In late 2008, Central Cariboo residents' gave consent, via counter-petition, to establishing the Central Cariboo Arts and Culture Function
In 2009 & 2010 - residents' in Electoral Areas D & E have raised constant concerns about this Function - how it was established and how local First Nations (Williams Lake & Soda Creek) can access funding from this Function but yet they (First Nations') do not pay into this Function, via a contribution contract with the Cariboo Regional District
At last night's (Wednesday) Central Cariboo Joint Committee meeting, the Joint Committee considered a late request from Graham Kelsey, President of the newly-established Central Cariboo Arts and Culture Society (CCACS) for approval of $30,000 to cover the period of August 1st to December 31st, 2010. The Society was formed in July of this year, consistent with the Joint Committee's earlier decision to have a Society operate the Central Cariboo Arts and Culture Function
Also at Wednesday's Joint Committee meeting, the Joint Committee was considering the 2011 Business Goals for the local Arts & Culture Function
The proposed Business Plan for Aug-Dec 2010 for the new CCACS was:
1. To discuss with the City of Williams Lake access to and management of the Central Cariboo Arts Centre.
2. To make banking arrangements with a financial institution.
3 To define the membership of the Society and a membership fee structure (at present the only members are the five founding Directors) in accordance with the criteria established by the Working Group.
4. To identify and appoint four additional Directors in accordance with the recommendations of the Working Group.
5. To develop a communications plan.
6. To develop working policies for the operation of the Society.
7. To begin the development of a full business plan for 2011
8. To hire a Coordinator
9. To provide funding for some arts and culture activities in the October through December period.
This request I should add was submitted on July 14th and was tabled with all members of the Central Cariboo Joint Committee (7 Members of WL City Council & CRD Directors' for Electoral Areas D, E, F, J and K) the night before the meeting. Given the request is complex, certainly an emergency meeting in July or August could have been scheduled and not on the same night that the 2011 Business Goals for the entire Central Cariboo Arts and Culture Function. Now, I should be able to see in early October, when the minutes of Wednesday's Joint Committee meeting are available, what the Joint Committee did with the CCACS request. I should add that I don't have an issue with the CCACS's Business Plan Goals #1-7 for Aug-Dec 2010 however Goals 8+9 should not proceed until they've (CCACS) met with the public and that the CCACS has a stable governance model in place before Goal #9 (Funding of some Arts and Culture activities) In addition, I have a serious problem when the CCACS proposes that the adjudication panel consist of 2 CCACS Directors' which is a conflict of interest in my mind. Far better that members of this adjudication panel certainly have experience in the Arts and Culture Sector (of which we have many in Williams Lake) but have no direct/indirect connection to the CCACS
Goals 8+9 should be deferred until the CCACS talks to the public with the local politicians to let people know what is happening with the local Arts and Culture Function otherwise I am left to conclude that our local politicians are in it for themselves and not serving the public interest, like they're supposed to. I had plans to discuss this with City Councillor Laurie Walters, Williams Lake Council's "Arts and Culture Liaison" but evidently has chosen not to reply to my emails - likely because I have been critical of her political performance in the past. This is no excuse and I feel quite strongly that you serve the entire public and not those who are friendly to you. This is why politics is referred to as public service because you aren't supposed to pick and choose which emails from the public you respond to - if you are in local government, you are supposed to respond to all emails/phone calls because all of them are supposed to be important. This criticism also applies to City Councillor Sue Zacharias and Mayor Cook. If you want to get an answer from City Councillors - talk/email to Surinder Rathor, Geoff Bourdon or Natalie Hebert. They provide the public with an answer (email/phone call), regardless of who sends the email or calls
If you want a full copy of this late report to the Joint Committee - please contact me at sforseth000@hotmail.com and I'll be glad to forward you a copy of it
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