Shared residential communities such as co-ops, condos, and HOAs are modern examples of classic Athenian democracy: citizens governing themselves through active participation in governance. The key to that governance is the regularity of ele…
In many ways co-op, condo, and HOA living represents the most basic form of representative democracy. Like the ancient Athenians, we gather periodically to elect a small group from among us to represent our joint interests and to oversee th…
If you live in a condominium, cooperative or HOA, you’re participating in a small-scale democracy run by an elected group of volunteers. As in any democracy, those affected by the board’s decisions are encouraged to get involved in the proc…
Q. I am a shareholder and current member of the board of directors running for reelection in my co-op. At the meeting prior to the election, myself and the attorney for the co-op were engaged in a verbal dispute. The attorney became very …
Q. We have a president of our co-op board that has been president for almost 30 years because he collects proxies from the shareholders who will not attend the yearly meeting and uses them to either reelect himself or others that side wit…
Q. I am a shareholder in a Mitchell-Lama cooperative. My question is this: If I have concerns about the results of the board of directors election, how can I get an independent person to recount the votes and confirm the tally? Management…
Q. Our co-op’s recent annual meeting and board elections were disgraceful— resulting, in my opinion, in a very dangerous precedent. There were four available openings, and only four shareholders offered their candidacy. So providing we ha…
If you live in a condominium, cooperative or HOA, you’re effectively acting as part of a participatory democracy run by an elected group of volunteers. And as with any democracy, those affected by the board’s decisions are encouraged to get…
Running meetings and holding elections are two of a board's most important functions -- but few board members come to the job knowing how to do either one. This seminar will offer a crash course in running smooth, productive board meetings …
Q. I need to know if the president of the board (co-op) is allowed to collect proxies from other residents? The president stands in the parking lot and asks everyone if she can have their proxy. Then the night of the meeting to vote for b…