General · 26th November 2008
Quadra Island Harbour Authorit
Quadra Island Harbour Authority Annual General Meeting
Yes there is an annual general meeting for the Quadra Island Harbour Authority, and no we have nothing to hide. The meeting has been advertised to its members and other wharf users. Contrary to some inaccurate legal opinion, the Harbour Authority has fulfilled all of its legal obligations of notification of this meeting by these advertisements. The broader Quadra community has been invited to attend meetings in previous years but have very rarely done so thus we focused our advertisement to those directly involved in the use of our facilities and services.
The Quadra Island Harbour Authority is a special interest group that is mandated to oversee and maintain the operations of the two government wharves in Heriot Bay and Quathiaski Cove. Our special interest is to provide affordable and safe moorage for commercial and recreational users. The board is formed with a legislated bias to the commercial fishing industry as that industry provided the origins and wherewithal for these facilities necessity. This bias works in the community’s favour as wharfage rates are considerably lower than those charged at private facilities. Membership in the authority is limited to those who use our facilities and meet usage requirements. The QIHA, as do many other societies, organizations, and harbour authorities reserves the right to establish the terms of membership.
The article submitted to The Gumboot by Paul Ryan on November 24th is an opinion piece that serves no purpose other than to inflame and rile the community. Mr. Ryan’s assertions are personal and have no legal basis. Mr. Ryan was dismissed from his job at the QIHA in June of 2007. Since then he has undertaken a personal campaign to vilify the current administration of the QIHA. Because of his actions, the QIHA has refused him membership. The QIHA would prefer not to have to debate him publicly, but when his comments are unchallenged we believe the community needs an opportunity to hear the other side.
To those interested, they are invited to attend the public portion of our AGM. On December 7th at 3:00PM at Q Cove Harbour Offices. Harbour users are encouraged to join the QIHA.
Quadra Island Harbour Authority
M.Griswold
Membership
Comment by Lenny Wolfe on 8th December 2008
Hi All,
Just a short quick note in regards to the wright up in The Gumboot.
Everyone on Quadra Island is a member of OUR COMMUNITY DOCKS. No one can be refused membership. All Government Docks on the West Coast are Community Run, with a few exceptions. Most everyone knows this.
Thank You for your time. Take care to All The Board Members and a Very Merry Xmas and A Happy New Year.
Keep up the Excellent Work.
Re: Annual General Meeting
Comment by Paul Ryan on 27th November 2008
I feel compelled to respond to Mr Griswold's comments.
Even if it were not required to advertise the AGM to the public (which it is) you would think it would be done out of courtesy to the community. The way they advertised it to their members was to post a couple of notices at each harbour. The bylaws state that each member must be notified two weeks in advance in writing. posting a couple of notices hardly qualifies.
Mr Griswold has it wrong when he specifies the terms for membership. The bylaws state and I quote " Membership in the corporation shall be limited to those persons interested in furthering the objects of the corporation and whose application for membership has received the approval of the board of directors."As I stated before, the "objects of the corporation" have never been defined, so how do you know if you qualify?
He also states that many other harbour authorities, societies and organizations reserve the right to establish terms of membership. Well of course they do, but the boards do not accept or reject membership applications(as they do with this board). If that were done regularly, then the board has the ability to control who the membership is, and it is the membership that elects the board! If any group were to accept or reject a membership application, it ought to be the membership!
And then Mr. Griswald gets personal!! He contends that my sole purpose was to inflame and rile the community. I contend that I am merely apprising the community of a meeting that they might want to attend,as well as pointing out a few inaccuracies in their bylaws.
He is correct that I was dismissed as Harbour Manager. He neglects to mention that it was a wrongful dismissal, and that I successfully sued them for damages.
He complains that I'm picking on them, that my assertions are personal and have no legal basis.
As William Shakespeare once said" methinks he doth protest too much!"