Neighbour was pitted against neighbour at a raucous meeting of Townsite Ratepayers Association on Tuesday, August 28.
In advance of the meeting, a group of eight individuals, many of whom have stridently opposed the new wastewater treatment plant in Townsite, had sent an email advising association members of an agenda, which included the election of a new board comprised of the group of eight by acclamation. Some of those present said they had not received notice of the meeting, the agenda or bylaws of the association.
Association chair Will Van Delft said Stephen Miller, who is, ostensibly, the informal leader of the eight, had no standing or any authority to make an agenda or have elections outside of an annual general meeting.
Then it was Miller’s turn and he said Van Delft had no authority.
“As of 7 pm tonight, Will, you don't have standing as chair anymore because membership had voted to have nominations of directors,” said Miller. “The nominations were open from the last meeting up until August 26. There were eight positions available. Eight people put their names forward and according to the motion and the wording of the motion those eight directors are in by acclamation at this meeting right now.”
The eight were Miller, his wife Stephanie, Diana Collicutt, Elizabeth Kolbuch, Paul Squarrie, Lesley Armstrong, Inge Besseman and Dave Wheatley.
The lines were drawn and the meeting descended into yelling, name calling, arguments over Robert’s Rules of Order, accusations and conspiracies.
Some who had gathered in the basement of St. David and St. Paul Anglican Church in Townsite agreed with Van Delft that this was an attempted takeover of the association by a faction with one singular cause.
“The waste treatment committee wants to take over the Townsite Ratepayers Association and they are a one-issue committee and they're not happy with being just a committee. They want to rule the whole organization,” said Van Delft.
On the other side, Miller, the rest of the group of eight and their supporters repeatedly said they were not only interested in one issue and were committed to represent all of the interests of Powell River’s oldest neighbourhood, including water drainage issues on Willow Avenue and regulations to preserve the historic homes of Townsite.
For two and a half hours members of the association bickered and when all was said and done, reached a consensus that the bylaws would be revisited at the next association meeting.
