A Montreal Story

http://coolopolis.blogspot.ca/2012/11/housing-co-ops-and-why-they-fail.html

The answer does not necessarily lie in hiring Property Management - it's oversight on a higher level that is required.

Section 95 Refinancing

http://www.chfcanada.coop/eng/pages2007/refinancing.asp

Hefty CMHC Penalty

This is an older article - I don't know if there have been any updates.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/housing-co-op-blasts-ottawa-169880826.html 

Underground Bike Parking - Tokyo

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=pcZSU40RBrg

FINES, PARTICIPATION & YOU

Two By-law amendments were delivered to members towards the end of August.  Included in the package was a memo from our Property Manager attaching yet another document of sorts - a Co-op Participation Registration Sheet.  It stated that the 'Mandatory Completion Deadline For Submission' was August 30, 2013.  I only opened up the package the day before and seeing that I needed time to think about what participation category I would like, I haven't yet filled in the form.

Upon reading the Participation By-law No. 14, there is no mention of how many hours a member should contribute to the co-op each month, although it has always been assumed that it was four (4) hours.  

Article 2.02 states in part:

While participation is compulsory, as far as possible the actual areas of assistance will be voluntary, based on members' preferences and abilities.

This is an oxymoron to me - we are going to force you to participate and this will serve as your volunteer hours.

Article 3 of the Participation By-law states that a Member Involvement Committee:

...'will establish procedures for monitoring and evaluating the Co-op's participation requirements, the current participation of members and the Co-op's program for facilitating member participation.

Having lived in this co-op for 23 years, I remember there being a Member Involvement Committee, but I haven't a clue as to what they did or accomplished.  As a non-stop volunteer, I was never asked to hand in a participation slip.  I wish I had done so as this would provide further proof that all my participation hours were for naught. 

The Memo dated August 21, 2013 stated that members must now volunteer only 2 hours (per month).  Many of the new sign-up Committees are being resurrected from before the co-op's Financial Solvency By-law # 31.  They are as follows:

Board of Directors
Welcoming, Membership and Education
Neighbourhood Watch and Security
Communication/Newsletter/Website
Social & Recreation
Diversity
Blocks/Participation
Policy and Procedures, Bylaw Review
Landscaping/Gardening/Lawn care
Other (Be specific)  

Both By-law 16 (Parking By-law)  and By-law 26 (Feeding Animals and Wildlife) have monetary consequences should members violate same.  For infractions of the Parking By-law, members will first receive a written warning.  Members will be fined $50. for the second violation 'and the vehicle will be towed at the owner's expense'. The offending member will be fined $100. for the third  infraction, and 'the vehicle will be towed at the owner's expense as well as a notice to appear before the Board will be issued'.

Members who violate the DO NOT FEED By-law will not have to endure $100. fines  (they only go up to $50.), but will have to appear before the Board of Directors and this could include The Aspiring Nut's owner.

Seeing that there will be a Blocks/Participation Committee, fines for non-participation will soon ensue.  And who will suffer the wrath of management's crackdown on non-participants - subsidized members.  The purpose of instituting fines is to create a sledge hammer to pound vulnerable members into submission.

 

The Aspiring Nut

 

 

I lie in wait.  It is not my choice.  The lady of the house doesn't quite know what to do with me.  It's been this way for quite a while now. Her son bought me.  You see I'm part of a package of peanuts.  He ate most of them - even threw some to the squirrels.  He's gone now and here I am left with a bunch of other nuts.  I don't know how they are feeling, but I want a triumphant end to my being.

 

The co-op where I live has created a Do Not Feed Wildlife By-law.  My owner is afraid of being found out should she toss me to the wind.  She's wondering if she should create a hole in her pocket and let me drop inconspicuously to the ground.  Of course, I wouldn't want her to do that - just for me.  She was even wondering if she should paint me like a cigarette butt, but I'm too curvy for that.  I mean I understand her dilemma and I am taking up counter space.  Thank goodness though that she's decided she's not going to throw me into the compost bucket - that would be a very unkindly act indeed. 

 

My shell is softening as I speak.  I still have a woodsy feel to the touch, but I'm cracking like crazy.  People say that she could get rid of me by disposing of me in the park.  The park is a rather barren place and it definitely doesn't feel like home.  I'm afraid that I won't be able to hang around much longer and be of use to anyone.  You see my owner likes cashews and almonds, not unsalted peanuts in a shell, like me.  There doesn't seem to be a solution, unless someone reads this message and decides that I'm a delectable treat after all. 

 

With great anticipation I await my fate ...

Condo Board Consequences

A very informative link sent to me by a reader of my blog:

http://www.cohenhighley.com/class-actions/middlesex-condominium-corporation-232/