Update on LWF Ratepayer Association Meeting Matter
Fall River (D2N) – A meeting to discuss the controversial Dec. 6/09 LWF Ratepayer meeting has been postponed. In a Jan. 13 interview with District 2 News, Barry Dalrymple, Councillor for Waverley – Fall River – Beaver Bank, confirmed that the meeting which was originally supposed to take place sometime in January between himself, the HRM’s Legal Dept., and HRM’s Community Development Dept., — to discuss the details of the Dec. 6 LWF AGM – will have to wait, until a new date for the meeting can be set.
Although Dalrymple said he realizes people are expressing concern over the events of the LWF Annual General Meeting (AGM), there actually may not be anything that can be done about the matter until next years AGM of the LWF Ratepayer Association.
Part of the reason the HRM may not have answers for the questions LWF Area Ratepayers are asking about the situation, is because it is not technically an HRM issue. “It’s actually a community matter,” said Dalrymple, explaining that the issue is something for the LWF Ratepayer Association Board, not the HRM.
It would only be guessing at this point, to say how or if this seemingly unique situation will be resolved. The person who is the Chair of the LWFRA Board is also listed as the Summer Programs Coordinator and HR Director at the Windsor Junction Community Centre. The councillor confirmed that technically, it is up to the LWF Ratepayer Association Board to resolve the matter. The LWF Ratepayer Association Board is responsible for approving the budget for the WJCC, which receives the monies from the 3 cent per $100 Area Rate Tax.
Suggestions brought forth by LWF Ratepayers have ranged from ruling the Dec. 6 meeting invalid and having another meeting held to replace it, to suggestions of getting a petition set up for gathering signatures of LWF Ratepayers who are in favour of removing the present 3 cent per $100 Area Rate that currently stands, and possibly replacing it with a new Area Rate Tax, one that could be used for the present program the money now goes to as well as to other programs in the community, if requested and approved by the LWFRA Board.
According to the Councillor, removing an Area Rate may not be easy, but it can be done. “There is no defined process to remove an Area Rate,” said Dalrymple when asked. “It can be done, absolutely;” he paused before continuing, “rarely has it been done, but yes, it can be done.”
When LWF residents attend the AGM’s, they have to vote to approve the budget for the next year. “In theory,” said Dalrymple, “if people did not vote in approval, then the Area Rate would not be allowed to continue. So it can be changed, but there is no defined process to do it.”
The Councillor said it would take a lot of serious convincing by rate paying residents for him to consider doing something so extreme. “It would take a combination of convincing the HRM and the Councillor that it (the present Area Rate Tax) should be discontinued,” said Dalrymple. “I would have to see an awful lot of convincing letters. But to answer the question, yes, it can be done.”
The Councillor said he would have to see a great deal of proof from LWF Ratepayers that they had tried everything possible to work the situation out, before he would consider looking into the removal and replacement of the present Area Rate Tax.
Information of when the postponed meeting between Dalrymple and the departments he is going to discuss the matter with will take place, will be posted on District2News.com as soon as it becomes available. No allegations have been made against any persons involved; Ratepayers say they simply want answers to their questions, and they want to see the detailed breakdown of what they are supporting and where their Tax dollars are being spent.
Just when I was thinking this situation could not become anymore confusing I read this article. My reading of this is our councillor is telling us to ‘suck it up there is nothing the taxpayers can do about the issues” of accountability, transparency, and control over our tax rates.
This is probably the truth whenever dealing with HRM, but lets not give up trying.
Barry H, our councillor is not saying to suck it up. He is stating the fact that the Ratepayers association is not run by the HRM therefore the matter may be difficult for HRM to step in.
Councillor Dalrymple is very much in favour of transparency in this association.
Yes he is, first of all the meeting has been delayed, likely in hope that the issue will be forgotten or people will give up out of frustration. However he is right in that the LFWRA Board needs to step up and show some leadership and RESOLVE the situation to the satisfaction of the Rate-payers that they serve. There is clearly a conflict of interest when an individual who holds responsibility as chairperson of the LFWRA and is influenced by their duties with the WJCC. There is only one solution to this problem and the board needs to acknowledge this and move forward for the betterment of all. We have already heard the alternative from the councillor, however maybe that is what needs to be done.
