Category: Board reports

Reports and updates from the Board of Directors.

Monthly Board Report – July 2025

Published in The Weekly, July 27, 2025

These updates are intended to keep members informed about the latest developments, decisions, and upcoming events within Woodsworth. Note the board is now meeting Monthly and so these updates will be published to coincide with the new monthly cadence.

Note: Office is closed August 4, 2025 for civic holiday.

PODIUM DECK

The tender packages are being reviewed by CMS, and contractors are being interviewed. Stay tuned for more info as it becomes available.

GMM STANDARDIZATION

We heard your feedback about the last GMM and have developed a GMM standardization document which will provide guidelines for running the GMMs more democratically within our hybrid meeting environment.

EMERGENCY SUBSIDY

Reminder to members that we offer an emergency subsidy for folks experiencing difficulty paying their housing charge, if they are eligible. The emergency subsidy is 30% of their income and last for a maximum of 3 months.

LAUNDRY

As stated in a previous weekly article, the co-op is moving toward a card based system in the next month. Stay tuned, instruction pamphlets and cards will be distributed closer to the implementation date

STAFF’S PERSONAL PHONE NUMBERS

If you have been given the personal cellphone number of an office or maintenance staff please don’t use it beyond its initial purpose. Do not abuse this privilege. Always call the office first.

RECYCLING and GARBAGE

Please ensure garbage is separated from recycling and disposed of appropriately. If there is organic waste mixed into recycling, it will attract flies and other pests. This inconveniences other members and costs the coop money.

It has also been noted that non-recyclable items (e.g. lampshades) are being placed in the blue bins instead of the cage. Please put only recyclable items in blue bins.

The blue bins in the basement of the mid-rise are often overflowing onto the floor. On checking in with maintenance, they stated that the most significant thing that causes this condition is the fact that people are not flattening their boxes.

Please, please, please – keep recycling – BUT flatten boxes (both large and small). Our maintenance folks are spending a couple of hours a week working on flattening boxes.

The maintenance team’s time is better spent looking after priority maintenance items. If you need help flattening your boxes, please ask a friend or neighbour to help. If you have an assistant or personal support worker that is helping you, please make sure that they know.

All of this will help in focusing our resources where they are really needed.

OFFICE AND BOARD CORRESPONDENCE

It is a member’s responsibility to update the office when you have new contact information (i.e. email address/phone number). You must explicitly notify the Office that you want to update your information e.g. saying “Update my email address on file to example@example.com” vs just emailing the Office a query from a new email address.

Messages from members will normally receive a prompt response from Woodsworth’s Office Staff, who handle virtually all administrative matters with little or no input from the Board. Staff have the skills and resources to resolve most issues. Matters that may require a Board decision are rapidly brought to the Board’s attention, along with background material that can speed the process. The Board email address is to be used only for escalations from members where the office could not adequately assist, and for correspondence from committees Internal Escalations

If you have an after hours need, please call the on-call team.

If you have issues of an administrative nature (e.g. waiting lists, pest control, priority moves, housing charge, RGI or maintenance), please contact the office. The Board does not need to be cc’d on these emails.

If you have an escalation (regarding the property manager or another issue for which no resolution has been reached) contact the Board, and specify that it is an escalation requiring action.

If you are having an issue with another member, contact the Conflict Mediation Committee. If you have an idea – consider whether it could be addressed to a related committee. The list of Woodsworth Committees and their contact information is on the Woodsworth website.

FORMS

If you would like to submit an accommodation request, please complete the relevant Accommodation for disabilities request forms on the Woodsworth website and submit it to the office.

If you would like to receive electronic communication from Woodsworth please fill out the Electronic communications agreement on the Woodsworth website and submit it to the office.

If you would like to submit a complaint to the co-op about a violation of the co-op’s Human Rights By-law please complete and submit the Human rights complaint form on the Woodsworth website and submit it to the office.

