CORNWALL, Ontario – The SD&G Historical Society was intensely questioned by Cornwall City Council during a presentation at the Monday, Feb. 26 Council meeting.
The presentation was made by Sue Holland-Lalonde, Chair of the SD&G Historical Society Board and Marc Denhez, a legal counsel who was retained by the Historical Society.
During the presentation, Holland-Lalonde readily admitted that there had been controversy over this past winter regarding the governance of the Historical Society and the Cornwall Community Museum. Denhez said that these problems arose because the by-laws governing the museum were unhelpful when dealing with issues of personnel and governance. Denhez had been retained in part to re-write the museum’s by-laws to meet provincial standards.
When former Curator Ian Bowering decided to retire, several issues arose around his retirement and replacement.
Councillor Claude McIntosh raised the issue of there being an exit agreement for Bowering, essentially a payout. Denhez assured that this was normal for an organization of the character of the museum.
Holland-Lalonde stated that the museum received an unsolicited application from a member of the public to replace Bowering, but that the Museum Board did not seek outside applicants for the job as they wanted an internal employee, Don Smith, to fill that role.
Don Smith is currently the Manager and Associate Curator at the museum.
Council questioned this hiring process, but Denhez asserted that the museum did nothing illegal.
Councillor David Murphy questioned the choice of not having a full-time curator and asked if this choice would put funding applications at risk.
In a conversation with media after the council presentation former SD&G Historical Society President Christopher Penney gave the analogy that it was like the difference between an Associate Professor and a full professor, that the title is different, but the ability to apply for funding is the same.
It was emphasized that Smith had nearly three years of museum experience and training passed along to him by Bowering.
Councillor Claude McIntosh also questioned Holland-Lalonde on the matter of membership to the Historical Society. He pointed out that his own application was rejected. Cornwall Mayor Leslie O’Shaughnessy said that he had also applied for membership but has yet to hear if it was accepted.
Holland-Lalonde assured Councillor McIntosh that the rejection of his membership was rejected due to a misunderstanding and that if he re-applied, he would likely be accepted.
Councillor Maurice Dupelle questioned as to why only members of the Historical Society could attend the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and vote on the society’s new by-laws. When asked by Seaway News if, as an organization that receives $100, 000 of Cornwall taxpayer money if the media and members of the public should be allowed to attend the AGM, Holland-Lalonde said that the Museum Board would be meeting next week and will discuss the issue.
The AGM is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 31 at the Museum, but the venue maybe changed as it might not be adequate to fit all those in attendance.
As for the issue of membership, Holland-Lalonde assured that applications for membership will be reviewed prior to the AGM and that all were welcome to apply for membership but said that “we have the right to refuse membership if we have evidence that they would be unsuitable.”
She pointed to the case of one former board member who was kicked out of the Society after an alleged personal issue with Bowering that was not expanded on.
Councillor Andre Rivette said that he was not convinced that these governance issues were adequately resolved and asked for a report from Administration on the museum. Mayor Leslie O’Shaughnessy warned of two occasions where municipal funding was withdrawn from boards who had similar governance issues.
As stated, the City of Cornwall provides $100,000 in funding for the museum. Holland-Lalonde stated that if that funding were withdrawn, they would also lose $8,000 in provincial funding and the museum would have to reduce hours.
Councillor Elaine MacDonald brought up however that the Historical Society reported a $60,000 budget surplus. When asked by Seaway News where that money came from, if it was in the budget for the Historical Society or for the museum, and if that money came from city taxpayers if it would be repaid, Denhez replied to all that they did not know at this time.
