The volunteers remaining on the board for The Blue Mountains Attainable Housing Corporation left the organization yesterday, leaving the town to run the corporation.
The housing corporation held its annual general meeting at the L.E. Shore Library on Dec. 14. At the meeting the volunteer members of the corporation’s board of directors stepped down from their positions.
This left just Mayor Andrea Matrosovs and Coun. Shawn McKinlay in their spots as municipal representatives on the board. Volunteer directors Gavin Leitch, Patrick Gourlay, Janet Findlay, Michael Schaefer, Carolyn Letourneau and Andrew Siegwart all chose not to seek reelection to the board.
In anticipation of this possibility, The Blue Mountains council had already passed a resolution approving the appointment of five town staff members to the housing corporation’s board of directors to run the operation temporarily. The town plans a revamp and redefinition of the housing corporation’s role and responsibilities over the next six months. The staff appointments are to end on June 30, 2024.
Town CAO Shawn Everitt will be one of the staff directors, along with Sam Dinsmore, the town’s acting director of finance and treasurer. Other appointments will be announced in the near future.
Leitch, the outgoing chair of the corporation’s board of directors, thanked his colleagues for their services to the community.
“Certainly it has been an interesting journey, one that has not been easy,” said Leitch. “But I think there are positives that have come out of this.”
Matrosovs and Everitt also thanked the outgoing directors for their services to the community.
“Before I was appointed to the board, I recognized your dedication and heartfelt desire to improve our community,” said Matrosovs. “I’m warmed by the fact that each and every one of you contributes to our community.”
Everitt expressed gratitude for the “time, energy and commitment” that volunteer directors put into the job.
“This group was trying to do what was the best for the community,” said Everitt. “Blue Mountains Attainable Housing Corporation is a really needed piece for our community. It’s going to be an interesting six months as to where we go.”
Siegwart thanked Leitch for his work as chair of the board.
“The Blue Mountains is lucky to have you as a champion,” said Siegwart.
The future of the housing corporation has been in limbo since the proposed Gateway attainable housing project on town-owned land on King Street didn’t move forward. Since that time, the town has been pondering the future role of the housing corporation.
