Museum Board accedes to call for special meeting

(Midland Free Press online version)

by Douglas Glynn

“The Huronia Museum Board of Directors has acceded to a request from members to call a special meeting to discuss the museum’s future course and the circumstances surrounding the dismissal of director-curator Jamie Hunter.

The meeting will be held Sunday, Feb. 24 at 1 p.m. at the museum.

Board chair Tom Barber said the meeting will be divided into two parts.

The first part will focus on providing members with details of the Board’s position on the future of the museum, plans for expansion, the feasibility and strategic planning studies, and an update of the business plan.

The second part of the meeting will deal with five resolutions from lawyer Rod Ferguson, who spearheaded the campaign for the special meeting to discuss what he described as the concerns of members about the museum’s future direction, and Hunter’s dismissal.

One of Ferguson’s resolutions calls for Barber to vacate the chair and that John Gammell act as chairman of the meeting.

The others ask that the Board provide members with a written report on the short-and-long-term changes in direction contemplated for the museum, and written explanations concerning Jamie Hunter’s dismissal and what plans, if any, exist for a replacement curator.

Ferguson has also called for a debate and vote on the board’s deaccession plans and a vote on whether the membership has confidence in the board.

In addition, he is wants a vote on the question of rescinding the dismissal of Jamie Hunter and re-appointing him (provided Hunter releases the corporation from any claims, save for lawyer’s costs). He also wants a vote on amending the corporation’s bylaws to specify that the appointment or termination of the curator (director) can be done only by a vote of the members of the museum called for that purpose, with the advice of the board.”