Things are happening...

By now most know we had another member meeting to try get the amended park rules passed. As it turned out we didn't even have enough members show up to get a 51% vote. About 30 more were needed. So the ones that did come were offered the chance to mark on their voting card a simple yes or no vote as to whether they accepted the rules as amended. The rest of the members will have to vote by ballot. After enough yeses come in the new park rules will be in effect.

Most have got the letter stating the new lot rent starting in July 1st, will be $415/month for members and $515 for non-members.

Serving on the board and trying to run my own business as well as taking care of normal family matters has sucked up all kinds of time. I've found it difficult to do it all. It feels like April 14threference.

all the time right now... the feeling we get racing to get taxes done in time. I wanted to be regular at posting to this blog, however my busy season with my secular work is here and I don't have the time or energy to give it attention. For that reason I'm retiring from posting further to the blog. Of course it will stay up for historical

I believe it has fulfilled it's purpose: to inform the members of the progress towards becoming owners of our own Resident Owned Community. Oh by the way we have a sign coming this summer. The NHCLF has offered it to us for free...I like the price. It's a logo and says Resident Owned Community. So watch for it this summer. Eventually we'll have an attractive sign with our Cooperative name for the front entrance.

Also we'd like to make a web site for our community, like some other cooperatives have. It may happen later on it the year; maybe this winter I can work on it; Unless a qualified volunteer steps forward sooner.

It's been interesting doing this project and I want thank those that made useful comments.
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I almost forgot...If you want your comment to show up, don't forget your name and address

Would you be willing to help....

Would anyone be willing to help us up at the office on Wednesday April 18, collate and staple some paper information packets for our members?

Please call Sandy at the office at 778-0865 (Our new number)
If interested please leave a message with a contact number.
We could use 2 or 3 people for an hour or two.

Thanks!

WE are now are responsible for this park.

Hello fellow co-op members.

As of 2 PM today we finished the signing of dozens of documents for Citizens Bank and NHCLF as well as documents between the attorney's of Kaufco and ERMHPC.

The signing started at 11 AM and went on for 3 hours (they gave us a few breaks to rest our signing hands...wink)

A few tenants had already started to make out checks to Exeter River MHP Coop. but Mr. Kaufman couldn't deposit them. Some even paying the new rent rate of $415.00! We appreciate the eagerness to pay the new rate, however it is not required until July 1st. The current rent is still 350.00 (+ 25.00 late fee If not posted to your account by the end of the day on 5th of the month)

Any payments from now on should be made out to: Exeter River MHP Coop.

The after-hours drop off is not used for the time being: Everyone needs to come into the office and to leave their payments, to assure they're done correctly. We'll all be signing new rental agreement forms; legally required as we are now under new ownership. We're under Kaufco's rules until a majority vote for new rules this coming April 19 at the former Jr. High Gym.

Were trying to make this transition go as smooth as possible. There's a lot to keep track of and change over from the previous owner. After this Friday, the office number at 10 Vincent St will be 778-0865. You might make a note of that. (Mr Kaufman needs the Lindenshire number.)

We ask everyone to be patient and co-operate with the rules and laws that govern this park. Offering to volunteer or assist will go further to make this a better place. Set the example and your neighbor will too. This is quite a responsibility we have now. It will take willing people to care about the conditions and viability of this place, our home.

The latest....

By now most of you should have received the invitation for the next member meeting. It's set for Thursday, April 19 at the former Jr. High. The primary purpose of this meeting is to get the proposed new Park Rules voted on by the majority of the members. Last meeting not enough people stayed to pass full draft. We did manage to get through possibly 70% with some various changes. You may have noticed on your invitation, the last page out lined the changes in the rules that the members wanted: "Before" and "After"

What we thought might be useful was each house hold could decide on the 9 particular hot button questions regarding pets, even before they go. Circle in advance how you feel. and bring your decision to the meeting to vote in person. And we'll finish the rest of the rules likely, with minimal fuss. Hopefully we can get through this quicker than last time.

Don't forget your original copy of the draft rules as a reference.

Everyone should come; If we don't have enough attending the meeting will be a waste of time. So talk it up with everyone.
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By the time the meeting takes place we should be the new owners of Lindenshire; signing of papers is scheduled for April 10th.
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If you attended the last meeting (3/24/07) you may have noticed a man with a microphone interviewing folks and recording some of the meeting. He was from New Hampshire Public Radio. His name is Jon Greenberg. He filed this audio report after his visit with us.
If you use Windows Media click here to hear it.
Or, if you use i-Tunes or Winamp, click here.

And here is the written transcript

New Commenting Rules.

When I set up this blog, it's purpose was to inform the members
(and not yet members) of the progress of the formation of the
co-op and the status of the purchasing of the park. This blog is
voluntary on my part too, and takes a lot of my attention...
more than I expected.

As the readership has increased, so has the commenting.
The comments have in a many cases become slanderous, coupled
with a lot of non constructive criticism. And from what I have
observed the ones doing this, do so anonymously.

