FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – The chair of the North Peace Cultural Society says it needs 12 months’ notice before ending its relationship with the City of Fort St. John.
A letter sent to the NPCS on June 11th stated the city does not want to renew the Management Services Agreement that expired on November 30th, 2020.
Connie Surerus, Chair of the North Peace Cultural Society, referred to a section of the Cultural Services Agreement in a letter sent to the City of Fort St. John on Friday.
Section 16, Termination without Reason, states that either party may, without reason terminate this Agreement upon 12 months’ notice to the other party.
“The City of Fort St. John was responsible for initiating a new agreement and allowing time for negotiations prior to the Cultural Services Agreement expiring on November 30, 2020,” says Surerus in a letter to the Chief Administrative Officer.
“This should have started in June 2020 to provide enough time for negotiations, finalize terms and conditions, and sign a new agreement before November 30, 2020. This did not happen and if the City of Fort St. John did not intend to renew the agreement, you should have issued the 12 months’ notice at that time.”
Surerus says the media release on June 15th has caused uncertainty and anxiety to the various NPCC user groups, staff, and board members.
“We ask Mayor and Council to reconsider their decision and allow negotiations to continue in good faith, otherwise, 12 months’ notice needs to be issued.”
