SIPOA 2014 Annual General Meeting May 31, 2014 1
(subject to approval at the 2015 AGM)
SATURNA ISLAND PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION
2014 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - DRAFT MINUTES
DATE HELD: Saturday May 31, 2014
LOCATION: Saturna Recreation Centre, 104 Harris Road,
Saturna Island, British Columbia
Board Members Present: Bill Schermbrucker, Eva Hage, Ron Hall, Ron Monk, Susie Washington-Smyth, Michael Fry, Ingrid Gaines
Guest Speaker: Prior to the AGM business meeting guest speaker BC Ferries Commissioner (acting) Sheldon Stoilen presented an informal talk explaining the role of the Commissioner's office followed by questions from the floor.
AGM Business Meeting Minutes
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 12:10 pm by President Bill Schermbruker. Quorum was confirmed. There were 19 members present.
2. Approval of Agenda
There was a request to move the Special Resolution from item 7.2 to item 4. Business Arising from last AGM.
Motion: Sheila Wallace moved approval of the agenda as amended. Carried
3. Approval of June 22, 2013 AGM minutes
These draft minutes have been posted on the SIPOA website. Bill Schermbruker briefly reviewed the main topics covered. He also noted that results of the previous surveys are posted on the website.
Motion: Paul Brent moved approval of the June 2013 AGM minutes. Carried
4. Business Arising from last AGM
Special Resolution: That the membership in SIPOA should be widened to include all residents of the island and that we undertake a name change to Saturna Island Rate Payers Association (SIRA).
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(subject to approval at the 2015 AGM)
Background: At the 2013 AGM the special resolution failed by 1 vote. For this reason it was decided to present it for reconsideration.
Discussion: Susie Washington Smyth reported that she checked with other islands to determine what process they use. Mayne, Pender, Galiano and Thetis Islands were contacted. They accept anyone who lives on the island and wishes to join and the organizations are issue driven. The term Rate Payer would apply to renters as well as property owners, as part of their rent is applied to taxes.
Question was called. Motion Carried - 16 supported, 1 opposed.
It was noted, that this change will require work by the Board to amend the bylaws to incorporate the approved change. This will take some time to accomplish.
5. Committee Reports.
5.1 President's Report
Bill Schermbruker presented his report on the 2013 - 2014 year. A copy of this report is appended to these minutes.
5.2.a Treasurer's Report
Ron Hall presented the financial report for period May 31, 2013 to May 31, 2014. (attached). Balance at May 31, 2014 was $7,976.23. Last year Coast Capital made a change to their classification which resulted in service fees. Ron questioned this and that was reversed. The web maintenance person resigned that position which resulted in a small rebate.
Motion : Ron Hall moved acceptance of the Treasurer's report. Carried
5.2.b Membership Report was also circulated by Ron Hall (attached) in Valerie MCMillan's absence. Current membership is 230, with 14 in arrears of membership fees. Ron commended Valerie for her member recruitment and retention activities, including efforts to encourage payment fees which were in arrears.
5.3 Roads Report
Susie Washington-Smyth reported that the MOT has accepted in principle that they are willing to take on the public right-of-way. The previous contract with Saturna Beach Strata Corporation has expired so this will be incorporated into the new agreement.
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(subject to approval at the 2015 AGM)
Also a commitment has been made from Main Roads Construction that there will be some repairs on the roads this summer but no details of which areas will be involved. Susie was commended for all the work she has done in this area.
5.4 Ferries Report
Eva Hage reported that BC Ferries has committed that there will be no changes to the weekend ferry schedule but in the winter there will be one fewer sailings of the Queen of Nanaimo on Wednesdays. This will involve travel via Swartz Bay from Tswassen to reach Saturna.
There was some discussion of a suggestion to launch a class action suit of discrimination against the government. The discrimination criteria would not apply as this is a matter of public policy. However, Susie suggested that SIPOA join with the islands to launch a public awareness campaign throughout the province. There would be costs associated with such a campaign.
Motion: Paul Brent moved that the SIPOA Board allocate up to $1000 for a campaign to educate the general public as to the issues regarding ferry service on the BC coast. Carried.
Michael Fry requested to be recorded as opposed to the motion.
5.5 SIPOA Website & Bulletin Board Report
Ron Hall has taken over website maintenance for now. This will be addressed further by the new Board. SIPOA does have a Calendar for local events.
5.6 Taxation Committee
Commendations to Eve Hage for her work on researching taxation issues and for the information items she has published on the SIPOA Bulletin Board as well as in the Scribbler.
