KEN'S SITE - Co-op Project Bulletin Board

Ken Hummel's efforts to communicate information to the Membership at Athol Green Co-operative Homes Incorporated has been undermined by the Project Board of Director's for many years

Ken's preferred method to communicate information and issues to the Membership, and others who may be interested, is to post that information at KEN'S SITE.

Ken Hummel, Administrator, KEN'S SITE

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RENT SUPPLEMENT PROGRAM GUIDE for Ontario co-ops with a CMHC rent supplement agreement - June 2017 65-pages PDF :: CLICK HERE

Subject: Co-op Draft Budget Considerations for the 2018/2019 Fiscal Year

Ken's 3-page letter dated June 13, 2018 in PDF posted on June 20, 2018

Subject: Co-op Organizational By-law 2017-02 Amendment Recommendations

Ken's 8-page letter dated January 31, 2018 in PDF posted on June 20, 2018

 

 

CLICK HERE - I'm fingerpointing at some stakeholders in the co-op housing sector in Canada.

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SOME ARCHIVED INFORMATION FROM THE BULLETIN BOARD

OPEN LETTER

January 6, 2012

Co-op Project Membership, and General Manager:

Re: Underground parking garage clean-up

Ken Hummel ("Ken") noted the Board of Directors Meeting Minutes that make referance to the parking garage clean-up. Excerpts from the minutes dated August 23, 2011: "Parking garage Clean-up - Deferred until later in meeting. Linda has done a walk-a-bout and has information."

Excerpts from the minutes dated September 6, 2011: "Parking garage Clean-up - Letters did not go out to the members for walk-about. As per last meeting, Linda and Jeanine will send out letters in regards to items that were noted."

Please note that this open letter will be updated when additional information becomes available.

Ken Hummel, Member, Athol Green Co-operative Homes Inc.

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MEMO

December 3, 2011

The Membership can find additional information about the status of the canceled Co-op GMM that was scheduled for October 25, 2011 and Ken's resolution and motions by returning to the CHIE home page, and then scroll down to the 'Co-op Project AGM and GMM documents, etc.' and then click the photo-icon "GMM October 25, 2011"

Regards,

Ken Hummel, Member, Athol Green Co-operative Homes Inc.

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OPEN LETTER

October 2, 2011

To the General Membership of Athol Green Co-operative Homes Inc.

Ken Hummel ("Ken") noted the Co-op Newsletter ("The Chatterbox") Fall Edition 2011 and the intentions of Project Directors and Officers to Fine Members under Parking By-Law #2005-10 for not cleaning their parking space in the underground parking area. It would violate current Parking By-law 2011-10 THAT was Approved at the General Membership Meeting held on April 26, 2011. The $50.00 Fine was removed from the Parking By-law.

Perhaps some of the Membership may think that Directors and Officers are attempting to Scam some of the Members out of their money for their own individual personal self-interest or maybe Directors and Officers have an excuse!!!

Ken noted the 2011 Fall Edition Chatterbox, and I quote, "Notice Clean-up Day Sat. Nov. 5th."---"The Board will be fining any units that have not cleaned their spot in accordance with our by-laws"

Ken reviewed Parking By-Law #2011-10 that states the following, and I quote, "CHARGES AND/OR REMOVAL:

Members not abiding by this by-law will be given 48 hours notice to remedy the infraction. E.g. clean-up area, or removal of vehicle. Failure to do so within the 48 hour period will result in the member being charged for any costs that are incurred to correct the situation."

In Ken's view, the amended Parking By-law 2011-10 is poorly constructed and worded, as Ken's proposed Parking By-Law Amendment was rejected by Project Directors and Officers and they refused to add Ken's proposed Parking By-Law Amendment to the Agenda of the April 26, 2011 GMM, as the Board only presented their weak Parking by-law amendment to the General Membership for their consideration.

Please scroll down to the first comment to access the link to Ken's proposed Parking By-Law #2005-10 Amendment.

At this point-in-time (October 2, 2011) Members are urged to observe all the items stored in and around parking spaces. In Ken's view, it is alleged that some current and past Directors and Officers have numerous items in and around parking spaces that include a car under a tarp that has not been moved for some 10 years!!!

Regards,

Ken Hummel, Member, Athol Green Co-operative Homes Inc.

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OPEN LETTER

October 2, 2011 and updated on December 3, 2011

To the General Membership of Athol Green Co-operative Homes Inc.

Ken Hummel ("Ken") reviewed the Co-op Newsletter ("The Chatterbox") 2011 Fall Edition and makes the following observations and comments:

Ken noted the Co-ordinator's Report by Lori Wheeler, and Ken quotes, "Magnetic reminders will be used soon. Please continue the chain, by placing them on the next unit door when your week is up."---"The underground garage looks worse than it did before we started sending letters out to the members. There is not enough time in the week to do everything, or deal with everyone, but sooner or later the Board will catch up with you. Please Clean Your Spot!!!"

