BARRHEAD - The County of Barrhead is suspending its annual contribution to the Barrhead and District Historical Society and suggests that its municipal counterpart, the Town of Barrhead, do the same.
County manager Debbie Oyarzun told councillors during their April 16 meeting that she had e-mailed the society's board to inform them that she had decided not to release the municipality's contribution.
"It has come to my attention that there are some concerns regarding the historical society board," Oyarzun said, adding the concerns did not come from the board itself. "Public members who have attended board meetings, just as observers including some elected officials."
As part of its 2024 budget, the municipality has set aside just under $5,000 for the society.
The society runs the Barrhead Centennial Museum and was also the caretaker of St. Mary Abbots Anglican Church (also known as the Pioneer Memorial Church).
The historic church near Thunder Lake burned to the ground in a fire, believed to be arson, in early December.
She added that she also started to have misgivings after reading copies of the society's meeting minutes.
Oyarzun said she asked for the minutes and any financial or policy documents the organization had while helping the society's board update its bylaws so she could better understand the museum's challenges and its board and learn how they operated.
She also noted that she had further opportunity to work with the board when the society applied for the firefighting bill for the previously mentioned fire.
"In reviewing the minutes, several questions came up regarding their governance procedures," Oyarzun said, adding that staff also informed her of an advertisement in the Town & Country This Week expelling two board members, which she said gave her further misgivings.
"When I hear from the public and see things in the minutes and the newspaper, I wonder what is happening."
In the e-mail to the historical society board, she also stated that the organization's policies were "extremely outdated and lacking in many areas". Oyarzun also said it wasn't clear if the board had followed their current policies and bylaws.
"That is taxpayer's money, and I believe we are doing our due diligence to find out what is happening with the governance of that board before we release those funds to them," she said, suggesting that they should tell the Town of Barrhead to delay giving their contribution to the society. "At least until they understand the governance situation at the board level."
However, Oyarzun said it is up to council to decide whether to suggest that to their municipal counterparts.
In the 2024 budget of the Town of Barrhead, $10,000 was earmarked for the society.
Reeve Doug Drozd asked if the town had a council representative on the historical society board.
Oyarzun said no, stating the society's bylaws do not permit elected official representation.
"One of the things I was working on [a historical society board subcommittee] with was expanding [the board's membership] to include an elected official or an administrative representative from both the town and county," she said.
In December 2021, then-historical society president Anna Churchill invited a councillor to join their board in a letter to the Town of Barrhead council. Council declined.
Oyarzun said the town and county also received a request from a resident to attend the historical society's annual general meeting (AGM) on April 25.
Drozd asked what the potential ramifications were if councillors attended the meeting.
Oyarzun replied, saying anyone was welcome to attend the AGM, noting it was a public meeting and there was no expectation of joining the society.
"I will be attending as an observer," she said. I want to see first-hand the governance structure and dynamics of the board and the relationship between the board and the general membership."
Multiple councillors also voiced their intention to attend the meeting.
Town & Country This Week did not hear back from the historical society board before press time.
