› Flat Chat Strata Forum › By-laws and outlaws › Reform to Strata Laws relating to keeping of pets › Current Page
With only 10 owners it would be easy for everyone to quickly get a feel for the numbers. If the numbers look like being 7 in favour and 3 against, I would subtly ask the 3 against if they really want to be known as having been in the minority that thwarted the will of a very substantial majority. Does everyone take part in the AGM? If not everyone shows up only 2 against could be the 25% opposed that would sink the motion.
This gets into a discussion about whether people taking part in the meeting but abstaining on this motion count towards the total when considering whether there is 25% opposed (one third opposed to sink a special resolution in the ACT). In the ACT I would say a person taking part in the meeting but abstaining on this motion is counted to the total. [The question of abstentions is further discussed here]
As it happens, our OC has had a process running for several years to review our ‘rules’ (ACT-speak for ‘by-laws’). We are updating our ancient rules that had not changed since 1976. The first round just rescinded the rules that were no longer relevant or had become redundant since various matters were now covered in the Act. We also adopted various rules from the current default rules mainly to replace the dated wording of similar rules we had previously. The second dealt with more substantial matters but mostly uncontroversial. Nonetheless the EC circulated drafts and asked for comment and got some useful feedback. It also gave an opportunity to explain several times. Often things don’t sink in till it has been presented several times and often people just don’t pay attention. The third round is the animals rule. Again several rounds of consultation. This time there is no way to satisfy all since we have positions ranging from utterly laissez-faire with cats but strict on dogs to the reverse. We think we have a very reasonable middle course, but we will see ‘at the only poll that counts’ in July!