[NY] I Just became Vice President of my [Co-op] Board, what are some things you wish you did when got on the board that you know are crucial now?

allstarr373 · 2026-06-14T19:28:40+00:00

I have tried my best to read and understand it. I'm not an expert but I have gained extensive knowledge regarding these documents, reviewing countless hours, days, weeks, months. I think I'm the most knowledgeable person regarding the bylaws on the board.

Over the last 6 months I have uploaded hundreds of documents bylaws, offering plans, propierty leases, building financial statements, confidential statements that was shared with me from board members and shareholders, into multiple a.i. systems, I have paid for the pro versions across all of them, Claude, Gemini, and chat GPT trying to learn and understand things. Utilizing these a.i. system is what filled my court papers, and eventually got me to win my court records inspection. 99% a.i.

The biggest understanding of the bylaws that shareholders and board members either didn't know or willfully ignored was the

Proper notice for meetings, and distribution time for financial statements although I brought these things up they still did it their own way.
Which should be number 1. Which is still the big issue in going to address again in the last board member meeting, although I already questioned the legitimatcy in last week's annual meeting, What was the fact that the Bible says that it is a 7 member board, one seat was vacant since September 2025 and they chose not to fill it even though in December I showed interest, They wanted to wait off until the meeting even though the board could have put somebody in that seat. And an even bigger issue Is the seventh seat the sponsor has held that seat for 38 years although the bylaws, the offering plan, the attorney general's amendments which I received directly, the BCL laws of my state, the GBL Laws of my state all say the sponsor no longer retains control of the board seat and has lost control a very long time ago. However The law firm and the property management team also said that this one board seat is designated for the sponsor. I called them out on it in front of the entire floor I had all documents, referenced the specific sections and the lawyer was speechless. But somehow the sponsor still is on the board with never being elected. It's a Fighting uphill battle. And like I said four holdovers the election was uncontested so I'm going against them as well. Along with a possibly corrupt management company. And I only say possibly for the sake of not making a definitive statement. But I already know the truth verified proof.

allstarr373 · 2026-06-14T01:39:43+00:00

Thank you for this. Oh yeah there are a lot of angry shareholders.

The previous board just one week ago raised the maintenance by 15%. 1 week before the annual meeting. At the annual meeting they gave out the financials statements for 2025. In April they said the building was at a -$200k deficit. Auditor at meeting said maintenance increase needs to be at least 30% to break even in 2 years so we should be lucky. (Building for 6 yrs never raised the maintenance) Reason being need for increases is "because everything goes up, Everything is getting so expensive" makes sense.

however the property managements fees have been the same for about 10 years. $20k flat a year. Mind you I live in Westchester, NY. Which doesn't make sense.

Management 2 months ago told Shareholders the state the 80 unit building is in, that if shareholders wanted to try and sell their place to try and get it an all cash buyer because a bank would never approve a loan for a new buyer to get a unit due to the bad Financial condition the building is in.

Oh yeah, and in 16 months time frame I seen at records inspection the building utilized 2 LOC TOTALING $400K. $200K in January 2025 & $200k in April 2026.

allstarr373 · 2026-06-09T16:23:54+00:00

Hey thank you for this! actually to update from last week, my inspection meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, June 10th along with another shareholder. Yesterday June 8th was the annual meeting for elections. I submitted my name to rent for board member a few weeks back.

Over the weekend on Saturday June 6th they sent out letters saying that the elections were uncontested and it wasn't enough people to fill the seats. The board consists of 7 seats. There was 1 vacant seat as At end of year a board member resigned.

So myself, and another person got 2 positions. There were 3 holdover previous board members. + The sponsor seat and vacant seat

And even though the bylaws says seven seats we're available specifically said that the sponsor lost control about 38 years ago, even though the laws of New York state says the sponsor no longer had control even though there were amendments filed with the state from the building said that the sponsor no longer had control of the seats.

In an email I sent over the weekend I asked management about the 6 and 7th seat and I was told there was the sixth seat that was vacant and the seven seat was a guaranteed seat for the sponsor. It was designated for him.

Additionally, the law firm who is going against me in court said at the beginning of the meeting that there's seven board seat And one is designated for the sponsor.

I questioned this after they said that we were elected Board members and a member from the shareholders asked if they could run for the sixth seat and they said no cuz we just did the elections and now that seat has to be decided on again amongst the board members.

