I am hoping this site will become a Communications Link for the community of Harper Square Housing Co-op.
The Board of Directors of five members, in my opinion, is to small to serve the varied interest of about 800 people.
Attending all board meetings is just not possible and/or practical for the vast majority of members.
Going to our business office to read or get copies of documents is not practical for most working members.
There is no Co-op newsletter.
Three (3) Board members can put us in deep debt for projects you have input or approval rights. (It occurred in 2009)
Our first and second mortgage will paid up in 2014. (Our mortgage was paid off with borrowed money early in 2009 Harper Square was re-mortgaged by the Board of Directors. Was the process open and transparent? Did we get the best interest rate? Why was our lender given the power to place Directors on the Board to the control majority?)
There have been no mass improvements made to our housing units in 32 plus years of the Co-op's existence. [Some members could say in 2009: they got new kitchen cabinets... as they sat in the dark with no heat and electrical power because our electrical power distribution system needed emergency attention.]
The management's trial balloon newsletter had and estimated cost for exterior concrete work at $3.7 million THAT IS ABOUT A 290% INCREASE over what it costed us about 10 years ago.
Sometimes three bids on major work is NOT enough - this is an undeclared recession (The government stated we were in a recession later in 2008)... good contractors are seeking multi-year contract work!
When is the last time you received a "real" annual financial report in the mail (internal or external).
We need to talk!
Leon Whiten, Harper Square Co-op member since 1975. Feb. 24, 2008 [Revised 01/17/2010]