If you would like to report an incident, complete the Incident report form on the Woodsworth website and submit it to the office. In this case, an incident would be an accident or problem you would like the co-op to be aware of and/or take action on.

See a complete list of Woodsworth forms on the Woodsworth website.

The Board reads all submissions to the inbox, and endeavours to respond quickly to business correspondence and official communications from co-op committees. Response to individual co-op members is limited to cases where Board intervention seems necessary.

The Board meets just once a month and typically intervenes only on matters of overall co-op policy, or in cases where it becomes convinced that all other channels have failed. The cut off for correspondence to be covered in a board meeting is 9 days before the meeting date.

We all deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. In keeping with this principle, any harassment, bigotry, or threatening behaviour in correspondence sent to the board will not be tolerated.

LOOKING AHEAD:

The board’s next meeting will be August 26, 2025.

Cooperatively, Woodsworth Board of Directors

Coin operated laundry

UPDATE:  The co-op has moved to a card-based system. Members can also use a tap credit card.

From the Board of Directors, in The Weekly June 8, 2025

Recently, we received feedback from the membership on switching our laundry machines from coins to a card-based system, as many apartment buildings have in recent years.

The board has investigated the options as follows:

Option 1 – status quo – stay with coin operated machines. This is a viable option, but over time,  our income from the machines will decrease as Coinamatic – our provider – is phasing out coins due to the overhead of picking up the coins. As you may know, there was a break in recently to our laundry room, specifically to rob the machines, so moving away from using coins to feed the machines may have a positive impact on the security of our community.

Option 2 – move to a card-based system would require that we renegotiate our contract with Coinamatic. This would NOT mean an increase in our laundry fees, however. Installation of the card system and modem would require minimal work and impact to our infrastructure. Given most communities are moving away from coins and cash in general, this is likely a better choice.

The board has decided to move forward with the card-based system, likely in the next month or so. We recognize this may be a significant change for some members and will offer assistance to members having difficulty making the switch. More info to follow.

Front steps on Wilton Street

Published by the Board in the Weekly,  June 22, 2025

At the conclusion of work on the Wilton Street steps (removing the sealant and re-sealing where the step joins the building) the contractor found the plates that hold up the steps had deteriorated significantly.

Upon learning of this, we contacted CMS. Their investigation found that the steps were not attached as per the blueprints for the mid-rise building and had been changed with no record of the change kept.

Until the sealant was removed, we had no way to be aware of this situation. Had we not found this, there would have been serious and dangerous consequences.

[Engineering firm] CMS have provided us with a plan to attach the steps. This will involve drilling 2 holes in each set of steps and then inserting pins that extend into the foundation of the building.

Unfortunately, the work we need to do will create a certain amount of noise and vibration. We ask that the members be patient while this work is done. We hope this work will start shortly. Stay tuned.

Facts about soundproofing

From the Board of Directors, The Weekly, June 8, 2025

In 1975, the Ontario Building Code (OBC) set uniform standards and technical requirements. The primary focus at that time was to minimize risk related to structural failures.

There were few requirements provided for insulation and no requirements for sound transmission (STC – sound transmission class as it is known today – was not introduced to the building code until 2020).

Woodsworth was built in 1978, and the first members arrived in 1979. Both the mid-rise and the townhouses were built to standard, at that time.

What we’ve learned about the mid-rise since then:

  • The parquet floors were laid directly on the cement with no sound abatement material under them (in fact the only floor to have sound abatement under it is the penthouse which was added when we put in the new floor).
  • There is limited insulation and no soundproofing between the units.

What we’ve learned about the townhouses:

  • The floors and ceilings are built of wood. The subfloor is laid on the joists, with little insulation and no sound abatement material. This is also true of the walls .

All of this has led to an inherent problem with sound transmission that is not present in buildings built after 2020. The board has investigated sound proofing in the past. Improvements would require removing all drywall and ceilings.

To remediate the issues, each townhouse would cost approximately $100,000. Unfortunately, it isn’t financially feasible for the co-op to undertake this work. Knowing these facts about the infrastructure of our buildings, it’s important that we are understanding and tolerant of each other when it comes to noise as we live our daily lives together in this co operative community.

