The question of who will foot the bill when Santa comes to town has not yet been resolved, according to a press release from Key West Ford.
Key West, which has been a sponsor of the Hyack Association’s Santa Claus Parade in the past, is still trying to determine who is running the show and where things stand with the organization before committing to funding the event.
The announcement from Key West comes on the heels of another tumultuous week for the association.
Five board members resigned on Tuesday prior to a special general meeting that was then cancelled by president Gavin Palmer. However, a group of 25 members still met Tuesday and voted out Palmer, vice-president Alan Wardle and treasurer Gloria Munro, and voted to raise the organization’s borrowing limit from $25,000 to $100,000.
The Hyack dispute has been ongoing since July 31, when Palmer and his supporters fired former executive director Douglas Smith without the knowledge of the board.
Smith was later rehired but eventually left with a wrongful dismissal settlement. Two Hyack sponsors – the Uptown Property Group and Royal City Centre – dropped their support in the wake of his departure.
Palmer sent a press release to The Record on Thursday, which was published in full in our Friday edition, stating that the meeting was not legitimate and he was still president. The press release also stated the vacancies left by the five resignations have been filled by Peter Goodwin, Glen Richmond, Gerda Suess and Ken McIntosh (whose wife Betty McIntosh is a city councillor).
The new board has established a financial advisory committee “to assure the continuation of its 42 years (sic) success record.”
The press release promised the annual Hyack Santa Claus Parade of Lights would go on with the help of sponsorship from Key West Ford.
However, Adam Isfeld, general manager of Key West Ford Sales, sent the following message to The Record on Friday morning:
“It is my understanding that there is some confusion around our involvement with the New Westminster Santa Parade put on by the Hyack Association. Please allow me to make things clear. Effective Oct. 25, Key West Ford's sponsorship of the Hyack Association is on hold pending the resolution of two conditions:
1. We must receive third party confirmation as to who is legally running the Hyack Association. As it stands currently this is unclear.
2. The city needs to weigh in with their views on this matter, as they are the largest stakeholder and we respect the leadership coming out of city hall. Thus far through this tumultuous Hyack situation, they have taken an unbiased, neutral position as we have.
It's hard to be Switzerland when you have a scenario as we have seen come about. Key West Ford is here to enhance, assist and be involved in this wonderful community of ours. We have no desire to be involved in anything resembling a political landscape.”
- with files from Niki Hope.