6. Nominations to the Board & Elections
Ron Monk and Bill Schermbruker have completed their terms on the Board. Bill will continue as Past President. New nominations received by the deadline were Jeanne Crerar, Joan Hoskinson and Dian Johnstone (Jeanne and Joan were not present so submitted statements confirming their willingness to stand, which were read to the membership.) There were no further nominations from the floor.
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(subject to approval at the 2015 AGM)
Motion Paul Brent moved to accept the three nominees to the Board. Carried
8. Next Meeting
Immediately following the AGM there will be a brief meeting of the new Board to elect officers, set a date for the next Board meeting and assign tasks for the year ahead.
9. Adjournment
Motion: Linda Cunningham moved the meeting adjourn . Carried
The meeting was adjourned at 12:45 pm.
** It was agreed that the new SIPOA Board will have their first meeting Saturday, July 12 at 11am at the home of Bill Schermbruker. At that time Board positions and committee roles will be decided.
ATTACHEMENTS
Saturna Island Property Owners Association AGM 31 May 2014
PRESIDENT’S REPORT by Bill Schermbrucker
I recently met Lee Whitehead, a genial professor retired from UBC who was my PhD supervisor, and his daughter Lael from Mayne Island drove us to lunch in Sidney at Mary’s Blue Moon café at the old Victoria Flying Club, a charming restaurant.
“What are you doing on Saturna these days?” Lee asked.
I told him I had been president of the Community Club and was currently president of the Property Owners Association.
“Hope you’re not trying to amalgamate ’em!” Lee replied instantly with such strong emphasis that it took me by surprise. Lee was always a gentle listener, not a dictatorial professor. He mentioned the political theorist Alexis de Tocqueville whose work he had been rereading, who favoured small and separate democratic organisations. I guess de Tocqueville didn’t live in Greater Victoria; but then again, the existence of 13 separate city halls maybe amounts to a form of proportional representation. I don’t know.
I indeed have been trying in vain to form an amalgamation between the two most prominent social and political organisations on Saturna. It seems to me that an island noted for its people giving friendly waves from their cars to one another should also feel united enough to act as a single community in social and political matters. I have twice published my views in the Saturna Scribbler. For one thing, it would reduce the number of quarterly meetings by half. More importantly, it would increase our island’s credibility in dealing with outside agencies. The few responses I have received have been almost all negative. This resistance to the idea of unity has astonished me, though some of those advocates of separateness have passed on now.
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(subject to approval at the 2015 AGM)
I was also told when I became President of the Community Club and set out to advance the stalled building of the new Emergency Services buildings, that the Fire Department and Saturna Island Rescue would never agree to occupy the same building. Take a look!
In this meeting, you will consider a motion to expand the membership of SIPOA to include residents as well as property owners. You considered it last year and voted it down but only by a margin of one vote which is why we are bringing it back to you today. It is not for me to tell you that unity is strength; it’s an axiom, as well as one of Aesop’s most cogent fables about the sticks versus the bundle. On the other side there is my respected old professor who favours separation. It’s up to you.
During the past year, we have continued with our tradition of surveying the membership to determine what you want us to spend our energy on, and once again you told us the issues to focus on were roads, taxes, ferries, communications, membership, and planning in all its aspects.
Three of the files we worked hardest on this year have been 1) Ferries. We tallied the survey we conducted earlier this year and reported to BC Ferries, including every single comment that you made, and we brought all candidates for provincial election here for meetings with our board and the public; 2) on roads we have kept up the pressure for improvements in safety and access and again brought people from the ministry to Saturna and walked the walk with them to show them what we are talking about; 3) in communications we have developed the new bulletin board for posting important island events. In the reports that follow you will hear some further details from some of your excellent board members.
I bought them all Coronas to entice them to board meetings at my house, and they all came regularly, but they mostly drank water. What great people to work with, positive and self-starting! Ron Monk, Eva Hage, Ingrid Gaines, Ron Hall, Valerie McMillan, Michael Fry, Susie Washington-Smyth, and our diligent Secretary, Bev Lowsley. Thank you all very much.
Ferries Report
This year SIPOA remained active on the BC Ferry through our directors’ work on the issues facing Saturna with respect to reductions in weekend ferry service levels. While a final decision has yet to be announced indications are that weekend reductions will be minimal with some low utilization Route 9 winter sailings (8 or 9 days in total) being reduced instead.
SIPOA’s attempt to meet with the Transportation Minister was frustrated by a meeting embargo coincident with the announced Coastal Engagement process. However, SIPOA continued work behind the scenes to support various groups and the media in their efforts to inform the public.
We continue to keep pressure on BC Ferries to consider the Short-link proposal and the home porting of the Mayne Queen.
Eva Hage
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(subject to approval at the 2015 AGM)