The board of the Mountain View Seniors' Housing (MVSH) will be presented with a recommendation on Sept. 22 on what type of governance structure the agency should adopt for its future.The recommendation follows the recent public release of a 17-page report and review by partnering municipalities across the Mountain View area.Although the review does recommend the board consider either a for-profit Municipal Services Corporation model or a not-for-profit foundation, the final choice will come down to the one that best fits the agency's long-term goals outlined in its Strategic Plan Framework, approved by the board on July 28.ìThe governance model we select should match the wider vision we have,î said Sam Smalldon, the chief administrative officer for MVSH. ìWe are looking at all (governance) options, including those in the report. The issue of profit or not for profit will be part of the analysis and recommendation to the board. We will be exhaustive in all options.ìThe report (review) is information only, good research,î added Smalldon. ìAnd it is a good basis for our own review. We will do our review and make a recommendation at the September meeting.îMVSH is currently a non-profit organization and registered charity operating under ministerial order from the province of Alberta and regulated by the Alberta Housing Act. MVSH operates seniors' lodges, seniors' self-contained apartments and subsidized family housing.The review was launched after concerns were raised about the agency's governance structure following the controversy over the original contract to build the Mount View Lodge in Olds. The lodge officially opened this year $2.7 million over budget for a total cost of $21.3 million.One year ago MVSH asked the chief administrative officers of Cremona, Carstairs, Didsbury, Olds, Sundre and Mountain View County to examine the current governance structure of the agency.The CAO team was also tasked to review recent developments that called for the governance review. As well, the team's mandate included a review of other models of governance across the province, as well as those that might be considered.On July 28, the board affirmed this action plan when it approved the agency's goals for its Strategic Plan Framework.Although the review carefully examined the historical details of the Olds lodge controversy, it ìemphasizedî that the CAOs ìfound no actions of the board or of the board members that would reflect negatively upon the board or the member municipalities.ìIn fact, it is the belief of the chief administrative officers that the board acted in good faith and displayed exceptional commitment to see the project completed in a timely and cost-effective manner,î stated the review.However, the review did add that the Olds project demonstrated there were concerns over the current governance model, including board continuity, accountability, and the lack of expertise and experience with some board members, notably municipal council members.With the review recommending either the for-profit Municipal Services Corporation model or a not-for-profit foundation it added the board should provide a link in the chain of demand between the owners and the citizens of Mountain View County, including the partnering communities and the operators of the various facilities within the region.The review added the board should empower staff while preserving controls necessary for accountability, as well as working to achieve financial sustainability without having to rely on taxpayer dollars for operational and capital costs.ìEither model of governance suggested offers an opportunity to provide visionary leadership and a mechanism to make a real difference in the lives of seniors in the region,î stated the report.Leading up to the Sept. 22 meeting, councils in all partnering communities will have reviewed the report.ìI am starting to get their comments as they are addressed,î said Smalldon, adding he is encouraged by the responses. ìAbsolutely. The issues have been long-standing and need to be addressed as we go into the future.î
