Board members already contribute their time. Here, they're also contributing supplies & their own labor so as not to impose on shareholders. We usually hear the OPPOSITE complaint [shareholders pay but Board members are exempt].

Board members may be erring on the cautious side because they'll get the most direct & frequent benefit from the improvements. How refreshing.

You're entitled to disagree--most votes don't need to be unanimous. However, you were asked to contribute...not forced. You may decline & still enjoy using the redecorated meeting room.

A board can certainly donate time, material, and even cash to the Co-op. There is nothing ethical or unethical about it. The concern I have is that from Anne-Marie's description, it sounds like some of the board members took it upon themselves to lay out the money to purchase the renovation supplied, and then requested donation after-the-fact. I find this particular approach very unfair to the rest of the board. If some of the board members felt their meeting room should be renovated, they should have brought it up with the rest of the board *before* starting. That way, every board member would have a say about the budget, style and decor, time frame, etc. The way it was described by Anne-Marie makes it sound as if some members of the board purposely choose to exclude other members from the decision-making process while asking them to help foot the bill. I would be as upset as Anne-Marie if that happened to me.