I can’t believe the residents are giving Councillor Dalrymple a free pass on this one. He does not want to upset the apple cart because his LWF Baseball Association probably benefits from this cozy relationship with the Windsor Junction Community Centre board. Talk about a closely controlled group. Barry Dalrymple is the Executive Director and Treasurer of LWF Baseball. How can someone serve as an executive director and treasurer of the same group and not have eyebrows raised.
I believe LWF Baseball gets money through the LWF ratepayers association. LWF President Sandra Carr was trying to get some accountability from the WJCC Board as to how the $100,000 per year is actually spent. Councillor Dalrymple supports a motion to effectively get rid of Sandra Carr as president of the LWF Ratepayers Association. One wonders what benefit there is to LWF baseball to ensure this backward way of taxing the residents of LWF stays unchanged.
Cheryl Newcombe becomes the President of the LWF Ratepayers Association and remains the head of the Windsor Junction Community Centre Board which apparently controls the funds of LWF. This is the person that it appears Sandra Carr was having trouble getting information from concerning the WJCC Board budget.
As a result of the way the events unfolded during the annual meeting Councillor Dalrymple surely cannot be given a free pass by the taxpayers. Furthermore Councillor Dalrymple now claims that his meeting with HRM has been postponed indefinately. One wonders if there ever was a meeting set up with HRM in the first place.
He wants us to believe that the LWF Ratepayers is a body that can tax the residents of LWF with almost no representation and little accountability and that their is nothing he as the elected councillor can do to change the process. What a fairy tale.
The article above states that, “Barry Dalrymple, Councillor for Waverley – Fall River – Beaver Bank, confirmed that the meeting which was originally supposed to take place sometime in January between himself, the HRM’s Legal Dept., and HRM’s Community Development Dept., — to discuss the details of the Dec. 6 LWF AGM – will have to wait, until a new date for the meeting can be set.”
During Counicllor Dalrymple’s term as councillor I have seen this type of situation occur far too frequently. Meetings are promised but never materialize.
Mr. Dalrymple has been a tireless volunteer in our area, serving on several community boards. That is to be commended. His is however, now the PAID councillor for this district and perhaps his continued involvement on so many volunteer boards helps explain why he can’t seem to get important meetings set up in a timely manner that are of major concern to his constituents.
At last count Mr. Dalrymple is listed in the Registry of Joint Stock Companies data base and in other publications under the following:
1. LWF Hardball Association
(a) Executive Director
(b) Treasurer
(c) Recognized Agent
(d) Umpire Assigner (Listed on his website)
2. Fall River & Riverlake District Lion’s Club
(a) Director
3. Fall River & Riverlake District Lion’s Club Xmas Express
(a) Director
(b) Treasurer
(c) Recognized Agent
4. Waverley Amateur Athletic Association
(a) Director
5. LWF Fire/Community Hall Board
(a) Secretary
(b) Treasurer
(c) Organizer of Pre-teen dances
From what I can see being Councillor for the area is obviously not a full time job. Either that or Mr. Dalrymples’ continued involvement at the Director and Board level in so many community associations could explain why he is often being quoted saying, “We’ll have to schedule the meeting for later,” when it comes to council business for his constituents.
That says nothing about the potential conflict of interest questions that can arise due to the boards he has remained on that would from time to time seek funding from HRM.
In terms of whether or not something could be done about the outrageous lack of due process at the recent LWF Ratepayers’ annual meeting our esteemed councillor had this to say:
“In theory if people did not vote in approval, then the Area Rate would not be allowed to continue. So it can be changed, but there is no defined process to do it.”
Sort of sounds like they same way the meeting was held……”No defined process.”
He goes on to say it would take a lot of serious convincing by rate paying residents for him to consider doing something so extreme. “It would take a combination of convincing the HRM and the Councillor that it (the present Area Rate Tax) should be discontinued.I would have to see an awful lot of convincing letters. But to answer the question, yes, it can be done.”
