The UNA runs our business via standing committees that must review materials before it is sent to the full board. This normally works fairly smoothly. However, this week our standing committees had to be cancelled due to a lack of quorum.
Two elected directors, (Laquin and Beyers) are out of the country at the moment and we knew well in advance that they would be absent. Unfortunately a UBC appointee sent in regrets at the last minute leading to us having to cancel the meetings as only elected directors Alexander, Zhou, and Menzies would have been in attendance. The appointed student director is named on the committee but in my two years on the board they have never attended the standing committees - the student reps almost always send their regrets or just don't turn up which increases the membership without providing any input of effort!
The standing committee of operations and of governance nominally have the elected directors (5) plus the student (1) and a UBC appointee (1) for a total of 7. That would mean quorum is 4.
It seems that we likely need to address the question of committee quorum as we do have two standing committees that have membership of two and three members. At the end of the day it is a shame that our work schedule for the Board has been deferred for a month. A slow and cumbersome process needs more attention and revisions to allow us to actually respond in a timely fashion to matters of concern.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Does Democarcy Matter for Good Governance?
(published in the Campus resident, Jan. 21, 2014)
Last month Director Beyers opined in the Campus Resident that the UBC was rather
like the Austro-Hungarian Empire and that as residents of the UNA we are like
the former citizens of Vienna; somewhat privileged pets living in a gilded
cage. In the same issue resident
Jim Taylor and Director Zhou showered praise on our current from of government,
yet added nothing that actually contradicted Director Beyer’s assessment of the
lack of real, effective, local democracy in the University Neighbourhoods Area.
I essentially agree with Beyer’s comment on the lack of
democracy here in the UNA.
However, I think the more apt analogy is Pinochet’s Chile. Why? First, the Pinochet dictatorship used the façade of the rule
of law to justify its actions (even as they summarily ignored the laws they
enacted).
More to the point, however, was the way in which Pinochet’s
government privatized much of Chile’s resources and used private corporations
to develop key services. Chile
under Pinochet piloted many of the economic measures that are now common:
deregulation of the economy, transfer of state property to the private sector,
the reduction of government services (except for enforcement agencies), and the
transfer of the management of public services to the private sector.
A third parallel involves the systematic silencing of
opposition. Under Pinochet’s rule opposition was silenced in a variety of ways.
The most persistent forms involved silent pressure and constant threats against
individual security. While one would be foolish to say the same thing exists
here at UBC, there is a parallel form of silent pressure that is exerted: the often-mentioned
‘nuclear clause’ in the Neighbours Agreement (see section 15.3-5). The Neighbours Agreement between UBC
and the UNA allows UBC to withdraw at almost any time if they feel the UNA is
not acting appropriately. Lurking
in the background is the constant threat that UBC will pull the plug. UBC, through its permanent appointed
directors, is able to monitor elected Directors. Through a combination of paternalistic reminders and
internal self-censorship, elected Directors are constantly aware that if they
deviate from UBC’s plan the entire UNA edifice may be taken over and any
semblance of autonomy removed.
An enhanced status quo, a la Jim Taylor, might improve some
of the perks Director Beyer suggests UNA residents might enjoy. It is clear
that under Pinochet a so-called economic miracle occurred that benefited large
corporations. The trains ran on
time and, as long as one was quiet, most people were able to live out their
lives relatively unmolested by the state.
I wonder though, is that really the type of society we want to live
within? Are we really willing to
give up democratic rights that people across our country and world have fought
for? Just for a gilded cage of privilege?
I think not. The time is right to move forward on a full
democratic reform of the UNA.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
UNA Board meeting, September 10, 2013
The September 10th UNA Board meeting was a quiet affair with barely a
half dozen folks in attendance observing. This was Director Erica
Frank's last official board meeting. Richard Alexander, UNA Chair,
thanked her and made a public presentation of a photo commemorating her
involvement in the UNA and the establishment of the skateboard park.
This meeting also marked the first official meeting for Lisa Colby,
acting VP-Planning and new UBC appointee to the UNA Board.
Below are my tweets and selected tweets from the Ubyssey News who faithfully attend most of our public meetings. As per usual, please read from bottom up for chronological order.
Below are my tweets and selected tweets from the Ubyssey News who faithfully attend most of our public meetings. As per usual, please read from bottom up for chronological order.
-
Meeting adjourned#UNA -
Currently debate over how much the#UNA should have to pay for storm/waste water services -
UBC Director speaks to the billing process and practices linked to storm water expenses incurred by the
#UNA -
@charlesmenzies that was my perspective, not something said by anyone (aside from me) in the discussion.#UNA -
Carbon reduction would be better dealt with by reduced building then focussing on saving household energy in the
#UNA -
-
Lisa Colby, UBC rep on
#UNA board, pushes back on word 'policy' goes for 'guidelines.' Motion passes as proposal to develop guidelines. -
@UbysseyNews and, I hope, in adjoining areas. -
#UNA also wants to regulate lighting in their neighbourhoods -
Menzies: if he wasn't a respectable member of the community, he would be lobbing paintballs at signs around the UNA#UNA -
Now my motion on
#UNA area viewscapes - billboards and signs. -
Now a motion to improve an implementation plan for the noise bylaw#UNA -
@UbysseyNews yet again. -
Menzies: happy with new pavement on roundabout, but says cars still speed through and there is little RCMP presence#UNA -
Menzies says C+CP needs to do an involved study of traffic around campus#UNA -
Beyer says there are noise issues in the Axis building in Chancellor place. Asks whether it is up to UBC or the UNA to deal with it#UNA -
Campus Planning report - Director Beyer asking questions about issues with a UBC Building adjoining, but not in the
#UNA area. -
Erica Frank wants air travel included in UBC's emission plan. BUt, does the
#UNA have anything to say over air travel CO2 emissions? -
Erica Frank is giving a leaving office 6 year recap & extended thank you
#UNA -
Richard Alexander thanks Erica Frank who is leaving the
#UNA board after serving 3 terms. -
Last board meeting of the 2012-2013
#UNA board meeting. AGM on the 18th of Sept. -
@UbysseyNews nice to have you here :) -
Board
#UNA meeting (local gov't at UBC) starts!
Ubyssey News
charlesmenzies
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)