SIPOA 2013 Annual General Meeting June 22, 2013 1
(subject to approval at the 2014 AGM)
SATURNA ISLAND PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION
2013 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
DATE HELD: Saturday June 22, 2013
LOCATION: Saturna Recreation Centre, 104 Harris Road,
Saturna Island, British Columbia
Board Members Present: Bill Schermbrucker, Eva Hage, Ron Hall, Ron Monk, Valerie McMillan, Susie Washington-Smyth
Guest Speaker: Prior to the AGM business meeting guest speaker Art Chambers, from the Real Property Taxation Branch of the BC Ministry of Finance, gave a presentation to the assembled group. He described the role of the Property Taxation Branch, his role in the branch and the process for determination of property taxes. His breakdown of Saturna Island property tax information for 2013 along with a comparison of a five year change trend, including the issue of federal government PILTS payments, was particularly informative. His notes will be posted on the SIPOA website along with the minutes and reports from the AGM.
AGM Business Meeting Minutes
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 12 noon by President Bill Schermbruker. Quorum was confirmed. There were 23 members present.
2. Approval of Agenda
Motion: Eva Hage moved approval of the agenda. Seconded by Lorna Archer Quinn. Carried
3. Approval of June 2, 2012 AGM minutes
These minutes have been posted on the SIPOA website. Bill Schermbruker did a brief listing of the main topics covered. It was also noted that results of the previous surveys are also posted on the website.
Motion: Susie Washington-Smyth moved approval of the June 2012 AGM minutes. Seconded by Carlou Stubbs Carried
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(subject to approval at the 2014 AGM)
4 Committee Reports.
4.1 President's Report
Bill Schermbruker presented his report on the 2012 - 2013 year. A copy of this report is appended to these minutes.
4.2 Treasurer's Report
Ron Hall presented the financial report. Current balance in the Coast Capital account to June 22, 2013 is $6987.22.
Ron noted that Coast Capital Savings reclassified SIPOA as a business which has impacted on bank charges. He is following up on this and has sent the SIPOA Constitution as well as noting that the Board are all volunteers and there are no employees. This should clarify that the organization is not a business however he has not received a response at this time.
Ron also presented the membership report. Currently 199 members are in good standing. There are 22 members in arrears.
Motion: Ron Hall moved that dues be increased to $12 per year with a reduction to $10 if they are paid by Feb 1; seconded by .
Discussion: Jeanne Crerar suggested that the increase should be $15. After further discussion Ron agreed to amend the motion as suggested. The amended motion (to increase dues to $15 with a reduction to $10 if paid by Feb. 1) was seconded by Sheila Wallace. Carried
4.3 Roads Report
This information is included in the President's report. There are various views of possible solutions to the issues relating to Harris Road and public access to the vineyard and Saturna Beach area. At this point there is no final resolution which would be satisfactory to all.
4.4 Ferries Report
Eva Hage reported that the committee met with candidates during the provincial election. There was also good coverage in the media at that time. Since the election things have been quiet. Susie Washington-Smyth suggested a meeting with the new Minister of Transportation. Even though BC Ferries has posted a profit this year they are still looking a cutbacks of service. The proposal to replace the Queen of Nanaimo with two medium size open-deck vessels jointly offering the same capacity has passed the public consultation stage. The final report from the BC Ferries Commissioner is expected later this summer.
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(subject to approval at the 2014 AGM)
4.5 SIPOA Website & Bulletin Board Report
Ron Hall reported that a calendar of events on the website is being developed so all organizations can do their own postings without having to go through the webmaster. There is a bit of a learning curve regarding the posting process which is being worked on. This should be up by the end of summer. A bulletin board system is also being developed for people to post items wanted or for sale and to book or offer services. Both of these new initiatives will run on the same platform. Another item discussed is the need to educate users about the fact that on the list serve when they enter Reply it goes to all members, not just the one who posted the item. Many people are frustrated when they get so many list serve emails most of which are not of interest to them. Several approaches to managing this influx of email were suggested. Susie Washington-Smyth will post a reminder to members about use of the list serve and web netiquette.
5. Business Arising from last AGM
Several items from past minutes were reviewed to determine if they were still relevant issues to be addressed by new Board.. It was noted that the car stop program is being used and probably will be more so in the summer months. The program on Pender Island is very successful with plans to expand it.
