As Chair of the
Stewardship Committee over the past two years, I coordinated efforts to develop
robust and actionable knowledge of the factors impacting water quality and
community enjoyment around Leech Lake.
This effort includes work with Fleming College; educational pieces on
loons, septic systems, E Coli levels, invasive species, water levels, small aquatic
life and fish stocking. This work is by
no means complete. I believe our stewardship accomplishments
represent the type of energy and effort that members expect of all Executive
members.
Unfortunately, the
current Executive is letting down members in a number of key areas. They want to hold on to outdated methods of
working despite the fact there is a growing number of people who have chosen to
not pay dues. Don Hill and I came onto
the Executive with an activist perspective and passion for change. We proposed a number of changes to the way in
which spending was managed and contractors should be managed. These were rejected. In my opinion, the current Executive lacks
the vision and passion needed to move the Association forward.
Let’s look at
the accomplishments of the current Executive
Arguably, summer road
conditions in 2012 were the worst in recent memory. This traces directly to over-spending in
2011 when road maintenance spending was 110% of collected dues. Of course, the replacement of outflow
culverts was a significant part of this.
The Executive failed to act on proven, identified cost savings for the
culvert project and Don Hill and I were asked to butt out.
The Association did
win a FOCA environmental award, but this was accomplished with little funding
and resistance on several issues by some members of this Executive.
The Regatta was
neglected and was not held in 2012. And
it may not happen in 2013 even though I offered to provide prizes and all of
the food free of charge.
Winter road
maintenance this winter has been outstanding.
Road reports are a great feature for visitors. Unfortunately, the relationship between a
valued contractor and neighbour and key members of the Executive does not
represent the Association in a positive manner. The Executive also failed to act on
recommendations that would have reduced the cost of this valuable service this
winter and going forward.
Effective teams have
the ability to entertain good ideas from anyone and embrace shared leadership. That is not something this Executive could
embrace and the process became extremely fractious. I
chose to resign over this dysfunctional process of meeting after meeting of valuable
time, effort and money wasted.
A Vision for
the Path Forward
Rather than simply
withdraw from Association activities, I prefer to move the reform agenda
further by becoming more involved. I will be running for the position of
President this year. I don’t know
whether the current President plans to stand for re-election. I have a platform for reform to make the
Association more responsive to members and in particular the growing number of
individuals who have chosen to not pay dues because of the issues they have
with the manner in which the Association’s Executive has managed lake affairs
over the past several years.
Here are the types of
changes to the constitution I would pursue with the energy to get it done.
·
Make the
Association more democratic. Initially I
would institute an annual survey of all stakeholders. The results of the survey would be used to set
the direction for the Executive for the next year. All of the points below will be pursued if
stakeholders indicate their approval through surveys.
·
If
stakeholder interest is sufficient, I would explore absentee / internet voting
on key issues such as Executive elections, dues changes etc. This is designed to address member’s concerns
about the AGM meetings which can also be fractious.
·
Install a
proper budgeting process and define Executive roles within this process with
less ambiguity than currently exists.
Expand the role of the Treasurer to that of a chief financial
officer. This will ensure that the
financial problems which occurred in 2011 / 12 and currently exist, will not be
repeated.
·
Implement
purchasing policies and procedures which will attain better value for the
Association. I estimate that the
Association could save more than $5000 versus current execution. (I have extensive experience managing
procurement of construction services.) Ensure
that the Association has positive relationships with a number of local
contractors and that the Association is represented positively within the
broader community.
·
Expend the
necessary effort to pursue a grant or tax rebate from the Town of Bracebridge to
cover the cost of summer road maintenance.
16 other lakes in Ontario already receive such a grant and I believe
that Leech Lake should pursue this. The
budgeting and purchasing procedures mentioned above would be a pre-requisite
for this. Some members believe the Town
should take over road maintenance. I
think moving to get some relief from the Town is a solid and actionable
objective for the near term.
·
Improve
summer road conditions by delivering better value for money.
·
Work with
survey results and the Road Committee to revise winter road maintenance
specifications with the aim of reducing costs.
·
If the
membership agrees, move to register the Association to collect HST on
dues. In 2011, HST was a $4000 expense
for the Association. This money could be
better spent on frontline member services rather than being paid out in taxes
with no offsets. I would rescind and
modify the 2013 dues increase to compensate members for the impact of this
change.
·
Step up
Stewardship efforts with additional funding and activities that have positive
results for the lake and community.
Funding will come from cost savings elsewhere and donations from
interested members.
·
Work to
ensure that the Regatta and perhaps an additional social event for adults
become annual community building events for the lake.
·
Introduce
a program for Safe & Quiet Boating, building on the MLA program.
·
Don Hill
has introduced a Code of Ethics for Executive members, and I support this
effort.
Some of these reforms
have been presented to the current Executive.
Ideally, these will be put to the membership by the current Executive at
the AGM in July. I am sharing my entire
vision for the Association now to provide time for input from you as members,
cottagers or residents of Leech Lake.
If you support or are
not in favor of some or all of these potential initiatives, please let the
current Executive know your thoughts.
You may write to me at ljacobs@packtrax.com. Or post comments, positive or
negative on this blog.
Thank you for your
interest in Leech Lake.
Larry Jacobs