In short he passes the buck by saying he would have to see a lot of convincing letters. He attended the meeting and saw how things transpired. I can only concluded by his most recent comments that he saw nothing take place that he needs to get too upset about unless he gets a bunch of letters. Mr. Councillor, you either thought it was an inappropriately held meeting or you didn’t. Stand up and be counted and stop passing the buck. My guess, based, upon his most recent comments, is that we shouldn’t hold our breath to see when this meeting with various HRM departments will take place.
It amazes me that people might be willing to let our councillor so nonchalantly sweep this matter under the rug.
As I understand it the LWFA primary purpose is to provide recreation opportunities to the members, particularly our young. It does so by collecting a pretty sizable chunk of change through our municipal tax system.
We should be concerned that we do not do more harm than good as we address our concerns. There needs to be change in the way the LWF conducts its affairs. There is mounting frustration that the Board is incapable of bringing about that change OR the Board does not want to bring about change! Conflict of interest and accountablity issues are on the table and those are the right issues!
Before we lash out at others we should make sure we hold the right parties accountable. The Board that we elect has the authority and the power to make the changes that are required. They have chosen, for whatever reason to NOT bring about change. The accountability changes that are needed are not that difficult to achieve, and any Director who presents it as difficult is misleading us!! Why is that?
So before we mount a list of outside parties to blame. Lets start by holding these Board members accountable, they took on the responsibilities, they have let us down, they need to act and make change, and if they do not feel they are up to the requirements they should resign. So Board members– those are your choices.
Members if you want change start to demand better from those directors.
Yes, Barry Dalrymple is in a position to facilitate change. I think he should be doing more. Demanding changes to the tax rate might demonstrate our frustration, but it hurts the community severely, and is an act of desperation.
My guess is there is/are1 or 2 Board members who are road blocking the changes because it threatens their power or exposes their previous decisions to examination. Hopefully the remaining Board members can mount the necessary resources to eliminate the internal conflicts of interest, and bring about transparency and accountable.
Contact your Board member and ask for them to change things or resign!
as I understand it from the story problems began when the person who was elected to be the chairperson of the lwf ratepayer board was elected last year and requested accountability for ratepayers by asking the wjcc for a breakdown of the line items listed in the budget shown from the hrm. correct? after that chairperson was disqualified using the new bylaws, the same person who is the director or whatever for the wjcc got elected to take the disqualified chairpersons place as the new chairperson of the lwf board. correct? from the story i read I think part of the problem now is the same person controls both boards. right? is that person going to make themself be accountable to themself? or maybe the other people on those two boards will make the new chairperson show accountability? open your eyes. this is a done deal. people were clearly outsmarted and the lwf ratepayers are powerless to do anything about it. the hrm is obviously not interested in doing anything about it. the councilor says it’s a community problem so why is the hrm even involved? why do they bother to show a budget of line items if this community problem has nothing to do with them? i have been thinking about reasons why the hrm be not be interested in this and why the councilor might not be thrilled about pushing the envelope on it. if the lwf board is not running the way a board who oversees tax money should be running and if the hrm was ever shown not to know anything about how that board was operating and have allowed our tax money to be given out without knowing the details it leaves me wondering how many other community boards in the hrm are being run without any control or overseers to ensure accountablility too? the lwf board and the wjcc board are one thing but what would this make the hrm look like? the answer is useless. the cause closest to our councilors heart is lwf baseball. history shows it. don’t they get money from the wjcc program? take your blinders off and get with the program. you are wasting your good time fighting over this. suck it up and move on.
Someone reading this from afar might think that they have just stumbled across the last remnants of the wild west right here in Halifax County.
Let me get this straight.
The LWF Ratepayers Association gets about 20 people together each year to approve a tax that raises approximately $100,000 in revenues for use in the community.
The money is collected by HRM by way of property owners’ tax bills.
Once assessed the money is funnelled from HRM to the LWF Ratepayers Association and then finally through an organization known as the Windsor Junction Community Centre Board.
