Lighthouse interim GM: ‘We do not intend to resign’

The Lighthouse Supported Living Shelter’s board of directors isn’t going anywhere.

In a statement, interim co-general manager Jerome Hepfner said: “Our board is not violating the non-profit act (and) The Lighthouse is meeting its registration requirements. We do not intend to resign.”

According to Lighthouse member and volunteer Sandra Lazar, the 45-person membership recently voted nearly 60 per cent in favour of the entire board of directors resigning.

Lazar claimed the board has not kept the membership informed about what’s happening on a day-to-day basis at the shelter. She also said the directors aren’t qualified to run the facility and they were acting in violation of the non-profit act.

“I totally believe that people that have pretty much seconded those positions and removed all the other key people in The Lighthouse, they are incompetent to manage an organization that is so interdependent on mental health services …,” Lazar said. “Having key people working with each other in the Lighthouse, there’s none of that. They’re gone.

“I really don’t know what’s going on there at this point.”

However, Hepfner’s statement said the membership has been kept aware of ongoing proceedings regarding the management and operations at the facility.

“Further, the membership has been made aware that the leadership is working with the Lighthouse main funding and operational partners to ensure the continuity of its services,” the statement read.

Hepfner also said the board of directors had been acting ethically, morally and professionally, in contrast to Lazar’s claims.

The Saskatoon shelter has been plagued by issues over the last several months, including thousands of dollars in fines for dozens of fire code violations dating back nearly one year. Several prominent directors and managers at the facility were fired in early February, and the board of directors took over management of the building.

The reasons for the abrupt leadership change have not been made public.