May 27, 2011

It is an Arab-spring type of feeling in Union Bay – the first OPEN TO THE PUBLIC board meeting this year. Fresh ocean breezes, although cool, are blowing through the Bay.

Walking down McLeod, we note that the smoke in Powell River is going in the wrong direction for good weather, but the fresh political breeze is refreshing. A new Union Bay Improvement District board is in the Bay.

Over 80 people attended the ‘inaugural’ meeting of the board on May 25. We used to be impressed if that many came to an annual meeting of the UBID.

And a very respectful and attentive group they were, eager to see how the new board would perform. Yes, even a few of the old trustees attended and they had to have been embarrassed with the mess they left behind. One left early.

And the 80 weren’t disappointed. With a brief ‘state of the union’ address, Chair Carol Molstad gave a sketch of the plans for the future, an update on the sad state of UBID finances and the fact that the administrator is now on indefinite sick/stress leave. The board has hired a temporary interim administrator so there will be change in the office too.

Highlights of the business section of the meeting were the establishment of three committees (passed unanimously, I might add) that will be chaired by an elected trustee, but composed of landowners. Imagine, the ‘unwashed’ will be allowed to provide input to the board on fire, water, finance. Spring has indeed sprung.

Questions from the gallery came mainly from the UB Ratepayer’s Association. One had to do with why the UBID wasn’t paying its bills. What part of ‘we’re in a fiscal crisis didn’t she understand?

Another very serious question about whether the historical society would be allowed to keep its displays in the office building. Why would any sane board NOT want to see the history of the Bay on public display? Come on, now! This is an issue?

So, while there are many problems for the new board to solve, they have demonstrated a competency not seen at the UBID for over 10 years.

The gallery recognized this when it broke into spontaneous applause after the meeting adjourned.

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