Nyland Cohousing

Nyland follows a modified form of consensus decision making that is intended to involve and gather input from as many members of the community as possible.

Overview of Nyland's Decision-Making Process

This describes a decision initiated by a CAG but decided by the whole community. A CAG can decide to drop a proposal at any point if it seems that there is substantial disagreement or opposition to the proposal and it is unlikely to pass.

Step 1. Draft proposal. CAG creates a draft proposal and passes it to all community members.

Step 2. Discussion. Informal discussion and feedback are sought. The draft proposal is discussed at least once at a community meeting.

Step 3. Final proposal. Using the feedback, a final proposal is created and reviewed by the BOD for possible conflicts with our legal documents. It is then passed to all community members.

Step 4. Discussion. The final proposal is discussed at least once at a community meeting. If there is substantial disagreement or further input, it should be revised, printed and redistributed to community members.

Step 5. Polling. At least 2 weeks later, polling is initiated. Community members choose one: "enthusiastic support," "support with reservations," "stand aside," or "block."  A person may only block a proposal for reasons pertaining to the good of the community, not an individual. Polling is done publicly so people have an opportunity to influence each other.

Step 6. Agreement. If there are less than 5 blocks, the proposal is adopted and archived in written form.

Step 7. Resolving Blocks.  A proposal is stopped, and must be dropped or revised, if 5 or more blocks exist. If more than 5 blocks exist, a small group meets with the blocking individuals to determine if they have information the community has missed, if they have been adequately heard, and if further effort should be made to address their concerns. At this point, blockers may stand aside, the small group may suggest further revisions to the proposal and a second community-wide poll, or the group may "invoke closure."

Who Can Make Decisions at Nyland?

1. Decision Making by the Entire Community

Decisions regarding long-term planning and the fundamental principles and agreements of the community must be made by the entire community. These kinds of decisions become part of the Rules, Regulations, and Guidelines (also known as the Agreements) of the Nyland Community Association (NCA). The entire community also approves the annual budget and the yearly authorization of Community Action Group(CAG) responsibilities.

Note: Some decisions involving equity issues or legal matters can be made ONLY by property owners, and may need to be ratified by voting procedures specified in the Bylaws and Conditions, Covenants, & Restrictions (CC&R's).

Community-wide decisions are always sponsored by a CAG and follow the process described below.

2. Decision Making by Sustainment Groups

CAG's may make decisions within their authorized responsibility and budget in order to implement the long-range plans decided by the community. CAG decisions are always public and are encouraged to be published. CAG's faced with a decision must determine which of 3 categories it fits:

a. Minor topics that can be resolved by the CAG such as purchases made from their own budget to carry out work within their designated scope. These require no input from the greater community.

b. Major topics that need only broad community discussion and input, but will still be made by the CAG, such as deciding to hire a regular janitorial service for the Common House rather than clean it ourselves with workdays. These decisions follow steps 1-4 below before members of the CAG make the decision themselves.

c. Major topics that require a community-wide decision. These are decisions that are outside past agreements or outside a CAG's budget or responsibility. These will follow the entire decision-making process below. 

3. Other Groups and Individuals

Individuals or ad-hoc groups that form around a particular idea or proposal should choose an appropriate CAG to sponsor them and proceed as part of that CAG.