's responsibilities; it doesn't sound to me from
this article like they're doing anything wrong (with the possible
exception of the surveillance). But ... don't break the rules you and
other owners approved, and you won't get fined, I would think.
Sino General · CEO & Founder at Enter-Tribal Entertainment Inc.
Sheila Falconer this guy on council
is creating by-laws without the full vote from the owners. Half or more
of the owners are unaware of the by-laws made and he also charges $100
cash for use of gym or you don't get fob. Also fines you if you wear
what he considers inappropriate clothing.
Tammy Larson · Owner at Tammy's Helping Hand
Sounds like a huge money grab for somebody.
Carol Fontaine · Store Manager at Lucky Brand
Sino General how can he charge cash? These fines would never hold up. What if no one pays them? He isn't the law.
Shelley Graham Somerville · Monash University
Awful little man. He missed his calling as a parking attendant. Vote him out .
Sheila Falconer · Vancouver, British Columbia
Leaving before the gate is closed is
a security risk. We fine people for that, too. People who don't want to
live by community rules shouldn't live in a strata, in my opinion.
Nick Bransford
Rik Taylor how do you issue a fine for not waiting if you don't review footage?
Shemama Shelagh Bell-Irving · Getting in the way with the truth at Activist
Wonder what his cut of $40000 is?
Antoinette Horicky · Langley, British Columbia
I am wondering the same they should look into where all the money is going.
Heather Virtue-Lapierre · University of British Columbia, Vancouver
That occurred to me, too. Who's pocketing those fines?
Mary Jane Collier · Musquodoboit Harbour, Nova Scotia
You are only allowed to use cameras
to use as security...not to monitor people and track them. If you see a
person smashing another persons car window...fine. You report that to
the police. To scounge money from residents no. Whose watching these
cameras at all times? Why are they?
Sino General · CEO & Founder at Enter-Tribal Entertainment Inc.
He's a goof. He's a bully
Tobi Dewhirst
I know someone in a strata and that
is exactly it. They one time used the security cameras to check on
theft in the parking garage which they gave to police. The police took
care of it from there.
Cathy Church
Who authorized the installation of
the cameras? Was the expenditure pre approved by a 3/4 vote of the
owners? How much did it cost? If it was not preaporoved at an AGM or
SGM and cost more than $1,000, depending on the building bylaws the
cameras may have been installed illegally. All parties need to get
legal advice, fast!
Sino General · CEO & Founder at Enter-Tribal Entertainment Inc.
He also built his own private
vegetable garden on top of the building unimproved the cameras were
also unimproved a lot of the owners have no idea about it
Tobi Dewhirst
The guy sounds like a wannabe dictator. I hope the residents get legal advice and get rid of this guy. Sounds like a nightmare.
Robi Clesson · Abbotsford, British Columbia
I would suggest that all the owners
get a petition signed to have the president removed. They only need a
3/4 vote at a special general meeting that they are allowed to call at
any time with the proper notice given
Sino General · CEO & Founder at Enter-Tribal Entertainment Inc.
He was already removed once he sneak
his way back in somehow got a bunch of proxies by owners that had no
idea who he is or what he's doing I think he tricked them cuz you no
speak English
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