Point Reyes Light - November 28, 2002
Tomales Bay Association keeps on bucking
By Ivan Gale
Denying accusations of a "meltdown," Ken Fox, president of the Tomales Bay Association, told The Light Monday the group is going about business as usual. The group’s secretary Tom Yarish, last week, slammed the organization in numerous released statements.
Not authorized
"Tomas [Yarish] was not authorized to make that press release," said Fox who himself did not receive a copy of the statement.
Yarish’s release stated: "Fox’s intransigence is utterly toxic to the organization." The statement also said "most of the credible board members" had resigned in the past year.
Fox admitted to tensions within the group over the last several months. He recalled that Yarish, despite requests from the group, never voiced his grievances within the organization before going public.
"We’ve asked him to express his feelings at the board and he has never done this," said Fox. He added that Yarish has missed most of the group’s meetings lately.
"I realize I have stepped outside the confidentiality agreement of the facilitated group, but it is not without the precedent of broken faith established by others," wrote Yarish.
Director John O’Connor defended Fox to The Light on Monday. He questioned why, in one statement, Yarish called for the president’s impeachment.
"I wonder what the charges are, he’s the hardest worker out of the bunch," said O’Connor.
Clique of directors
The latest incident is described by O’Connor as the result of a clique of directors who want Fox out.
‘We’re trying as hard as we can to keep it running while we’re being attacked," said O’Connor adding that legal council has been retained to look into Yarish’s claims as to whether the board is functional.
In Yarish’s perspective, however, the most most financially responsible move would be to insure the Tomales Bay Association, not litigate.
"I have misgivings that any insurer would touch the Tomales Bay Association in the face of such demonstrated and egregious incompetence," he wrote in a statement released Monday. "[I] Hope there is something left in the treasury for all these eventualities."
Yarish also said last week’s meeting was not a legally-noticed one, which would invalidate any motions or votes.
Weber appeal
Fox said regardless of the recent controversy his first priority is still environmental protection.
He continues the fight for wetlands that fall on a piece of property organically farmed by Warren Weber.
This week Fox said his group has filed an appeal over the Planning Commission’s Monday, Nov. 18 decision which allowed Weber to lower his dikes on part of his farm.
Weber was seeking the excavation permit to fulfill the terms of a settlement agreement with the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Though Fox said he supports organic farming, he maintains the county should be consistent with the protection of Weber’s land under existing laws and regulations.