Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Consensus and voting bylaws

[R Philip Dowds (rpdowds]

Two comments:

I don't know your jurisdiction, but your state likely has enabling legislation 
for condos or HOAs, and this legislation probably spells out strict notice and 
voting rules for certain decisions, like Board elections or special 
assessments.  To stay legal, you should comply with BOTH state regs AND your 
own consensus practices whenever you attempt a decision governed by state regs 
(which may not be many decisions, just "big" ones about money).

Also, consider putting your consensus rules and methods into something like an 
"Apppendix A / Consensus Manual", and referencing that Manual in your Bylaws.  
That way, when you re-think and revise your consensus practices (and you will), 
you don't have to go to the Registry and re-file the Bylaws.

RPD

Sent from my iPad

On Jan 9, 2013, at 12:29 AM, Willow Murphy <willowm7 [at] gmail.com> wrote:

> 
> Question:  How have other cohousing communities dealt with the process of
> reconciling voting bylaws and the primary commitment to use consensus,
> based on trust and hearing every voice?   What has been your process?
>