The Chair of the LWF Ratepayers Association that sets the tax people have to pay and gives the money to the WJCC board cannot get accountability from the WJCC Board as to how the money provided by the LWF Ratepayers Assocaition is spent. Even thought the chair of LWF is also a member of the WJCC board.
HRM collects the tax money through property tax bills it sends to the property owners in the LWF catchment area and then turns the money over to LWF Ratepayers Association. HRM staff and our area councillor Barry Dalrymple say there is nothing they can do about making the WJCC Board accountable for the roughly $100,000 it indirectly gives to the WJCC Board.
The obvious question is who has a fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayer?
Is there any wonder that spending at HRM has spiralled out of control.
I think we should get someone from a business school out here and document this situation. It would make a great case study for students that would highlight what happens when people in charge do not understand basic principles of accountability, conflict of interest, transparency, and the governance responsibilities of Boards.
If you read the notes from the Dec 6 annual meeting, the same names keep coming up in both the LWRA and WJCC. Based on my reading of those notes it appears Cheryl Newcombe was Treasurer of both organizations during 2008, but cannot produce information because of HRM and Privacy Act. That is hard for a person of my background and experience to believe. It is up to the treasurer to insure the processes/documents/ reports/ statements are available to fulfill the requirements of the job! It is no one else’s fault if they are not.
All I can say to “Not born yesterday ‘and “Too busy to do the job” that I am apalled that you first of all don’t have the guts to use your name in support of your feelings regarding Councillor Dalrymple’s response to the LWF situation and am equally apalled by your ignorance and lack of understanding of the councillors interaction with citizens groups; perhaps it is this ignorance that keeps you from identifying yourself.
I can tell you that Councillor Dalrymple was and is still a big supporter of Sandra Carr and was a driving force in the fight for accountability at the LWF. I was there and have been for years and my requests for accountability go way back and until others who want the same and get out to vote for a new executive and offer themselves for office then the democratic process will fail with or without the councillors support.
Gary
I have read the posts that you refer to in your latest letter.
You attack the posters, but like the councillor, don’t really address the issues that they raised except to say that you were also unable to get accountability for several years, presumably while you were councillor.
I could really care less who posts the emails as long as our elected representatives respond to the questions and issues raised. The posters may not fully understand the process as well as yourself and others that have been doing this for years but your type of personal attack does little to encourage them to come out and get involved as per your plea.
You should not be appalled by the average person’s lack of knowledge of the system. You should be more appalled that for years as councillor and MLA you were still not in a position to obtain information for your constituents on a matter of property taxes. If this is true the system needs changed immediately.
Not to be trite but regardless of how the process works, scheduling a meeting shouldn’t be too complicated.
As your experience in these matters seems to be more comprehensive than most ordinary citizens do you know of any other area of HRM where community members pay for swim programs, grass cutting and the like through an area rate set every year outside the general tax rate set by HRM.
Joanne Jordan: is it possible to post or provide a link to the old and the new bylaws of the LWFRA.
Could you also list the directors of the LWFRA Board , and the executive positions they hold. A similar list for the WJCC would be most beneficial.
Thanks
Does anyone know if any family member of the Board of LWFRA or the Board of WJCC was paid as an employee or as a contractor or as a student or whatever of LWFRA or WJCC in the last 3 years. What would be helpful is if the Treasurer would answer this question but that person apparently does not know because of the HRM or the privacy laws.
Mr Boyce stated:” do you know of any other area of HRM where community members pay for swim programs, grass cutting and the like through an area rate set every year outside the general tax rate set by HRM.”
What?? We are paying extra taxes for services that could be provided by HRM at no additional tax. Why???And we can get no answers about where our additional taxes are spent??? This situation is out of control. Shame, shame on our Board representatives. Directors,you should all be embarassed your inability to fulfill your responsibilities. Resign, please resign!!!!
So we are paying twice for the same service, once in the regular tax rate and thru a special area rate!!!
The next thing we will find out is that Board family members were getting paid to mow the grass!!!
Gary, I understand your frustration with people not identifying themselves. However at the end of the day it does not matter, its the expression of views that is important. I would also point out that there are many worthy organizations out there and just because someone is not active with LWFRA does not mean that they are not serving in their community.