So far I've let all blog comments go through. No more.
All comments will require your Name and Park Address.
Otherwise your comment will be deleted.
I may even go and delete some of the older posts, that serve
no useful purpose. I want to thank those that have already
been signing their posts.

When we have a member meeting you are allowed to speak
(within certain parameters) and you're not anonymous them.
We want to bring some honor and respect to this process even
if you disagree with some of it. As the saying goes:
"We can disagree without being disagreeable"

Have Something You'd Like to Give Away?

A few have been talking about this thrift shop idea a bit. It may happen eventually as things smooth out and get organized. But for now, one of our pleasant commenter's, Vicki has thought about having a place to offer things to give away. Why waste something that works and could be useful to some else? Plus, it should help with our dumpster costs. So this topic will be just for that. Anyone that would like to offer something can post an "ad" under this topic.
Here are the basic guide lines:

• Leave a good description of what you'd like to offer and a way to contact you.
  

• Once the item has been picked up, post a new comment stating so and I'll delete both.
  

• No commercial ads.
  

I will say this up front now, even though I've been accused of censoring comments, I have not deleted anyone's comment so far, they have all been allowed through. However, I will delete any comment that is unrelated to this topic, posted under this topic. So please leave those unrelated comments elsewhere.

Hopefully we can help each other out.

Tuesday Nights board meeting....

We had our board meeting tonight and it was reveled that Mr. Kaufman hasn't got his affairs in order. So, he has now asked to delay the expected purchase date by a week or so.

Also a petition has gone around with some 40 or so signatures to have another meeting within 30 days in hopes to get the amended park rules approved sooner.
Also, to give a heads up, there will be a request to allocate probably some $30,000 to purchase new equipment and replace some commonly used items by the maintenance personnel. since the maintenance dept is being stripped of nearly everything by the current owner. So that's on the agenda too, to be approved by the members.

So we're looking into scheduling that, most likely for an up coming Tuesday evening. Of course more folks will have to attend than were there at the end of the last meeting. 51% or more need to be there or we'll still be in the same boat. So talk it up with your neighbors, and we'll be able to get this done.

Results of the Membership Meeting

Saturday's Meeting started out with 25 new households joining. For a total of 326 households.

Ben Belanger, Vice-President resigned for personal reasons. Joe Cayer was voted in unanimously to replace him. David DeGagne now is moved into 1st alternate on the board. Peter Poole was elected as 2nd alternate to the board with 29 votes. The other totals were: Kathy Campbell 7, Roger Russo 19, Susan Hill 19.

The new proforma budget was explained and approved by 180 for and 1 against. It contained the new town sewer rates which had almost doubled. Therefore the new lot rent is expected to be at $415.00 and that assumes that interest rates won't change meaningfully from what they are by signing date, April 2nd.

The By-Laws were approved and passed as is.

Chris Clasby stated we will become the 86th co-op formed in New Hampshire.

A Conflict of Interest Form was approved. So anyone that does work for the park that lives here or is a friend or relative of someone in the park will have to disclose those relationships and that form will have to be on file with the co-op.

Then the really hot area of discussion was the Park Rules. After an hour of wrangling, so many had decided to leave, there were no longer enough members present to pass the amended rules. We we're 11 votes short. to have 51% approval. As a result the OLD PARK RULES (Lindenshire's) are still in effect.

So anyone that imagines that the amended rules are what will govern us, they are mistaken. New rules cannot be created until the next member meeting, likely in September, when we have our annual meeting.

The members that stayed to the very end we would like to commend them for doing so. The 40% or so that didn't bother coming to this convenient Saturday meeting, with plenty of notice, and the ones that got impatient and trickled out as the meeting went on are responsible for the failure of not passing the proposed new rules.

So to reiterate the results: Mark Kaufman's rules stand until a new member meeting is held. Hopefully most will learn the lesson of what happens when one doesn't care to participate.

Some Recent Research....

Our Co-op President has been looking into a few things and has these points to make:


I need to make an entry strictly dealing with the FACTS. I have spent many hours researching the following:

Dogs- I spoke to Barbara from the Emanual Insurance Agency. She is finding us the best deal on insurance for the COOP. She said “once it is in the park rules that dogs are welcome on the land the coop assumes some of the liability. If a guest in the park is bitten that person has the right to sue the home owner that owns the dog and the COOP that allowed the dog to be on the land. THIS IS FACT. If a dog bites anyone for ANY reason, before our insurance policy is renewed we must prove that the dog has been destroyed or we as a group will loose our policy. FACT there is only four insurance carries that are willing to insure the COOP.

Then I spoke to Bob Sheppard he is one of two attorneys that represent the coop (US) and I told him what was going on and I asked him “If we (the coop) need to take any legal action involving dogs and owners about how much would he charge.” He said “upwards of 1500.” THIS IS FACT. We are budgeted in the performa of 8000.00 legal. This is for regular stuff. We may need to increase the lot rent next year to cover more money for legal. I also asked Bob Sheppard if we could make it a rule that dog owners have home owners insurance. He said NO, in the state of New Hampshire it is not mandatory to have home owners insurance like it isn’t mandatory to have car insurance the live free or die state he said that people are foolish if they don’t. Only banks that own titles on the homes or cars can make in mandatory.

