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My small self-managed coop (12 units), where I’ve lived for 18 years, is turning into the coop from hell. We used to be very laid back, trading places on the board and generally pitching in to get the things done that needed to get done in the building.

But in the last couple of years, a bunch of gung-ho newcomers has moved into the building. They have started all sorts of extra building projects–now there are committees for everything from garden work to recycling and composting and community outreach. They’ve instituted two annual building meetings, required attendance at three meetings a year, and are about to institute a required minimum of 100 hours of work a year from each unit, with elaborate fines for non compliance.

The board is going to require us all to sign an agreement to this.

First off, I think it is overkill. Secondly, I wonder if this is legal. None of these arrangements are in the proprietary lease that I signed when I bought this place. I’m wondering–has my coop board overstepped its legal reach?

What do you think?