North Grenville Times

Run Date: August 22, 2024

Dear Editor,
As a concerned resident of North Grenville, I am compelled to address the alarming lack of
transparency and accountability surrounding the proposed land disposition by the Ferguson
Forest Centre (FFC) and the North Grenville Council. Despite repeated requests, the FFC
executive board has failed to provide evidence of grant submissions, loan applications, or
the rationale behind their refusal to pursue charitable status.
Adding to these concerns, several private citizens have approached me, offering to fund an
independent financial audit of the FFC. This raises the question: if all the i's were dotted and
t's crossed, why is the FFC unable to provide this critical information?
On June 27th, I submitted an investigative report to the NG Council that included these
pressing questions, yet no response has been provided to date:
1. Are there any legal or council ramifications for the non-disclosure of
information regarding the active land acquisition?
2. Has the FFC genuinely pursued all possible funding avenues, including grants,
donations, sponsorships, and volunteer programs?
3. Why has the FFC not applied for charitable organization status despite
recognizing its benefits?
4. How is the Vice President actively pursuing a crown land purchase when the
FFC he represents is running a $2 million shortfall and not returning a profit
this fiscal year?
5. Why was there no requirement for the FFC to seek a professional organization
to complete an organizational audit before asking our Municipal staff to
complete a Staff Report on the feasibility of the land disposition request?
6. Why are there no FFC Annual General Meeting minutes or financials available
to the public? The Mayor and Doreen O’Sullivan both sit on the Board as
representatives of North Grenville, yet none of this information is accessible nor
questioned.
7. Why did the Executive Directors not disclose to their Board that they were
meeting with me?
Additionally, there is a lack of clear timelines and dates provided for these actions, as well
as no evidence of any denied grant or loan submissions—information that should be readily
available if the FFC had genuinely pursued these options.
Given these unanswered questions and the lack of transparency, I urge the North Grenville
Council to halt the FFC land disposition process and conduct a thorough, independent
investigation. Our community deserves clear answers and responsible stewardship of our
public resources.
Heather Popazzi, North Grenville Resident