There was lots of discussion by Brighton council about its relationship with the Brighton Cramahe Chamber of Commerce Monday.
Recently council voted to have staff work toward a service agreement with the Chamber to run a tourist booth at Presquile Park with the stipulation that a member of council sit on the Chamber’s Board of Directors.
The chamber then explained to council that the organization’s by-laws did not permit a council member to sit on the board and wanted council to formally recognize it as a separate organization and not a part of the council’s economic development department.
Monday night, council eventually supported a motion acknowledging the chamber’s autonomy adding it wanted to maintain a good working relationship.
However, council removed a part of the original motion put forward by councillors Jeff Wheeldon and Emily Rowley that would have council affirm that having a member sit on the chamber’s board was not a precondition for establishing service agreements.
Wheeldon said some on council felt it important to be on the chamber’s board as had been the case over many years.
“We can still at this point have service agreements, and if we end up saying we won’t do it unless we get this voting membership on the board then they’ll just say OK you don’t get it then.”
Wheeldon said he was surprised at the amount of discussion about what he considered a straightforward “housekeeping” motion, however, history and personalities were involved.
In the area, the Prince Edward County Chamber of Commerce has a council member on its board of directors while the Quinte West and Belleville chambers of commerce do not.
However, Belleville council does maintain a contract with the chamber to run several high profile community events each year.
Brighton councillor Jeff Wheeldon. (Photo: Facebook)
