Questions over the governance model for the West Shore Parks and Recreation Society are bringing up some old tensions and concerns from member municipalities.
On June 13, a report requested from barrister and solicitor Christopher Nation was presented to the societyB次元官网网址檚 board of directors. In the report, Nation recommends decisions related to budget and capital expenditures be changed from a unanimous vote to majority rules, weighted toward the financial input of voting members.
The concern has been that but can veto projects from going ahead.
The recent expansion of the weight room and fitness studio, for instance, only went ahead because of an unwritten side deal with Metchosin and Highlands. If the weight room were to lose money, those two municipalities would be exempted from helping cover the loss.
Colwood Mayor Carol Hamilton agrees with the reportB次元官网网址檚 recommendations and thinks the agreement needs to be changed to majority rules.
She is in the process of arranging a meeting between co-owners of West Shore Park and Recreation, represented by mayors and the Capitol Regional District representative.
B次元官网网址淚 think we have a really unique situation here and for the most part itB次元官网网址檚 always worked well,B次元官网网址� Hamilton said. B次元官网网址淟etB次元官网网址檚 work on whatB次元官网网址檚 not-working and fix it, as opposed to tossing things out.B次元官网网址�
Metchosin Mayor John Ranns disagrees with where attention is being focused. He described the governance debate as a B次元官网网址渟mokescreenB次元官网网址� that prevents the board and owners from tackling the real issues. As the veto has hardly been used, he doesnB次元官网网址檛 see what the concern is.
B次元官网网址淭he main issue is not governance,B次元官网网址� Ranns said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 some pretty serious concerns there: Bear Mountain arena losing half a million a year, continued requisition increases almost more than double inflation rates, stuff like that. Those are the things we need to address.B次元官网网址�
For his part, Langford mayor Stew Young said a meeting of the mayors would be a waste of time. The governance model needs to be changed to a majority vote, Young said, adding the unanimous vote system has prevented any real development from taking place at the site.
B次元官网网址淚f the governance is dysfunctional itB次元官网网址檚 damaging to the residents,B次元官网网址� Young said. B次元官网网址淭he governance model has to change or probably youB次元官网网址檒l see some drastic changes down there at Juan de Fuca. ... It never should have been put unanimous, thatB次元官网网址檚 not democracy.B次元官网网址�
news@goldstreamgazette.com
