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This pertains to the annual shareholders meetings. The meeting room where we have traditionally held them requires a person to walk a flight of stairs to attend. (It is a rented room outside our building). Though our bylaws don't cover it (written before physical handicap accessibility laws), and it makes common sense, is there a requirement that the ASM be physically accessible? We have elderly and others in our co-op who cannot walk those stairs.
Should we be as barred from holding the meeting in that room as the handicapped shareholders are from attending it? Thank you.
Thank you for your thoughtful response, JB. I was surprised that when I mentioned this to the Board, no one else had considered it, and unfortunately the shareholders often do not speak up on their own behalf.
This is such an important matter, for just the reasons that you state, and I'm hoping to find out that there is a regulation about this. Thank you again.
Out 500 unit high rise in NJ does not have a large community room to accommodate all who wish to attend our meetings.
We employ, as the need arises:
1. A local school cafeteria.
2. A local school auditorium.
3. A community room in our town’s library.
All are accessible.
Good luck!
Joe V, I appreciate your input, and especially that you make sure all of your shareholders are considered. That's no small task with 500 units, and you provided good suggestions. We have three schools and a library nearby, and our co-op is much smaller -- we should be able to handle this. I'll keep you posted.
Thanks again for your suggestions & encouragement!
As the library does not permit food, we provide all attendees with bottled water.
At the school, we provide Italian cookies, tea, coffee and bottled water. Coffee & tea = decaf and regular.
Joe V, that's a good point about the library not allowing food, especially since we normally provide cookies and soda too. Not everyone partakes, but it's a nice touch, and people mill around the table while the votes are being counted.
Thank you for pointing that out, as it all needs to be considered.
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You're to be commended for being that thoughtful and empathetic. And you're probably already thinking that whatever the law requires, the simple human decency you've shown by bringing this up should guide you.
The crippled and the elderly should be able to attend the meeting without proxy if they choose, the same as every other shareholder. In fact, the more helpless or on a fixed income you are, the more you want to be present yourself, and not rely on a proxy who may or may not be truthful with you. We've all heard shameful cases of highly respectable attorneys, judges and family members taking advantage of the elders and the disabled.
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