Chamber elects new directors

While a tie still has to be resolved over who will be the ninth director elected and who will be an alternate, the 10 finalists in the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce’s recent election were named Tuesday.
They include, in alphabetical order, Wanda Barker (Super 8), Barb Cournoyer (TD Canada Trust), Lillian Gerley (The UPS Store), Bev Kotnik (Good Impressions Printing), Krista Mauro (RBC Royal Bank), Leo Melanson (B93•FM), Kevin Nielson (Shoppers Drug Mart), Pam Parsons (Enterprise Rent-a-Car), Anne Renaud (Confederation College), and Paul Sunstrum (Canadian Tire).
Chamber manager Dawn Booth explained Tuesday that two of those elected are tied for votes, and the Chamber executive has decided to contact other Chambers of Commerce to find out what they’ve done in the past to resolve ties.
They expect to have a solution in the next few days.
“We’ve never had it happen, and there’s nothing in our bylaw that spells out how to handle a situation like this,” noted Booth. “Nobody knows what to do.”
Booth added the Chamber is refraining from naming exactly which pair tied for ninth.
“However we’re going to figure out the tie, the first nine are going to be directors and the other person is going to sit as an alternate, so essentially they’re all going to be on the board anyway,” she remarked.
“Just one will not have a vote.”
Despite the slight snag with the tie, Booth said the election—the Chamber’s first in at least 10 years—has been a positive experience.
A total of 15 people were listed on the ballot that was sent out to members back on Nov. 29. The Chamber membership then returned their ballots to the Chamber office on Scott Street by last Friday (Dec. 7).
Booth said a total of 71 ballots were returned, representing about 42 percent of the Chamber membership.
“We had a good response from the start when that many people put their names forward to run,” she said.
“And then we had a really good response from our Chamber members, who actually filled out ballots and returned them, which is unusual.”
The newly-elected directors won’t take their seats until Jan. 1.
The current board of directors consists of Cournoyer, Kotnik, Nielson, Parsons, Kelly Spicer (Curves for Women), Jeff Wright (Wright Physiotherapy), Stephen Kontzie (RBC), and John Kantola (Confederation College).
The latter four did not seek re-election while a fifth director, Brian Kahler, resigned back in June.
The Chamber’s executive, which is staying the same as last year, consists of president Christine Denby, first vice-president Cathy Emes, second vice-president Nancy Daley, treasurer Janet Plumridge, and past-president Gary Rogozinski.
Board appointees also remain the same, including Geoff Gillon (RRFDC), Patti Anderson (BIA), Christine Jourdain (Couchiching First Nation), and Jane Gillon (MNDM).
The board is awaiting a new appointee from the Town of Fort Frances.
Council has agreed the seat, previously held by former councillor Tannis Drysdale, will be filled after the Jan. 14 byelection.