Monthly Board report, June 2025

Monthly Board Report – June 2025

These updates are intended to keep members informed about the latest developments, decisions, and upcoming events within Woodsworth. Note the board is now meeting Monthly and so these updates will be published to coincide with the new monthly cadence.

PODIUM DECK PROJECT

The project is out for tender, meaning we are choosing who will do the work. Once a contract is signed and a plan in place, a Member Forum will be held. Thanks for your patience.

STAFF’S PERSONAL PHONE NUMBERS

If you have been given the personal cell phone number of an office or maintenance staff please do not use it beyond its intended purpose. You should always call the office first.

BBQS

Bbq’s on the rooftop can only be used at social events for the whole co-op, not by individual members or in tandem with a penthouse rental.

RECYCLING

The blue bins in the basement of the mid-rise are often overflowing onto the floor. On checking in with maintenance, they stated that the one most significant thing that causes this condition is the fact that people are not flattening their boxes.

Please, please, please – keep on recycling BUT flatten boxes (both large and small). Our maintenance folks are spending a couple of hours a week working on flattening boxes. The maintenance team’s time is better spent looking after priority maintenance items.

If you need help flattening your boxes, please ask a friend or neighbour to help.

If you have an assistant or personal support worker that is helping you, please make sure that they know.

All of this will help in focusing our resources where they are really needed.

BULLETIN BOARDS

Please keep in mind that items should not be removed from the bulletin boards before their due date.

OFFICE AND BOARD CORRESPONDENCE

It is a member’s responsibility to update the office when you have new contact information (i.e. email address/phone number). You must explicitly notify the Office that you want to update your information e.g.  saying “Update my email address on file to example@example.com” vs just emailing the Office a query from a new email address.

Messages from members will normally receive a prompt response from Woodsworth’s Office Staff, who handle virtually all administrative matters with little or no input from the Board. Staff have the skills and resources to resolve most issues. Matters that may require a Board decision are rapidly brought to the Board’s attention, along with background material that can speed the process.

The Board email address is to be used only for escalations from members where the office could not adequately assist, and for correspondence from committees.

INTERNAL ESCALATIONS

If you have an after hours need, please call the on-call team.
If you have issues of an administrative nature (e.g. waiting lists, pest control, priority moves, housing charge, RGI or maintenance), please contact the office. The Board does not need to be cc’d on these emails.
If you have an escalation (regarding the property manager or another issue for which no resolution has been reached) contact the Board, and specify that it is an escalation requiring action.

If you are having an issue with another member, contact the Conflict Mediation Committee.

If you have an idea – consider whether it could be addressed to a related committee. The list of Woodsworth Committees and their contact information is on the Woodsworth website.

FORMS

If you would like to submit an accommodation request, please complete the relevant Accommodation for disabilities request forms on the Woodsworth website and submit it to the office.

If you would like to receive electronic communication from Woodsworth please fill out the Electronic communications agreement on the Woodsworth website and submit it to the office.

If you would like to submit a complaint to the co-op about a violation of the co-op’s Human Rights By-law please complete and submit the Human rights complaint form on the Woodsworth website and submit it to the office.

If you would like to report an incident, complete the Incident report form on the Woodsworth website and submit it to the office. In this case, an incident would be an accident or problem you would like the co-op to be aware of and/or take action on.

See a complete list of Woodsworth forms on the Woodsworth website.

The Board reads all submissions to the inbox, and endeavors to respond quickly to business correspondence and official communications from co-op committees. Response to individual co-op members is limited to cases where Board intervention seems necessary. The Board meets just once a month and typically intervenes only on matters of overall co-op policy, or in cases where it becomes convinced that all other channels have failed. The cut off for correspondence to be covered in a board meeting is 9 days before the meeting date.

LOOKING AHEAD:

The board’s next meeting will be July 22, 2025.