The Special General Meeting (SGM) held on Sunday was well attended and was we are pleased to report that all three items on the agenda were passed with unanimous support. They are as follows:
New Constitution: A new Constitution was discussed with members. There was useful discussion about some aspects of the draft that was proposed, which were discussed by members present. The revised constitution was adopted subject to the amendments discussed and agreed. The Constitution is on this website or can be viewed HERE.
Sub-lease for the library building: A sub-lease was offered to the Library Trust, based on terms that had been agreed in principle at a meeting between the R & R and the Trust. The Sub-lease offer was subject to our members’ approval, which is a necessary step before any agreement can be concluded.
However, at the time of the SGM the Library Trust had not yet indicated its acceptance of the Sub-lease. The opportunity was nevertheless taken to obtain members’ approval as to the form and content of the documents, and these were approved.
The terms of the sub-lease are very favourable to the Library Trust including providing security of tenure, no rent being charged, and accompanied by a Maintenance Agreement whereby the R & R agrees to assist the Trust with fundraising to meet the usual maintenance obligation that falls on an occupier or tenant.
If the Sub-lease is accepted by the Trust, the agreement can be readily finalised. In that event we could expect to look forward to a constructive relationship with the Trust into the future.
Library Chattels transfer: The R&R Committee’s endeavours to establishing a working relationship with the Trust led the Committee to propose, and recommend to our members, that the chattels in the community library building should be transferred to the ownership of the Trust. This recommendation was accepted by our members and a resolution was passed accordingly. Formal steps will be taken to implement this.
This resolution should result in the validation of the Trust’s chattels insurance policy, and importantly also resolve the difficulties that have existed between our organisations over the insurance costs.
The significance of this expression of goodwill was applauded by our members, and particularly recognised in an unsolicited motion presented from the floor, praising the R&R for it’s positive actions in trying to resolve the differences between the Association and the Piha Community Library Trust.