6. Proposed Constitutional Amendment
The proposed constitutional amendment to open membership to residents as well as property owners
This idea came up last summer at the open discussion gathering, SIPOA at the Pub meeting last October, and also has since been discussed on the list serve forum. Pros and cons were put forward. Susie Wahington-Smyth noted that the main focus of SIPOA relates to issues such as taxation and government services. This is a forum for people who pay taxes and she wonders if others would even care to join. Lorna Archer Quinn questioned how one defines a resident (a property owner who visits the island for a few week each year vs someone who resides on the island and may or may not own property). Sheila Wallace noted that both residents and property owners are effected by ferry issues, roads and other issues impacting everyone who lives on the island. It was also noted that this membership change may require a change of name to indicate inclusion of others who are not property owners. There would be legal charges associated with such a constitutional change. Eva Hage suggested keeping the focus on the issues addressed by SIPOA and keeping the name to avoid changing the constitution. Andre Fredette noted that several non-property owners who cannot yet afford to purchase property do have businesses and contribute to the island. There were a number present who expressed ambivalence. Further questions
SIPOA 2013 Annual General Meeting June 22, 2013 4
(subject to approval at the 2014 AGM)
were put forward. Should there be a non-voting category who could discuss issues and have input? Is this a significant issue that has been requested by non-members. Would opening up membership sidetrack the focus of the organization? It was pointed out that there are a number of property owners who will not join SIPOA as they view the organization to be elitist. It was also suggested that SIPOA simply needs to get the message out that their focus is on addressing issues effecting all islanders. This would not require a change of membership criteria.
It was agreed that if the vote passes, the board will address the issue of how to define resident. Question was called.
Ballots were distributed to 21 members in attendance who were eligible to vote. The resolution was defeated (10 in support, 11 against)
7. Nominations to the Board & Elections
Susan Jameson-McLarnon and Murray Rankin are not returning to the board. President Bill Schermbruker expressed his thanks for their contributions to SIPOA.
The SIPOA Board is composed of up to 9 members, with each serving a 3 year term. Terms are staggered with 2 - 3 members being replaced each year. Board members may serve two consecutive term.
Current directors part way through their terms are Michael Fry, Eva Hage, Valerie McMillan, Ron Monk and Bill Schermbrucker..
Three members nominated for election for 3 year terms are Susie Washington-Smyth, Ron Hall and Ingrid Gaines. After three calls for further nominations there were none. Bill Schermbrucker declared nominations closed.
Motion: Eva Hage moved to accept the new appointees on the slate of officers. Seconded by Lorna Archer Quinn. Carried
8. New Business
There was no further business.
9. Next Meeting
Bill Schermbruker will contact executive members to set a date for a meeting in July.
10. Adjournment
Motion Ingrid Gaines moved the meeting adjourn, seconded by Ron Monk. Carried
The meeting adjourned at 1:10 pm.
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(subject to approval at the 2014 AGM)
ATTACHEMENTS
Saturna Island Property Owners Association AGM 22 June 2013
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
It’s been a great pleasure working with the board this year: Michael Fry, Eva Hage, Ron Hall, Susan Jamieson-McLarnon, Val MacMillan, Ron Monk and past-President Susie Washington-Smyth. These are the best kind of people to work with. I am grateful to all of them and our minute taker, Bev Lowsley, for their willingness to pick up assigned tasks and quietly get on with them. I’m especially grateful to Ron Hall for his work on the bulletin board in conjunction with Al Razutis, and to Al for creating and maintaining our beautiful official website. Susie Washington Smyth and Eva Hage put together some templates for keeping the board regular and on task, and these are very helpful both now and for the future. Susan Jamieson-McLarnon drafted the ferry questionnaire and we got 52 submissions from members, which my wife Sharon helped me extensively to collate and tally, and we sent it including every comment to the ferry consultation team and all the MLA candidates. We brought three of the candidates here for meetings with some of the board, including our transportation specialists, Eva and Paul Brent. These meetings were kindly hosted by Ron Hall and I dare say all the candidates got a really good dose of Saturna opinion about the unsustainable state of the ferries and the populations they are supposed to serve. Val MacMillan has taken over some of the membership duties, much to Ron Hall’s relief. Thank you, Val and John.
In October, we met with Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure officials, walked exhaustingly up and down the hill of Harris Road, and eventually heard from the new district superintendant that he thinks he can find a permit solution to the long-standing issue, but so far I have not heard back from him. A couple of weeks ago, Larry Page was putting some pressure on him to give us an answer, and I added my voice. The second issue with Harris Road, the dangerous state around Barry Crooks’ Mill, is yet to be adequately addressed. We’ll keep on it.
I said at the start of the year that I would reconvene the joint committee looking into the possibility of improving things for the Saturna Island Rescue volunteers, but I have not done so. Partly that is because I am waiting to see what comes of the Saturnina Foundation’s efforts to relieve the Community Club of having to make up the annual shortfall in the provision of medical services. There’s no logical connection between these two separate entities, but I have an instinctive feeling that improvements in one area may lever improvements in the other.
Despite her great loss, Susie continues to put a lot of energy into keeping SIPOA running, and I think we can all be grateful to her for coming back to the board after a theoretical absence from it.
Our year will begin as usual with a poll of members to instruct us where to direct our efforts.
Bill Schermbrucker
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(subject to approval at the 2014 AGM)