The Community Forest currently has five board members. That’s pretty good for a not-for-profit organization in Tumbler Ridge, and meets the minimum number of board members needed for the society.
But, at a special meeting of council on December 9, council expressed worry that the board was not at full strength.
Currently, the board consists of Marsha Dufresne, Al Kangas, Darryl Krakowka, Hugh Kingwell and Bernie Lehmann.
But some councillors—most notably Councillor Bertrand—would like to see that increased. “I’m a little bit concerned about the lack of board members,” says Bertrand. “I’m just wondering if there has been any recruitment efforts. I think a full board is important to have more heads at the table, more opinions at the table, to have a robust debate about any kind of decision that’s happening there. I’m very happy with the operational decisions being made. I think they’re making very smart decisions, with not only their cut blocks and the size of cut blocks, but also harvesting at the right times, but I am concerned about missing two board members.”
Mayor Krakowka asks if that is something that the District would do, or if that is something that has to be left to the Community Forest.
CAO Lisa Scott says the ideal situation for recruiting board members would be in partnership with the Community Forest, sort of like efforts to recruit new board members for the library. “It would be a joint effort.”
Councillor Norbury, who has sat on the board in the past, says historically the board has been targeted. “We reach out to people that we know are interested in outdoor recreation, maybe in forestry and reach out personally to them. Unfortunately, most of these people are also busy with other organizations.”
Councillor Bertrand says that adds to his concerns. “I certainly don’t want to see this board becoming a club. If we’re going to pick and choose, I don’t think that’s fair process and I’m a little bit concerned about that.”
Mayor Krakowka says, as the District is the shareholder in the Community Forest, they should be advertising. “It shouldn’t be a picked board,” he says. “If there’s community representation that wants to be on the board, they have the opportunity. If they don’t fit the board, council doesn’t have to appoint them. We appoint the board.
Councillor Norbury, who has sat on the board for the last number of years, rejects the description of the Community Forest Board as a club. “When you’re trying to recruit for a board, you definitely want to try and find people that have an interest in it. And that’s what I mean when I say we reach out personally. We know this person works in forestry. Maybe they’d be interested. We know this person’s very active in the community. Let’s reach out because if you want something to get done, ask somebody who’s busy. So it’s definitely not that we only want our pals and chums, but I think it is reasonable to expect that if somebody’s coming on a board of this nature that they have some interest in sustainable forestry management and harvesting of forest products and they have some interest in the financial aspects of it because that’s the role of the board. It’s not just ‘come and have a good time.’”
Mayor Krakowka says he understands what Councillor Norbury is trying to say, and that this board has been trying for a long time to find new members.
The discussion on board members was part of a larger discussion by council on the Community Forest, where council approved the financial statements for the corporation, approved the new board, approved all the business made by the Community Forest over the last year, and declared the AGM to have been held, which is within the authority of the distict, as the sole shareholder.
People who are interested in joining the Community Forest board can contact town hall, at 250-242-4242.
Trent is the publisher of Tumbler RidgeLines.
