Tag: In the News

Union Bay chair says Thursday meeting moved without notice due to fear of disruption

UNION BAY, B.C- Ted Haraldson will be keeping the doors closed.

That’s what’s been indicated by Haraldson, who is currently serving as the chair of the Union Bay Improvement District trustee board. The board functions as the local government for Union Bay, with a focus on water service.

As of January 11th, 2019, the public meetings of Union Bay’s government have been closed to the public. The reason for the decision was said to be heckling at board meetings.

Trustee Susanna Kaljur, who often opposed the rest of the trustee board, was suspended a few days later.

The latest board meeting was scheduled to be held at the Union Bay community hall on Thursday evening, and it was later moved without notice to Courtenay. According to Haraldson, who spoke with the MyComoxValleyNow.com newsroom on Friday, it was held at a “secure location”.

He stated that the board suspected there may have been problems, had the meeting been held as scheduled in Union Bay.

“Hopefully, this won’t be happening again, and again these meetings are closed to the public,” said Haraldson.

“The only public meeting is going to be the AGM (annual general meeting) in April, and that is one that everyone will attend, and people will be able to speak, and all the rest. That is going to happen for sure.”

Haraldson stated that a video recording of the Courtenay meeting will be going up on the Union Bay website within “the next couple of days”, and indicated the meeting’s agenda would also be released at the same time.

He added that Union Bay’s upcoming trustee election would be moved to take place a week before the AGM, with the new trustees to be introduced at that gathering.

As for whether or not the rest of the board’s public meetings (which are barred to the public) will be held in Union Bay, Haraldson indicated that would be the case.

He figured people needed time to “calm down”, and stated he wasn’t comfortable with the move in the first place. However, he maintained it was “done for a reason”.

Asked what would happen if people didn’t “calm down”, he did not have an exact answer.

“I’m hoping that there is no violence in the workplace, and harassment, and cyber bullying calms down, to where people become civilised, and to go to a meeting, without having to have this thing occur,” said Haraldson.

He still maintains the AGM will be open to all, and said he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“During the AGM, people will be able to speak,” said Haraldson.

“Entering the AGM, there will be a sergeant at arms present. If there are any problems, whatsoever, those individuals will be removed. Otherwise, an AGM is a public meeting, and that is open to the public.”

Haraldson also believes he has the support of Union Bay landowners.

“Many people tell me that,” he said.

A landowner forwarded this message they received from Ms. Catheine Lee of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs this morning..

“Once the new Board is in place and construction of the Water Treatment Plant has begun, the Ministry is prepared to support UBID and the CVRD working together to consider a governance review.” received by landowner June 6, 2019!

“The April 23, 2019 COW meeting, where the alleged ‘incident’ leading to cancellation of AGM, had only two sitting trustees present; Trustee Haraldson and myself, Susanna Kaljur.  Trustee Rick Bitten was absent.  Peter Jacques and Glenn Loxam were present, however they are no longer trustees as they were defeated on April 20, 2019.  By rights the meeting with the financial auditor should have occurred before the election. Therefore Ted Haraldson, as only one of two trustees present, had no legal right to cancel either the April 23 COW/Auditor meeting or the April 25 AGM. I fully support Trustee Haraldson’s preference of having a professional Chair chair the AGM. The local governments Act states the AGM must occur before May 1.” This letter was sent to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs Selena Robinson, Ombudsperson, MLA Scott Fraser, UBID Board and others on April 24, 2019.

Here is Trustee Rick Bitten’s response to my letter: “Glen and peter and still elected trustees until the other candidates are sworn in. I believe that UBID should discuss charges with the RCMP. These planned disruptions are intenional (sic) and should be considered as that. I am embarrased by the landowners that create these problems. This behaviour would not be tollarated (sic) any where else why should we accept it.    Trustee Rick Bitten”

This mess is brought to you by 5 men who flout the law. It is theirs to answer for and clean up.

In my opinion the Oath of Office must proceed and a new chair elected so we have a functioning board. The outgoing Board majority are responsible for the AGM not the 2 new trustees. Currently the UBID Board has only 3 sworn trustees: Haraldson, Bitten, Kaljur. The majority has swung because 2 Trustees can not make any decisions. Ergo they (Bitten, Haraldson) can not cancel meetings or do anything.

James Wood reports: https://www.mycomoxvalleynow.com/53261/pro-governance-review-trustees-win-in-union-bay-election/

Hein Vandenberg and Paul Healey win with record numbers. Union Bay has a new Board with a clear focus: to ensure we have access to Infrastructure grants and municipal financing.