Page 19 - CooperatorNews New York Expo May 2022

COOPERATORNEWS.COM COOPERATORNEWS — MAY 2022 19 “Kids and parents will have some fun, which members called it quits. is a return to some kind of normalcy. So we are opening up more than we did last year, but were closed, a lot of residents challenged the pan Court, a co-op located in Tarrytown, New is it a return to 100 percent normalcy? Th is is decisions the boards were making,” says Rada, York, 2021 was the year he decided to run for adhered to all CDC, Westchester County, in eff ect a new normal, and I think this is how “but they didn’t understand the exposure the a seat on the board. Th e decision, he said, was and state COVID regulations. As mandates we will be from now on.” For the properties Middleton manages in He adds that some of the backlash was politi- New York City, there isn’t a great deal of com- mon space, which makes it diffi cult—and po- tentially risky—for neighbors to congregate. anymore, and just resigned.” Nevertheless, he notes that change is slowly occurring. “One of my co-ops down in SoHo would weekly with management, instead of the usual work, and we discussed having someone from strong. traditionally do their annual meeting at a monthly check-in. Th at was a stressful and our committee run for a board seat. Since I church or synagogue, and they are hoping uncertain time period, and while life seemed was retired, I thought I would do it.” to do that again,” he says. “In fact, they sent to be getting back to “normal” in the summer out fl yers last week polling to see how many and fall of 2021, he notes that by that winter, state regulators, the couple was approved to his one-year term expires. “I’ll have to start people felt comfortable \[with that\], and the re- action has been good. I think people are ready gan getting sick with the omicron COVID doodle. “Th ere hasn’t been an issue with the to see their neighbors again on a more joyous variant. Th is development caused some board board,” says Fernandez, adding that the stress certain issues with a few disgruntled residents, occasion, rather than being told what they can members and residents to recoil in fear of yet and isolation of the pandemic underscored the majority of membership came together and can’t do.” At a building he manages uptown, he says fully, that didn’t happen. the community has “fl oated the idea” of hold- ing some type of community event in one of of our buildings \[since the pandemic\], but been no complaints about their pet. the small common areas. “Th ey will also be I’m sure there were some boards that were holding the annual meeting in person as a way brought to the brink with internal strife. No Tappan Court encouraged community spirit of bringing the community back together.” Board Member Perspectives Both Middleton and Rada praised board any type of coup,” says Middleton. “Th ere was nity to grow vegetables and other plants. And says Rada. “What I and Taylor Management members, many of whom spent the last two a lot of cheering for boards—and for manage- years keeping fellow residents safe while try- ing to strike a peaceful balance between cau- tion and community cohesion. But these were of them, and that feeling kept the boards go- trying times—to the point that some board ing.” “Th e fi rst year when all the common areas teacher who has lived for many years at Tap- board would have with insurance regulations.” loosely connected to the pandemic. cal, with residents taking sides on the issue. dog, so we formed a \[virtual\] committee down to people’s personal comfort levels,” “Some board members didn’t want to hear it among residents to talk to the board about he says, adding that there haven’t been any For most of 2020 and some of 2021, that the co-op only allowed cats as pets. “Th e at Tappan Court that he’s aware of, and that Middleton explains that many boards met board rejected our proposal aft er a year of the sense of community in the co-op remains people—including Middleton himself—be- another lockdown, but Middleton says thank- “Luckily we had no board turnover in any the board about getting a dog, and there have back to the pre-COVID days, people, he feels, one dropped off , and while there were a few by off ering a shared garden plot on the prop- new board members elected, it wasn’t due to erty, with many residents taking the opportu- ment, too, believe it or not—because I think been held via Zoom, the setting may change knowledge for granted, and always communi- residents recognized someone was taking care this year. “I believe the next yearly meeting cate, communicate, and communicate.” For Teddy Fernandez, a recently retired low, we may have the meeting in the commu- “My wife wanted an emotional support ful of individual preferences. “Now it comes two years ago,” says Fernandez, who notes COVID-related confrontations with residents Aft er appealing the decision to county and dez, who plans to run for his seat again when acquire a dog, and now has a mini golden- the couple’s need for a canine companion. To during the pandemic, creating even stronger date, he says no other resident has approached bonds. Conceding that life will likely never go During the pandemic, Fernandez says that to their neighbors. he adds that while the annual meetings have learned from this pandemic is not to take will be in person, but it’s all subject to where things stand with COVID. But if levels stay nal courtyard like we used to.” Fernandez notes the board has always change, he feels it is important to be respect- “I like working on the board and helping people see others’ points of view,” says Fernan- campaigning again.” As Rada looks forward, he says that despite have become more empathetic and sensitive “Now that they are able to hang out and socialize together, they appreciate this abil- ity much more than they did in the past,” n W B King is a freelance writer and contributor to CooperatorNews.