THE effectiveness of the Collie Chamber of Commerce is under the spotlight after the majority of its executive committee including the president and treasurer resigned.
According to chamber chief executive Richard Jackson, 10 of the 14 members of the executive committee stepped down, meaning it does not have the minimum number required to function.
In a statement sent to members, Mr Jackson said the chamber had experienced significant challenges during the last eight months and it was impacting the effectiveness of the organisation.
“There has been a division in the executive committee that has made it unworkable,” he said.
“A level of disagreement is healthy in any organisation, but it needs to be communicated in a constructive and respectful manner.
“In this case, a group of individuals have caused such discontent amongst the executive committee that the majority of the group, including the president and treasurer have resigned.”
Mr Jackson said once the 2015 financial accounts had been finalised and audited, an annual general meeting would be held and a new executive would be elected.
This is expected to happen within the next two months.
“In the intervening period, [administration manager] Rebecca [Woods] and I will continue to maintain the day-to-day operations of the chamber and to represent our 160 members to the best of our ability,” Mr Jackson said.
The remaining members of the executive committee say there is indeed enough members left for a quorum - a key sticking point is legitimacy of one of the resignations.
The group claim there are at least five remaining members in Darcy Buckle (acting president), Nick Smargiassi, David Churches (acting secretary), Marc Bernardi and Peter Hall. Mr Hall previously handed in his resignation, before later rescinding it.
Mr Jackson said the resignations were final and because he accepted Mr Hall’s letter was, there was no quorum.
Mr Buckle disputed this, saying the committee was the only group that could formally accept a resignation.
“Richard Jackson did not have approval from the Collie Chamber executive committee to send the letter he did on June 26,” he said.
Mr Buckle said it was Mr Jackson’s job to put forward the committee’s requests and he had not been doing so.
“The executive committee does have a quorum as per rule 11 in our constitution,” he said.
“In an executive committee meeting held on June 29, a motion was passed to stand all the staff at the Collie Chamber of Commerce down on full pay while an investigation is taken out on the current difficulties at the chamber.
“The chamber will have an administrator and temporary staff in the interim.
“The executive committee has no intention of letting Richard Jackson operate the chamber without a committee as he states he will in his unauthorised letter.
“The business of the chamber shall be managed by a management committee as stated in Rule 7 of our constitution.”
The conflict between the two groups is believed to have escalated when the executive committee requested a copy of Mr Jackson’s employment contract and it was revealed he did not have one. Mr Buckle questioned whether or not Mr Jackson was the right man for the job.
“We want a chief executive who works for Collie and lives in Collie; who acts on the advice of his committee,” Mr Buckle said.
While Mr Jackson admitted he had no employment contract, he said there were other major issues that had arisen.
“I have received reports alleging threats and intimidation of executive members,” he said.
“There has been an alleged act of bullying/harassment against a staff member, which has led the staff member to lodge a complaint with the Fair Work Commission who has now commenced an investigation.
“As CEO I have joined the complaint, in support of our staff member.
“The FWC complaint has led to the chamber receiving a letter from lawyers acting for the respondents to the investigation, denying any wrongdoing and demanding, amongst other things, that the chamber pays their legal costs.”