Ken's comments: The magnetic door reminders are to remind Members that they have cleaning, and/or yard duties, for that week.

Magnetic reminders were used some years back, and was a failed attempt to have some, if not the majority of Members to perform their assigned weekly cleaning/yard duties. Not long after, the magnetic reminders went missing from doors, perhaps for a more useful purpose for some members!

The current Parking By-law #2011-10 was approved by the Membership on April 26, 2011. The Board of Directors, and Co-ordinator have had over 20 weeks to enforce the amended Parking By-law. Are you buying the excuse that the Co-ordinator is trying to sell too YOU? And what about all the items that remain stored in and around parking spaces that are alleged to belong to some current and former Board Directors!!!

Ken's comments:

In Ken's view, the Status Quo is once again, another failure!!!

Ken noted Building Clean-up Week, Mon. Oct. 17 to Sat. Oct. 22nd, and Ken quotes, "We have hired a contractor to come in and do the actual cleaning of the floors next week, but require members help to clean the rest."

..."Objective: To get the buildings Cleaned and a fresh start to everyone doing their weekly duties again"...

Ken noted the Board of Directors meeting minutes dated September 20, 2011,and Ken quotes in part; "CONCENSUS to contract Scrub All Janitorial to Clean the Hallways of 200 & 250 building (4) at a cost of $125.00 each = $500. & tx."

Ken's comments:

In Ken's view, the Status Quo is once again, another failure!!! Many Members still not cleaning common areas of Co-op.

In Ken's estimate, it may take up to 5 hours or less to sweep and mop/clean 4 resident hallways. Ken's proposal to hire/contract outside part-time help at up to $15. per hour may have cost the Co-op about $60. to clean the 4 hallways. The Board claims to have paid $560. that includes HST to have the job done. It seems that someone was paid about $100. per hour to clean the 4 resident hallways. How outrageous or crazy is that? Ken can only think of one thing crazier than the cost of cleaning these 4 hallways, and that is the Co-op Project Membership's lack of interest about financial accountability at the Co-op.

Ken's closing comments:

Ken offered the only viable solution; Voluntary Participation, and hire/contract outside help to spot-clean, clean the inside building common areas, and help maintain outside common area grounds at a minimal cost to the Co-op. Example: up to $15 per hour, and up to 20 hours every 2 weeks or up to a cost of $300. every 2 weeks that's up to $7,500 per year.

Ken suggest the Co-op conduct a 3 month pilot project that would contract outside help for 3 months. Review the persons performance, and then consider extending the contract every 6 or 12 months should the contracted persons quality of work appears to be satisfactory or better.

Members who perform some of the cleaning and yard work that consider the Co-op as their home requires the assistance of hired part-time help, and are very demoralized because the Status Quo is maintained. In Ken's view, part-time contractor must be hired in order to improve morale, and ensure the Co-op is maintained in Good Order, every week.

Regards,

Ken Hummel, Member, Athol Green Co-operative Homes Inc.

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OPEN LETTER

August 31, 2011

To Whom it may concern:

Fraud and/or theft at not-for-profit organizations are most frequently swept under the rug because of the negitive impact it can have on volunteer donors. Not-for-Profit Co-op Housing is in that same category. Simply stated, merely suspicion that fraud or theft may have occurred or can occurr, can negatively impact on member engagement/participation. Co-op housing directors and officers, and their relatives or friends that may reside at a Co-op that raise 'Red Flags' and/or set a bad example for the rest of the Co-op membership can often explain the lack of member engagement/participation. If you want to understand why the lack of member engagement/participation in Co-op housing, you should then observe what's going on at your home Co-op, as it should not be seen as a complicated matter to understand.

Regards,

Ken Hummel, Member, Athol Green Co-operative Homes Inc.

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OPEN LETTER

August 30, 2011 And updated December 3, 2011

To Whom it may concern:

In about the last 3-years, the board of directors has replaced most of the remaining Co-ops original steel balcony dividers, between member units. Little or no discussion or consultation has been made between the board, general membership, and management. The vast majority of these steel dividers have lasted for over 30-years.

The steel dividers have been replaced with pressure treated wood, best described as fence style dividers with lattice at the top, as seen in the backyards of some member units.

Ken had made some of the following observations in regards to the replacement of the balcony dividers that are now constructed from wood:

-Fire and safety should be a concern. The dividers constructed from wood is combustable material

-Dividers constructed from wood are most likely to have a much shorter component life. Additional future labour costs are Ken's concern!

-Wood balcony dividers deteriorate much faster than steel, and can look terrible within about 2 or 3 years after being exposed to the elmients of the weather, such as tempature changes, rain, snow, ice, and exposure to the Sun.

-Wood balcony dividers are easy to vandalize!!!

Please note that additional observations will be added at a later point-in-time.