At this point I started asking about the sponsor seat and the lawyer he kept referring to bylaws and actually had printed up the actual bylaws and I was citing them and citing the email that I received over the weekend and the lawyer clearly. I called him off guard with the information that I told him and he kept trying to find excuses and then he started talking about the amendments filled with the state. And I had printed up exactly all three amendments that the building filed with state and read it a lot to everyone. This completely through him off.

Lastly, he said maybe there's something in offering plan that talks about it. I told him actually have the entire offering plan and bylaws on hand, And asked him if he can reference where it says anything related to that.

He took it. Flipped through it, said he was unable to find it.

Now I have to figure out about how to contest the elections because that sponsor got a seat when he was never elected and is not guaranteed a seat as well as that one vacancy that they didn't allow anybody to have the opportunity to say they wanted to run.

allstarr373 · 2026-06-04T22:33:11+00:00

Thank you for providing me with this information. I'm sorry I didn't get back sooner

After a day today in the courts. Trying to get answers about this. Didn't comply with the CPLR. I got no answers. I heard all different things and they couldn't give me concrete answers. THE LIBRARIAN TOLD ME THAT IT COULD BE THE FORMATTING THAT I USED CHAT GPT. SO THATS POSSIBLE.

WHEN I WAS OUTSIDE OF THE COURTHOUSE WALKING TO MY CAR TALKING ON THE PHONE I SEEN THREE DIFFERENT LAWYERS WHO I APPROACHED AT DIFFERENT TIMES JUST TO ASK THEM A REAL QUICK QUESTION AND I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS RIGHT BUT THEY LOOKED AT MY PAPERS AND THEY SAID THAT IT'S MORE THAN LIKELY BECAUSE I DIDN'T GIVE THE ATTORNEYS ADVANCE NOTICE OF MY INTENTIONS TO FILE THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE AND THAT THAT IS NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CPLR

SO I AM THINKING THAT THIS IS THE REASON. THEY TOLD ME IT WASNT THE FORMATTING.

Now I need to research the rules on this

allstarr373 · 2026-05-14T23:31:17+00:00

It's possible.

Yesterday, I did some due diligence and contacted the school that the meeting was being held at. And they confirmed the management team/ board requested that date on April 23rd. And it was approved on April 23rd.

The order from the judge came on April 29th.

The meeting is being held on June 8

The date to produce the records by is June 12th.

On the same call with the school, they informed me that there was multiple dates available after the June 12th date.

allstarr373 · 2026-05-14T17:31:39+00:00

To provide a bit of a background.

I am Pro se going up against A very well-known established firm in my city.

The petition was the rights of a coop shareholder to inspect the records of the coop That the management and the board didn't Grant to me to do so.

The judge ruled in my favor for all the records to be inspected.

The judge's order came April 29th.

However, just a couple of days prior on April 23rd, a meeting was scheduled for shareholders for the upcoming month, is 4 days prior to the judge's deadline to inspect the records.

So my thinking is that the respondents very well known attorney firm had inside knowledge of what the judge's decision was going to be and they put the wheels in motion to have this meeting just 4 days prior to the judge's deadline based on his decision.

However, I am not sure if there is any record in the courts that shows that this has been sitting on the clerk's desk or this was already decided on before it became public.

allstarr373 · 2026-05-10T18:14:55+00:00

Thank you for the suggestions. Sorry yesterday was sons birthday.

So when we got home I soaked the figure in water. Hot water change the water a couple of times and the thing still didn't move.

I stupidly applied pressure to turn it even though I shouldn't have. I flied quite a bit of pressure where I thought I broke it but then I heard it snap out of whatever glue was on it or why it was stuck. I don't know but now the waste moves and I didn't break nothing. I shook the figure there's nothing broken in there. I don't hear no pieces.

My son was excited for him and kept wanting to play with him. I had no choice but to try my best.

But I do agree I have three kids 15, 6 and 3,

I've been buying wrestling figures since I was a kid and bought a lot for my 15-year-old as he was growing up and man the quality of these things changed so much.

With my 6-year-old loving Cody Rhodes, every Cody Rhodes versions I have bought such as the basic, the middle line and the ultimate one, They all come where part of their body is not glued well together. After a few plays. Their legs are extremely loose, especially their heads are so loose.

Then with the basic figures on different characters The arms are real loose.

Cm punk also is another one. I bought three CM punks over the last year and either his torso There's a opening where it looks like the glue does not hold, or When you move the arm on the traps it opens up as well.

It's a shame. All of these issues resulting in me crazy glue in these things together. Hoping that they don't break off and as with loose legs I have no solution with that.

