Cohousing-L Mailing List: RE: Development/Construction Committees

[Rob Sandelin (robsan]

Susan Pintus, Cornerstone asked about decision making during construction.

I would recommend that you move ahead with a small group decision 
making approach during construction. I would also consider creating a 
voting process based on some super majority of 2/3 or 75% as a fall 
back, if you do not already have such.  I would also suggest 
brainstorming and deciding in advance, when voting will occur, what 
process is used, and who gets to vote.  Having all this done, before 
you actually have a vote, makes things go very smoothly should you ever 
have one.  Sharingwood has had a detailed voting process in place for 
some time now.  We haven't used it yet, but it is sort of a security 
blanket that should we ever decide to vote, we have already agreed on 
how to do it.

Your architect is absolutely right, you will need to make some fast 
decisions during construction or pay lots of money for workers to sit 
around. (Which beleive it or not, they hate)  So empower a small group 
to make choices and let them.  Using a voice mail system to get 
information is a good tool.  In our area, a voice mail account is 
pretty cheap, and can be programmed for all kinds of multiple choice 
messages (press 1 for yes, 2 for no, 3 for don't care, 4 for lets meet...etc.)

Rob Sandelin
Sharingwood