More members of the Hamilton Farmers’ Market Board of Directors have resigned in protest of plans to privatize the Market.
The resignations occurred in February. The Board no longer has enough members quorum, with both March and April meetings cancelled.
Board Chair Elly Bowen and Treasurer Wilf Arndt resigned in early February following a February 2, 2022 Council vote to hire a fourth consultant, at a cost of $100,000, to review the Market with a stated intention of privatizing the facility prior to this October’s municipal election. [City Hall uses the term “partnership” with the private sector.]
Members of the Board declined to comment regarding the resignations. A new stricter code of conduct states citizen members are not to speak to journalists [Rule 9] with the exception of the Chair. The Market Board is without a Chair.
A spokesperson for the City of Hamilton says a special meeting of City Council will be held on April 6 to review membership requirements “to ensure that the board can continue to meet and carry out its business”.
The City has not updated the Board of Directors membership list.