Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Getting Buy-In on Decisions

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

On Sep 10, 2005, at 8:01 AM, OCC611ng wrote:

> Sharon:
> > Having the board ratify that the meeting was properly called and
> > announced is standard practice, I think. The Board is responsible for
> > ensuring the proper functioning of the corporation.
>
> Are you saying that the Board has the responsibility to ensure that
> membership meetings are properly called and announced?  If the Board is
> responsible for ensuring the proper functioning of the corporation, and
> insufficient participation in decision making is being tolerated, the 
> Board
> can be sued because of dereliction of duty.

It depends on your state law. In DC, the condo law actually gives ALL 
responsibility to the board. If the board says so, it is true. The 
courts would probably find the expectation for all owners of attending 
a meeting twice a month or even once a month unreasonable in a 
condominium. And if a decision needs to be made and the membership 
doesn't show up to make it, someone does have to act. Otherwise the 
corporation is put in jeopardy.

But these are legal decisions, not community ones. What is in the best 
interests of your community? More discussion and less decision-making 
might be better for the community as a whole.

Sharon
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Sharon Villines
Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
http://www.takomavillage.org