The community relies on the people who volunteer (and get elected) to have integrity, to act in the best interest of the community, be transparent and accountable and fulfill their governance responsibilities. Every now and again there are a few bad apples who manipulate the power they were granted to the detriment of the community. It is not the communities fault individuals betrayed the trust placed in them — it is the individual. So lets not blame the members lets blame the individual(s) who betrayed our trust.
So where do we go from here. I am open to suggestions!
Most public corporations encourage their employees to be engaged and active in their community. But they always say you do so with integrity, fairness, openness and you do so in a way that does NOT negatively impact either the employee’s image or the image of the company. Avoid controversy is usually the thought.
Our community is deeply concerned about the lack of accountability, the secrecy, the apparent conflict of interests, and allegations of conspiracies at the Annual meeting, planting of non- members to rig the vote, etc. associated with the activities of the LWFRA.
You cannot get more unsavoury controversy going than this. I have heard from several people and I have read the notes associated with the annual meeting. There is definitely a perception and feeling among many that one individual (a non- member) was there to protect the status quo, and to insure the demands of the members for accountability and integrity were blocked by retaining the same leaders.
Surprisingly this individual works for an organization where integrity is spelt with capital letters. If this individual conducts their personal life in this manner what conclusions should we reach about their “professional” life. If the community has concerns about the integrity and fairness of this person can we trust them with other things?
And what does this say about the individual’s employer. They have an employee caught up in controversy involving the very issues that are critical to their success.
I think this individual should come clean and clearly spell our their relationships with the Board members, their role at the annual meeting, and what they knew in advance,,,, and given they were not a member what they were doing at the meeting advocating the things they advocated. If the individual decides to remain silent I guess perceptions become reality, for sure.
Maybe I will ask the Company involved for their code of ethics, while we await the response.
Not to say this is our situation but certainly something to think through.
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Here is the risk inherent in leadership: The greater the leader’s power, wealth, authority, and influence, the more likely the leader could succumb to ethical lapses and moral failings. The risk increases if the organization has a culture that lacks financial or managerial transparency and accountability, has insufficient checks and balances on executive power, and discourages criticism from subordinates or members. When a leader with a poorly developed ethical or moral sense ends up leading an organization with a culture that discourages ethical self-examination, a slow but perfect storm starts to form that demands compromise from all levels of leadership and eventually leads to catastrophic consequences.
Chris Banescu- an attorney, entrepreneur, and university professor
As chair of the Waverley Amateur Athletic Association, I would like to inform ” Too busy to do the job” that Councillor Dalrymple is a very active member of our board and will be a very important part of the board activity in 2010. Barry is not only a board member but is sitting as a non voting member because he is an elected official. Barry has brought us very close to a major accomplishment , construction of a regulation baseball field on the McDonald sports park. Finally because of his contribution as a baseball promotor and his work in council Waverley will get a facility that has long eluded us.
Gary
Who is eligible to serve on the Waverley Amateur Athletic Association Board and when are their meetings. I used to be involved raising funds by helping with a golf tournament years ago.
How does one get involved helping today.
Is it by invitation or can you simply volunteer.
Thanks
Updates coming from Councillor Barry Dalrymple tonight,, on District 2 News. Click back this evening for the latest information on……………..
In his article HOW IS YOUR CREDIBILITY author Abne Eisenberg states : “credibility is not something you physically possess, but rather a quality or trait imputed to you by others. .. From the moment you put out your shingle, your credibility in the community is activated…. credibility is an earned distinction — not one conferred by ink marks on a piece of paper….Credibility cannot be switched off and on.”
Every now and again things happen that do not make sense. If we remember there was a school board member, lets call her Peggy, who had an investment scam focused on a “tremendous” opportunity in Africa. A few of the notable fools who were scammed, for pretty significant $$$, resided in our community. Our Peggy is or was in jail for this Africa (mis)adventure Peggy might have had credibility at one time but she lost it.
One our local scammed fools went on to become an agent at an investment dealer. I always shook my head that someone who was so easily scammed over this Africa “opportunity” was qualified to advise others on how to invest their money. I wondered why any large investment dealer would even entertain employing someone with that history and image. So there is a credibility gap right from the start.
