THE MINUTES

I did not attend the All Members Meeting on January 16, 2013, however, I did attempt to read the Minutes.  The Property Manager presented a slide show of the playground build.  The Minutes stated that "monies raised in excess for the playground can be used for beautifying the area".  To date the co-op has not been beautified in any aspect.

The Property Manager facilitated a process called Dotmocracy to determine in which order repairs to the co-op would be done.  The results are as follows:

27  Windows
9    Furnaces
6    By-law review
6    Lighting
3    Snow removal
2    Fences
2    Balconies
2    Potholes
2    Gutters
1    Roofs
1    Drainage
1    Tree Trimming
1    Snow removal (City)
1    Flooring
0    Sheds
0    Siding
0    Outside Taps P2
0    Signage
0    Parking

This is not a professional approach to Long Range Planning.  I suppose members are taking note that perhaps their windows should be changed as was the past President's a few years ago.  If the repairs are implemented as rated in this game, leaking roofs will likely remain leaky until the By-law Review has been completed.

The Property Manager then gave a rambling, completely incomprehensible overview of the budget process.  At one point it was stated that a 'water bill should never be more than $100.00'.  Does that pertain to 2, 3 or 4 bedroom units?  Does it take into account how many people live in unit?  Most water taps are shared between two units.  Installing individual water taps has been an on-going discussion for the 23 years we've lived in this co-op.

The Property Manager stated that the 'Administration schedule went down by $7,000.00'.  What's an Administration schedule?

A Resolution was passed that 'the minimum housing charge for Phase 1 be set to the maximum shelter allowance of Ontario Works or 35% of the household income, whichever is greater.

I suggested that 35% of income for subsidized members in Phase 1 be lowered back down to 30% in line with Phase 2 now that the 3-year semi takeover had ended.   A member piped up that City Living charges 35% of one's income for rent.  That is incorrect - Ottawa Community Housing and City Living both charge 30%.

The Property Manager stated that it is up to the co-op to decide how much to charge subsidized members.  Given that fact, members could inevitably be charged up to 99.9% for subsidized housing.

And with that the Minutes of January 16, 2013 were duly approved and recorded as accurate - for the record.