BOARD DISHARMONY: MORNINGSIDE GARDENS, P.2

 

 

An unchecked war of words, some of it anonymous, erupted between the warring factions. Fliers were loaded with claims and counterclaims. Words like "hysteria," "reign of terror" and "concentration camp" filled the air. "The board needs to set a tone," Lowenstein laments.

Mellen, the former board president, points out that open meetings gave shareholders a chance to air their opinions. But he believes those meetings fell short. "People stood up and made sound bites, but they didn't really discuss the issue," he says, "People were talking past each other and not to each other."

Lowenstein agrees. "Those meetings were helpful," he says. "But instead of talking to the committee for three minutes, I'd like to see a moderated discussion, with a professional to separate passions from concerns, and find out where there's a common ground."

E Pluribus Disunum

LaCaprucia, however, isn't sure that her educated, opinionated, politicized neighbors are likely to respond to persuasion. "Had the board been unanimous," she believes, "then I think people could have been heard and it would have been more of an intelligent, rational discussion…."

Might a retooling of expectations be in order? "Unanimity isn't the goal — consensus is," says Herb Cooper-Levy, former executive director of the National Association of Housing Cooperatives. "The board could have structured a process that enabled them to hear views and build consensus. Break things down to a more intimate level where there's a possibility of real conversation. I don't think it's fair to say the board should come up with a position that the shareholders can reject or rubber-stamp. The board's position has to grow from the membership. What's more important than the question of going to open market is preserving the sense of community."

The city's real estate market is down at the moment, but if history is any guide the day will come when it once again gallops past Morningside Gardens' current sales caps. When that happens, the pressure to "go to market" will surely return. And LaCaprucia, for one, hopes the bickering will stop.

"Go ahead and change the bylaws," she urges, "but do it in a way that's inclusive of all points of view. Include the board and include the shareholders. And be unified," she advises. "Take the time to get on the same page."

 

Adapted from Habitat March 2009. For the complete article and more, join our Archive >>

Photo by Carol Ott