Regards,

Ken Hummel, Member, Athol Green Co-operative Homes Inc.

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SENT ELECTRONICALLY

August 13, 2011 And Updated on February 23, 2012

Athol Green Co-operative Homes Incorporated

250 Dunlop Street East, Whitby,ON

L1N 1S3

Board of Directors, Members of the Newsletter Committee, and General Manager:

Subject: Fiscal Year end Report of Submissions for monthly Member Participation Forms

1. The Co-op fiscal year ends September 30, 2011. I request that the board report to the membership on how many member units submitted monthly member participation forms for 2010/2011.

Example:

48 units x 12 months =576 participation reports; up to 576 participation forms could have been submitted to the Co-op Project corporate office.

2. I request that the board report to the membership on how many individual members' names were noted in the submitted monthly member particpation forms submitted to the corporate office for 2010/2011.

Example:

If the average amount of members living at the Co-op each month over 12 months were 59; up to 708 individual member names could have been noted in submitted participation forms to the corporate office.

I request that these inquires and your report to the membership be published in the Fall Edition, 2011 Co-op Chatterbox Newsletter for the membership review.

Regards,

Ken Hummel, Member, Athol Green Co-operative Homes Inc.

Cc: Delivered by hand to unit, Ms. Cathy Squires, Newsletter contact person

February 23, 2012

Ken's comment: Re: Ken's August 13, 2011 letter to the Board of Directors, Members of the Newsletter Committee, and General Manager. The Co-op Project Board of Directors and Newsletter Committee, and General Manager responded to Ken's request in the Fall 2011 Co-op Chatterbox Newsletter.

THE CHATTERBOX----ATHOL GREEN CO-OP----- Fall Edition 2011-----PAGE 12

Participation info

We have had a member request for the Participation Committee to supply participation submission tallies from the past year. The Board feels that this is inportant for All members to know, as it tells everyone just how many people are involved in keeping Athol Green Co-op running. In this case, you will see that it doesn't take many to run the Co-op, but the members that are participating are on work overload. There is so much that needs to be and can be done. We need members to recognize the importance of their input.

Number of members in the Co-op = 60

Units that submit on a monthly basis = 9 units (13 members)

Monthly hrs. submitted range between 1 hr. & 42 hrs.

(Based on submissions. Remember members keep their own tallies. Please also note: Some members are not submitting their hours. There are members that put in at least 10-20+ hours a month that have not submitted. )

Avg. number of members attending GMM this year = 21

Approx. 2 hours ea. meeting = 42 hours a year

Avg. number of members helping on committees each month = 21 members (5 of which are Board members)

Committee work ranges from 1/2 hr. each month to committees like the Social/Youth that may see a member put in 40 hours in the month.

Number of hours put in just at Board meetings in the last year by the Board members = 17 meetings avg. of 2 1/2 hrs. ea. meeting = Total hrs. of Board members = 267 hrs./yr.

Please remember to submit your monthly participation forms (Please see enclosed)

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SENT ELECTRONICALLY

March 16, 2011

Board of Directors, and Finance Committee Members'

Athol Green Co-operative Homes Incorporated

250 Dunlop Street East, Whitby, ON. L1N 1S3

Board of Directors, and Members of the Finance Committee:

Re: Co-op Project 2011/2012 Draft Budget Considerations

The board of directors and finance committee in prior years have presented incomplete financial data in budget considerations to the general membership. Example: 6, 7, or 8 month actual etc.

I advise that the board of directors and finance committee to present complete financial data in the budget considerations proposal to the general membership. Example: 12 month actual.

Incomplete financial data presented to the Co-op membership may place the Co-op at risk to indicators of potential fraud and/or theft if not detected or maybe ignored by the board of directors and finance committee members'. Please allow me to further explain and provide another example; There are some prior indicators that fiscal year ending accounting records in regards to Co-op interest income that don't agree with year end audited financial statements, and was not disclosed to the general membership by the board of directors and finance committee.

The membership requires complete financial data in order to make an informed decision when considering the approval or rejection of proposed budget by the board, and finance committee.

The Co-op membership may gain a better understanding of Co-op finances over a period of years, if individual members' examine then compare 12 month actual of a proposed budget with other proposed budget considerations' when presented a 12 month actual for income, operating expenses, services, maintenance, and administration budget line items.

Ken recommends a review of Co-op management, auditor's and give due consideration to other options such as an management company that may reduce management expenses and that the Coodinator not receive any pay increase. A review be done of the Co-op insurance provider, and other contract work done at the Co-op, and then consider using the services of other companies that may reduce expense in the draft budget considerations for the GMM in July 2011.

Ken Hummel, Member, Athol Green Co-operative Homes Inc.

Cc: Delivered by hand to Ms. Cathy Squires, Finance Committee Member

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Information noted above may be revised, added or deleted without prior notification

Ken Hummel, Administrator, KEN'S SITE