Thursday, February 23, 2012

2012 Annual Meeting Notice

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERSHIP
OF HARPER SQUARE HOUSING CORPORATION

TO:      ALL Members of Record of Harper Square Housing Corporation, Arbor Commercial Mortgage, LLC
           and Illinois Housing Development Authority

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MEMBERSHIP OF HARPER SQUARE HOUSING COROPRATION WILL BE HELD ON AND AT THE FOLLOWING TIME AND PLACE:

TIME:      3:00 P.M.
DAY:   Sunday
DATE: February 26, 2012
PLACE:             Harper Square Housing Corporation
              Large Meeting Room, 2nd Floor, Tower II
4850 South Lake Park, Chicago, IL 60615

Registration of members for voting purposes will start at 10:00 a.m. and continue until 3:00 p.m.  -Please bring personal identification preferably together with your membership certificate for registration purposes.

The agenda of the ANNUAL Meeting will be as follows:

(a)        Roll Call.
(b)        Proof of Notice of Posting of Meeting, or wavier of notice.
(c)            Reading of minutes of preceding meeting, or wavier of reading.
(d)            Selection of inspectors of Election.
(e)            Election of Directors.
(f)         Report of officers.
(g)        Report of committees.
(h)        Report of manager and/or management agent.
(i)            Unfinished business.
(j)         New business.
(k)            Election results.
(l)            Adjournment.

This Annual Meeting is being held as required by Section 2, Article IV of the By-Laws of the Cooperative.

Two (2) Directors are being elected at this meeting to serve for full two-year terms.

A candidate for election to the Board must have been nominated by petition, and must be present at the meeting to indicate his or her willingness to serve as a director, if elected.

Ten (10%) percent of the Cooperative's members of record must be present in person to constitute a quorum to conduct any business at this meeting.  Only 1 person of a member family can be counted for the quorum.  Each member family has 1 vote.

Under the By-Laws, no member can vote who is more than 30 days delinquent in any charges due the Cooperative under the Occupancy Agreement.  No proxy voting is permitted except that a Member can appoint an immediate family member who lives in Member's unit or any other Cooperative Member to act as his or her proxy; and any unmarried member can appoint any other member as their proxy, however, no member can vote more than his or her own vote and one proxy vote.  Proxies must be in writing and filed with the Secretary of the Cooperative before meeting time.  The proxy must be in writing and clearly identify the Member giving the proxy, the person to whom the proxy is given, express the Member's intent to give the proxy for this meeting and must be signed by the Member giving the proxy and, in the case of married members, by both the husband and wife.  A form for proxy use is available from the management office.

Dated: January 12, 2012
/s/  _______Jack Cowen, Secretary
Harper Square Housing Corporation

Annualmeetingnotice/management/01/03/12

Recent Minutes


January 11th, 2012   Board of Directors’ Meeting for the Harper Square Cooperative

7:00pm
President Slater opened the meeting with a warm greeting to the attending member-owners and a roll call of the Board of Directors. Louise Bacon, Mel Ervin, Turtel Onli and Jack Cowen were each in attendance. The Building Manager, Ms. LaDell Pearson and the Area Manager, Ms. Robin Lay were also present.

There was a brief delay in the proceedings due to technical issues related to the tape recording device.  Approximately 25 Member-owners were in attendance.

OPEN SESSION

Area Manger Ms. Lay thanked the members for the feedback she had received related to measure taken to repairs and other projects that had unexpected consequences and obstacles. She went on to explain that the operating budget did have a measure of cushion to accommodate a variety of events that may happen and require immediate address. Her point was that severe weather related issues or undo wear and tear to the buildings and grounds were always considered in each annual budget.  Noting that this year’s Board of Directors decision to not apply the typical 3% increase on the monthly carrying charges was a skilled and well-debated decision given the history and needs of Harper Square Co Op.

There was a conversation about fire safety, fire extinguishers, escape methods and the like.  Members were reminded to be mindful of safe practices, proper insurance policies, the need to own a quality well rated fire extinguisher, to maintain a backpack with items needed in transition, and know the stairwells are the appropriate safe escape route in case of a fire.  Along with the fact that the Fire Department strongly suggests that in a high-rise fire often the best policy is stay indoors, inside of your unit, with the doors closed until the fire is brought under control.