We as a group need to decide what we are willing to risk. What Pandora’s Box we will open. We can’t just open it and think it is easy to close it, because it won’t be.We need to deal in fact. 90% of people will be wonderful dog owners this is FACT . I worry (not fact) about the other 10%. We all can think of someone that pushes the rules to their limits. I would love to have a little dog, my kids are begging me to go to the SPCA. I still have a lot of thinking to do on how I will vote on Saturday.

I definitely have personal views on many issues involving the park. I am trying hard to deal with facts and not what is best for my family as an individual but looking at what is best for the group (the Coop) . I URGE everyone to step back and really think about the what ifs of life here and remember we are setting the tone for many years to come. Even when we are long gone this will be a coop. Lets all come together on Saturday with positive attitudes even if we don’t agree on all the issues. The majority will rule it is what a democracy is all about.
Anita Jordan

Everyone Should Pick Up a Packet

As of today, all co-op members should be picking up a packet which contains the draft of the park rules and by laws. Non-members my join and receive a packet.

Anita Jordan at 2 Pecan St has been dispensing them.

Our Next Member Meeting Is March 24th

Well, things are progressing along with the various committees having drafted
the required paper work:

• The Park 'By Laws' have been written.
  
• The Park 'Rules' have been written.
• The Engineering firm Proven & Lober is scheduled to inspect the park.

The big final meeting for all members is on Saturday March 24th at
10am-1pm, at the former High School Talbot Gymnasium.
At which the Park By Laws and Park Rules will be discussed and
voted on by all the members as well as the final budget and lot
rent will be established.

It is VERY important that at least one person from each member
household attend. Some folks want to implement new rules, to
suit their prefered life style. That is their right to bring to a vote
before the whole (attending) membership. In the end the final
rules will be decided by the members. Even if you don't mind the
current rules we live under, in Lindenshire, you should not
neglect attending. There are some that would like to change
things; The end result may not be something your satisfied with.

Remember: This is our community. It's up to us to consider the
long term effect any changes will bring to the Quality of Life,
Peacefulness of our neighborhood and the Attractiveness of living
here. If we want it to be like that, each family must respectfully
follow the same sensible standards.

See You There.

The Owner Agrees to Sell to Us!

Yayyy! Mr Kaufman reportedly signed the final draft of our purchase and sale agreement this Saturday, January 27, 2007.
The latest closing date will be April 2, 2007.

Also Citizen's Bank put together the most attractive financing offer among the 7 offers we reviewed. So work has begun with them on that.

The engineering firm Proven & Lober was chosen to assess the condition of the property; they will be around soon looking things over. The bank is interested in their reports as well.

Mean while, the By-Laws and Rules Committees are beginning their work of drafting their respective documents. The members will have to approve the various items on an up coming meeting. It is essential that all members attend and participate. (Current membership stands at 271 households or 69%) Spread the word. We are attempting to rent the gymnasium as last time, however on a Saturday, so most everyone can attend. More on that later.

-Some of the Board-

We've Submitted Our Purchase and Sale Agreement

Fearing the sale of the land they live on, Lindenshire Mobile
Home Park residents plan to buy it themselves. From left,
Roger Morrison, Anita Jordan, Barbara Morrison, and Joseph Cayer.
(MARK WILSON/GLOBE STAFF)

After much anticipation, Thursday, Jan 10, the signatories of the board did infact review, sign and forward to our lawyer to submit our P&S to Mr. Kaufman and his lawyers for consideration.

Meanwhile, The Boston Globe has published a story about us. This photo Is from the Globe's article, I hope they don't mind.

The article is similar to the ones done by the Exeter News Letter a month ago.

We Can Now Put the Lawyers to Work!

I just got word tonight from the President of the Co-op.
She's received 148 "yes" votes from the members.
That is more than enough now.
So the members have spoken and we will now have our Lawyers
prepare our own Purchase and Sale Agreement.
This coming week it will be signed by the signatories of
the board, and promptly mailed to the current owner and his
lawyer for their review and hopefully acceptance.

Wow! No one voted No!

Well,

112 member families met last night to discuss what it would take in the way of a working budget for the Coop to purchase and operate the park.

They were all handed a very detailed spread sheet of the various costs.
Line by line Chris Clasby of the NHCLF went through and explained each item.

So out of the 112 voter cards handed out, 110 came back with a yes vote. Apparently 2 left before the vote occured.

Currently 260 lots have joined the Coop as members.
That's over 65% subscribership.
The board members are trying to contact a number of members that did not attend. to secure their vote. Officially we need just over half the members to vote YES for the Purchase and Sale to be put forward to the current owner of Lindenshire MHP. That shouldn't be a problem; seeing we had 100% support from the attending voters

Recent Board Meeting Minutes

The first board meeting was a learning experience for us.
I don't have post able records of that meeting.
However, Meetings Two and Three are available