Cohousing-L Mailing List: RE: controlling membership

[Rob Sandelin (robsan]

Monika Stumpf, Monterey CoHousing-Mpls, asked about legal options for 
non-involvement.

One of the mistakes we made in our CCR's is the association has no 
enforcement power  short of foreclosing on a unit for non-payment of 
assessments.  If an unapproved addition is added the board can hire 
contractors to tear it down and bill the unit owner but that is about 
as far our enforcement authority goes.  I think it would be a good idea 
to charge some escalating fee for work required but not done, with the 
board or other association representative collecting the fee.

We are discussing this right now at Sharingwood in regards to our 
commonhouse maintenance.  Those who don't want to, or can't for 
physical or other reasons contribute to the effort of washing windows, 
mopping floors, cleaning the stove and toilets etc. will have to hire 
someone else to do that for them.  At least that is what is being 
proposed.  As it travels the labyrinth of group process it will likely 
take some other form.  This is not a pressing issue since our current 
community maintenance needs are small and our commonhouse is still 
waiting for a permit.

One of the chronic problems we are having is that people volunteer for 
tasks and then forget that they volunteered, or don't follow through.  
Another process we are talking about is setting up THE TASKMASTER...... 
This evil person would crack the whip, keep the task list, contact and 
follow-up on tasks not done in a timely manner.  Since we have been 
pretty laid back, especially over the summer, I am not sure how well 
this will go over.  As a group we have consistently avoiding making any 
*requirements* on community maintenance but rather let people 
volunteer.  This will be an interesting discussion.

Rob Sandelin
Sharingwood