Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: The special powers of a board

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

On Feb 13, 2008, at 5:20 PM, Rob Sandelin wrote:

> The legal ability to sign documents on behalf of the organization
> The legal ability to sign checks of the organization
> The legal ability to make prescribed decisions on behalf of the  
> organization

In addition, our board can act in emergencies. We once needed an  
emergency purchase of something like 6 sump pumps when they all failed  
in the middle of torrential rains. Only board members were able to  
able to authorize such a purchase on the spot.

In other instances they have taken on issues with legal implications  
that involved more than one team's work. For example, a neighbor who  
has an easement on our land is complaining that they height of the  
land is so high that it is draining into her yard. Who is legally  
responsible, how do we fix it, and where will the money come from for  
legal fees and consultants? Hashing this out in a membership meeting  
would be unproductive.

The board also coordinates items for membership meeting agendas. We do  
not have assigned facilitators who do that.

With 65 adult members, having everyone on the board and fulfilling  
these tasks is unworkable. Especially because many could care less  
about these issues.

In terms of decision-making, they have no special powers except in  
emergency situations. All their decisions can be questioned like those  
of other teams.


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