I agree, Herb. I think it is important from the very beginning for people to establish purpose and agenda, and to put this on paper, a sort of Community Compact or Charter, to which all members must be signers. Of course, wisdom would allow the instrument to be both flexible and binding at the same time, able to be changed, but not easily.
People change, AND communities change.
Though we often think we know everything in our youth, time has a way of honing us and shaping us. What we lack in fiery zeal later in life, perhaps we have gained in breadth of vision and depth of wisdom. I mean people can be flighty and unreliable, this instrument should be difficult to change, requiring the entire community, or at least, the vast majority.