President Slater added that Harper Square Co Op along with many high-rises in Chicago are being reconsidered for retro fitting of fire prevention sprinkler systems.  This is due to a review of the City of Chicago Ordinance that covers these matters.  The target years are projected to be 2015 to 2017.  He also explained that all of our fire safety apparatus and equipment would be rigorously tested and repaired or replaced as needed.

There will be a plan on the part of the Building and Grounds Committee to have a Fire & Disaster seminar in the near future.

Manager’s Report:

Ms. Pearson warmly addressed the member-owners with a hello and opened her details about the Parking Garage.  She noted that 30 Members might be losing their parking places in the cycle due to not notifying and reapplying for Parking Place.  While they were given a one-month-one-time extension to apply their key cards are not functioning.  She stressed that members not share key cards to the garage or the Health Club.  The members who are caught doing this will lose their privileges and maybe more.  Plus it creates a security risk when non Harper Square folks are granted access to Harper Square property in such an improper manner.  The Health Club has 25 new and 25 renewed members.  Non-registered people, fitness trainers, or guests are not allowed.  Nor can the Fitness Center be used for physical therapy.  Ms Pearson was very passionate and firm in stressing that our Security Guards were professional doing a job to keep Harper Square secure and should never be insulted, cursed out or threatened by our fellow members and guests.  There has been evidence of this and those documented insults will be addressed in a Board of Directors hearing in the near future.  There should be no smoking in the stairwells or halls.   Drugs and marijuana is prohibited and the police will be notified if this is indicated.  Every unit member must maintain a key fob.  Not having one and insulting the security guards is ground for serious action.  Member owners are directed to reread the Handbook in order to understand the consequences of these actions.  Plus she reminded us that security is a serious function.  They are not to be perceived as hospitality workers or doormen.

President Slater opened a conversation about the need to tow any cars that are in the parking garage without proper paperwork.  This towing will be at the expense of the member/owner or guests.  The same policy will be extended to people parking in our members’ spaces.

During this exchange a motion was made and passed to accept all of the reports at the end of the Open Session.

Treasure’s report:

Ms. Bacon distributed written forms that detailed our current status and referred member-owners to the Management Office should they want more financial information.

Membership Committee:

Ms. Whaley detailed the interviews and direct sells that were approved and thanked Board Member Mel Ervin for his participation in the process.  This keeps the Board closer to this process.

Building And Grounds:

The chairperson of this committee was not present.  The Board of Directors liaison Mr. Onli explained that he had established a Green Technology file and growing date resource in the Management Office with the plans of exploring retro modifications that may be useful in quality of life and financial concerns related to the future of Harper Square Co op.

President Slater stated the plan to review to current wiring in out units and the need to upgrading it to the copper standard that is currently practiced.  This process will be on a unit-by-unit basis once it starts.

Security Committee:

Board of Directors liaison stated the need to reorganize the committee to better meet our needs.

Program report:  No report was offered.

Motion was made to accept all of the reports.  The motion was passed.

Friday, January 6, 2012

Upcoming board meeting January 11, 2012

                                 IMPORTANT MEMORANDUM



To:              All Member/Owners

                    Harper Square Housing Corporation

From:        LaDell Pearson, CCM
                   Manager, Realty & Mortgage Building Services as Agent

Date:         January 4, 2012

Subj:         BOARD MEETING

Be advised that the Board of Directors will be holding a board meeting on Wednesday January 11, 2012 at 7:00pm in the 4850 2nd floor meeting room.

All interested member/owners are welcome to attend.

If you should have any questions, feel free to contact the management office at (773) 285-8600.

Thank You.

LMP/

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Notice for Board Meeting


                                 IMPORTANT MEMORANDUM



To:              All Member/Owners

                    Harper Square Housing Corporation

From:        LaDell Pearson
                   Manager, Harper Square Housing Corporation

Date:         January 6, 2011

Subj:         BOARD MEETING

Be advised that the Board of Directors will be holding a board meeting on Tuesday January  11, 2011 at 7:00pm in the 4850 2nd floor meeting room.

All interested member/owners are welcome to attend.

If you should have any questions, feel free to contact the management office at (773) 285-8600.

Thank You.

LMP/