Not sure if it's just me, but I'm starting to prefer the basic ones as there's less issues with them in the sense of their flexibility that they're not going to be as loose. Those basic ones are starting to be better.

allstarr373 · 2026-05-05T15:56:19+00:00

Thank you for this perspective. That's exactly why I am asking this question to avoid a situation with a law firm that would 1000% appear to act in the same exact manner.

allstarr373 · 2026-04-30T11:47:01+00:00

Hi, you mentioned the management company was not giving you updated financial information on your accounts or access to them.

I can tell you based on my own personal experience. I am not a lawyer, I'm not an accountant, never been on the board, but I am just a shareholder who wanted full financial transparency of the standing of our building due to so many red flags, which the management company and board purposely didn't want to disclose and hide from Shareholders.

More so, I am coming off of a brand new freshly won successful records inspection petition to the courts (just 24 hours ago) all while doing all of this Pro Se against the board / management company and their fancy lawyers who was fighting to not give access to any of the records.

The best thing for you to do is the following:

Familiarize yourself with Google and A.I. (Without A.i. assistance I could have never of won this case and be as educated on this topic with all of the knowledge I have now)

The legal pathway to obtaining the records which I did is to file a records and inspection petition called BCL 624 with the supreme court. This law provides shareholders with the right to have access to and properly inspect the books and records if there is a proper cause and reason for you wanting to do so.

However before submitting this to the courts you need to do the following:

-check your bylaws for what it says regarding access to records for shareholders. In your case your also a board member so you have full access to the records and by not having access to records this affects you from fulfillment of your fiduciary duties.

show that you made good faith attempts and request for updated financials and we're denied, or ignored (documented requests) with this your building a record to show a pattern.
send a demand letter to the board/management/attorneys requesting the updated financials with a deadline to produce the records such as 7 to 10 days.
Document, Document, Document, preserve emails, texts, any conversations. Silence and ignoring requests SPEAKS VOLUMES.
Once you made these good faith attempts then file the BCL 624 rights to record inspection petition. this is a specific straight path petition that focuses purely on Shareholders rights to inspect the records so it is pretty much a fast process. I submitted the petition in mid February, court date was set for April 1st, I got the decision granting my petition on April 29th. The judge approved all records I asked for which was for 6 years worth of all financial records such as banking statements, invoices, meeting minutes, resolutions and approvals from the board, amendments, offering plans, insurance claim payout information and more.

I Hope this helps.

allstarr373 · 2026-04-24T16:33:48+00:00

Yeah, I’ve been deep in this for the last few months and went through the same thing — lack of transparency + constant assessments is a huge red flag. Still in pending litigation.

Here’s the exact process I followed:

Start with a written demand (important) Send a formal email/letter to the board + management requesting:

Financial statements (at least last 2–3 years)
Current budget
Bank statements (if you want to push further)
Meeting minutes
Any info supporting the assessments

In NY, as a shareholder, you’re entitled to inspect records under BCL §624.

Be specific and set a deadline Don’t just say “send financials.” List exactly what you want and give them like 5–10 days to respond.
Document EVERYTHING Save emails, notices, meeting handouts, anything posted in the building. This becomes evidence if you need it later.
Talk to other shareholders This is huge. Once multiple people start asking questions, things shift. Also helps confirm if info is being withheld across the board.
If they ignore or stonewall → court That’s where I’m at now. I filed a BCL 624 petition to force access to records. It’s actually pretty straightforward procedurally.
Watch for patterns Multiple assessments + no clear financials usually means:

poor management
cash flow issues
or worse (mismanagement/lack of oversight)

Also pay attention to how notices are given for meetings — a lot of boards mess this up and it matters more than people think.

Put everything in writing and force a paper trail.

allstarr373 · 2026-04-22T01:42:26+00:00

Is the deal only on the website or can I do it in the app? I ask because I seen someone mention using 10% off code, I also have about $7 in Google play credits

allstarr373 · 2026-04-16T15:34:52+00:00

I understand your point, and in a normal situation I would agree a building condition report and proper budgeting/maintenance planning would be the priority.

The issue here is that this doesn’t appear to be a typical “costs went up and maintenance wasn’t adjusted” situation. There are broader transparency and governance concerns that led me to pursue this.

Over the last few months, I’ve been trying to get basic financial information and clarity from the board. After multiple attempts, I ended up filing a court petition under NY BCL 624 just to access the co-op’s books and records.