Now we have this same individual further degrading their image by engaging in activities, which many in the community believe were devious, and prevented the community from getting the accountability and transparency it so urgently wants. Many feel there is deception and are concerned about possible corruption in a community organization, and believe this individual ( a non member) conspired to prevent this issue from being addressed. Why, because friendship TRUMPS the needs of the community. Definitely a personal integrity issue. Even if members misunderstood this individual’s actions, they are left with a perception of a morally deficient person. Perceptions become reality.
Auhor Gwyn Teatro in her article Change & The Credibility Factor Sates: “The Thesaurus suggests that credibility is synonymous with trustworthiness, integrity and sincerity. I think that if these basic values are present, the chances of arousing the interest and respect of other people are pretty good.”
Apparently there are a few individuals at said Investment House more than a little concerned that our scammed individual has drawn unfavorable attention to themselves and the local offices. The general sentiment is that the individual’s reputation is a reflection of their reputation and they hope the individual is prepared to compensate them for any lost business. Remember as stated above Credibility cannot be switched on and off. One cannot say –well I may not have credibility in my community or my personal life but I do have credibility in my professional life.
Again I say to myself this does not make any sense. Why would an Investment House, which can only succeed if they have agents of impeccable qualification, character, and integrity, tolerate this kind of behavior from one of its own?
Then came the missing piece — I am told our scammed individual is a best buddy of the boss. Now does that create credibility for the individual or does it destroy credibility for the Investment House. Now we know why individuals at the investment house are upset! The old boss, best friend relationship raises it ugly head again.
I know one thing — neither this agent nor this Investment House will ever see any of my business. I must have absolute trust in the integrity of any firm managing my money. No buddy, buddy arrangement makes me feel comfortable. No investments in Africa for me! What is the first line of defense from a rogue agent— the supervisor!!!
And it is more than the issue of money. These organizations and their agents have a tremendous amount of your personal information. If there are concerns about credibility, about trust, about devious actions, about conspiracies, about friendship being paramount, I would be very concerned about my personal information being used to achieve other agendas. Now that is one risk I am not prepared to take.
Gwen Teatro goes on to state: “Here’s what I think it takes to earn credibility:
· I own up to being human and making mistakes. And, when I make mistakes, I apologize and then do my best to make amends.
Making excuses for the mistakes we make is simply unproductive and, well, not very attractive either. In general, we do not adversely affect our credibility when we make mistakes. We adversely affect our credibility when we try to cover them up, rationalize them away, or otherwise pretend that they didn’t happen.”
So what will our individual do. Set the record straight, apologize and make amends or look for more friends to continue the delusion in the hope their credibility can magically be switched back on.
Just fire them all and dissolve the association, give the money back to us poor suckers who get nothing for it and then we can get back to some semblance of normalcy.
Dear bloody god, what a shame you people have nothing better to do than get into cat fights over my money.
Give it back to me and I’ll decide where to put it. Maybe Haiti is appropriate. At least it would do some good.
You people on The Ratepayers association Baord need to all fired.
All people related to this mess are banned from future participation and a new generation of taxpayers needs to take over.
It is clear you do not represent OUR interests – only yours.
I thought I came to a community that cared about their neighbors. It would appear this is not correct.
Further, it is abundantly apparent that a little clique is trying run over the rest of us.
Time to get the pitchforks people.
Hey Boss ,give me a call. Time to put your money where your mouth is. We need help if the dictator is to fall.
Hi Steve,
The WAAA is a volunteer board that has existed many years and just 2 years ago I decided new blood and a boost of energy was needed so a board of 8 members took over the lease of the McDonald sports park and started a campaign to get a sports facility in the park. We meet at the call of the board chair to deal with on going issues, projects and funding requirements.We support the Cheema Club and the Shubenacadie Canal Commission. We are registered with joint stocks as well.
We will be meeting soon with a majorproject announcement and a community information meeting tenatively scheduled for March at the Waverley Legion.We will be expanding our board and developing sub committees.