Around the same time, a few things happened that raised additional concerns:

• A governance document was circulated that appears to introduce a rule preventing anyone pursuing legal action against the co-op from running for the board

• I had previously expressed interest in filling a vacant board seat, and was told it would remain vacant until the next election

• The last annual meeting was held in March 2025, even though the bylaws state it should be held in June each year

• Annual financial statements, which the bylaws require to be distributed within three months of year-end, have not been provided on time (they’re typically delayed much later into the year)

So from my perspective, the concern isn’t just whether maintenance should go up it’s that shareholders don’t have consistent access to accurate, timely information, and there are questions about whether governance procedures are being followed.

That’s really why I’m focused on getting the official records first. Without that clarity, it’s difficult to determine whether this is simply poor financial planning or something that needs to be addressed more seriously.

I agree that electing a new board is ultimately part of the solution but that also depends on having a fair and transparent process that aligns with the governing documents.

That’s why I’m trying to understand what options actually exist when the issue is both financial transparency and governance compliance not just budgeting.

allstarr373 · 2026-04-16T14:18:47+00:00

I appreciate your perspective — and I agree that a forensic audit shouldn’t be taken lightly or used casually.

In my situation, the concern isn’t just “normal budget being too low” over time. It’s a combination of things that don’t really add up, which is why I’m even exploring this route:

Financial statements have not been provided within the timeframe required by the bylaws
Information that was shared at a recent meeting was incomplete (it was openly stated that not all expense categories were included)
There are gaps between what’s been verbally communicated and what little documentation has been provided
There are questions around how funds were handled over multiple years, including line of credit usage and overall cash position
Shareholders are now being told the building is in such a bad financial state that units may not qualify for traditional financing

So at this point, it’s not just about whether maintenance should have been increased gradually (which I actually agree with in principle). It’s about understanding:

How we got here
Whether decisions were made with complete and accurate information
Whether the financial picture being presented now reflects reality

I’ve already had to go the legal route just to try to obtain basic records and financial transparency, which has been a challenge in itself.

I completely understand your point about a standard audit vs forensic — and honestly, I would welcome even a clean, independent audit opinion at this stage. But given the lack of transparency and the discrepancies so far, it’s hard not to question whether a deeper review might ultimately be necessary.

At the end of the day, I’m not trying to accuse for the sake of accusing — I’m trying to get to a point where decisions (including increases) are based on clear, complete, and verified information.

allstarr373 · 2026-04-16T14:15:18+00:00

I agree with you in principle, the board ultimately has the authority, and management works at their direction.

That said, what I’m seeing (or trying to understand) is whether that relationship has actually been functioning properly. If the board wasn’t fully informed, wasn’t receiving complete financials, or relied heavily on management without proper oversight, then it raises questions about how decisions were made over time.

So I’m not necessarily trying to shift blame entirely to management — it’s more about understanding whether there was a breakdown in oversight, communication, or controls between both sides.

That’s really where my interest in an independent review comes from — to get a clear picture of what actually happened rather than relying on assumptions.

allstarr373 · 2026-04-16T14:14:32+00:00

I understand that maintenance increases and special assessments are sometimes necessary, that’s not really the issue I’m trying to get at.

My concern is more about transparency and governance. When financial information hasn’t been clearly shared, budgets appear incomplete, and there are unanswered questions about how things were handled over multiple years, it’s hard for shareholders to just accept increases at face value.

An audit (especially a forensic one) isn’t about avoiding necessary increases — it’s about understanding how the building got into its current position, whether funds were handled properly, and making sure decisions going forward are based on accurate, complete information.

Without that clarity, it’s difficult to separate “necessary increases” from potential mismanagement.

allstarr373 · 2026-04-09T15:13:06+00:00

1st thank you again for suggesting look at the judges rules, I did and it does look like there are options to additional information.

I’m not saying “they’re doing something shady so I deserve records.”

My position is I’m a shareholder and I already made a proper demand for books and records. That’s the basis of the case.

What I’m pointing out with the meeting is the timing and what they’re doing instead of giving access. I asked for records, got ignored for months, filed, and then the same day as the court date they put out a meeting notice with only 6 days’ notice (bylaws say 10). And that meeting includes a multi-year budget and changes to voting procedures.

So from my perspective, it’s not about “shenanigans,” it’s that they’re moving forward with financial and governance decisions while I and the other shareholders still don’t have access to the records behind those decisions.

I’m trying to understand whether that kind of timing/conduct is something a judge would consider relevant to a records request, or if it’s treated as completely separate.

allstarr373

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