Rob's Blog
In the fall of 2013 the Chief and Council of Ahousaht followed through on a previous strategic plan goal, reaching out to the Certified General Accountants (CGA) of BC (now CPA) requesting help for the Nation.
The Executive Director's job description includes following and implementing the community's, as well as Chief and Councils', strategic plan.
The Executive Director's job description includes following and implementing the community's, as well as Chief and Councils', strategic plan.
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The first goal in 2013-14 was to repair the financial shape of the nation. Nearly bankrupt and in serious debt, the nation needed strong financial policies and procedures implemented while also making some personnel changes as Ahousaht entered into a Management Action Plan (MAP) initiated by INAC. We also changed auditors, selecting MNP to conduct the first audit with a forensic eye on past practices and outcomes. While no untoward activities were uncovered, a denial of opinion was extended by MNP - almost the worst audit result an organization can get. What that audit did do was give us the blue print for steps to improve the Nation.
We moved towards ensuring the managers managed their own departments. We ensured transparency for all to see, providing monthly, quarterly and annual financial statements. We encouraged Chief and Council to manage the strategy, not the day to day operations, recognizing Council's only employee is the Executive Director.
2014-15 and 2015-16 saw two more years of incredible hard work, including implementing a new Human Resources Policy and Procedure, changed the way we recorded and tracked payroll, offered training to all departments and kept paying down our debts. Each year saw improved audit opinion results and better (fewer) management recommendations.
Our old website of data, statements and information is still active and can be found at www.ahousahtinfo.ca
2016-17 has just come to an end, and amid the tragedies of community deaths, we celebrate new births and new hopes towards a brighter and more prosperous future.
Executive Directors' Ongoing Project List (as of May 6, 2017)
First Nations Market Housing Fund: they provide funding, loans and equity financing for housing and other projects; summer trip planned by this group to Ahousaht)
USAND FN Funding Group: started by philanthropic means, looking to provide financing for housing and other projects
Grant Writing Team in place with Pawa
Comprehensive Community Plan (CCP) - Guy Louie, Project Leader
Habour master position posted - dockside fees to be charged, power supplied, dock and water front cleanup
Newsletter is being developed
Housing Policy is being rewritten with input from CCP, Housing Team, Community Members Projects
GST/PST recovery - MNP is working on this with CRA; recovery expected over $100k
Ahousaht is now a Charitable Donnee - we can accept donations and write tax receipts
Job Descriptions / Salary Grid - MNP working on this as part of 2016/17 P&ID funding, redesign all job descriptions and salary amounts for fair and equitable workplace
Future Website Updates including: Membership, Patient Travel, Education, Home Use Fish
- Links to other sites, MHSS, LoneCone, Tofino, FNHA, BCAFN, AFOA, UBCIC
INAC Block Renewal begins summer of 2017; renewal success will depend on audit, other associated audits
Subdivision Costs: reimbursement of all past years' costs to do with Lot 363
Cemetery: BC Ministry is working with ACRD on land transfer/license
Emergency Planning: Fire hall is being outfitted with new equipment, screens & computers, office equipment to run as a fully functional command center working in conjunction with our new tsunami sirens; working to get the hall added to INAC Asset Inventory for ongoing (retro?) O&M funds
Anderson Creek New Water Line (from dam)
Replacement/Redundant Water Line (from treatment centre)
Membership Meetings w/CCP
Ahousaht Pride sale
FoodFish Planning Budget is now set
Abandoned vehicles and houses
Ottawa project: the Ahousaht Project
Subdivision Culverts
Subdivision Power Lines
OH&S
Speed Bylaws in anticipation of all roads being paved by fall 2017
Community Safety
Finance Projects:
- Social Development EFTs
- Chief and Council EFTs
- Remote Approvals
We moved towards ensuring the managers managed their own departments. We ensured transparency for all to see, providing monthly, quarterly and annual financial statements. We encouraged Chief and Council to manage the strategy, not the day to day operations, recognizing Council's only employee is the Executive Director.
2014-15 and 2015-16 saw two more years of incredible hard work, including implementing a new Human Resources Policy and Procedure, changed the way we recorded and tracked payroll, offered training to all departments and kept paying down our debts. Each year saw improved audit opinion results and better (fewer) management recommendations.
Our old website of data, statements and information is still active and can be found at www.ahousahtinfo.ca
2016-17 has just come to an end, and amid the tragedies of community deaths, we celebrate new births and new hopes towards a brighter and more prosperous future.
Executive Directors' Ongoing Project List (as of May 6, 2017)
First Nations Market Housing Fund: they provide funding, loans and equity financing for housing and other projects; summer trip planned by this group to Ahousaht)
USAND FN Funding Group: started by philanthropic means, looking to provide financing for housing and other projects
Grant Writing Team in place with Pawa
Comprehensive Community Plan (CCP) - Guy Louie, Project Leader
Habour master position posted - dockside fees to be charged, power supplied, dock and water front cleanup
Newsletter is being developed
Housing Policy is being rewritten with input from CCP, Housing Team, Community Members Projects
GST/PST recovery - MNP is working on this with CRA; recovery expected over $100k
Ahousaht is now a Charitable Donnee - we can accept donations and write tax receipts
Job Descriptions / Salary Grid - MNP working on this as part of 2016/17 P&ID funding, redesign all job descriptions and salary amounts for fair and equitable workplace
Future Website Updates including: Membership, Patient Travel, Education, Home Use Fish
- Links to other sites, MHSS, LoneCone, Tofino, FNHA, BCAFN, AFOA, UBCIC
INAC Block Renewal begins summer of 2017; renewal success will depend on audit, other associated audits
Subdivision Costs: reimbursement of all past years' costs to do with Lot 363
Cemetery: BC Ministry is working with ACRD on land transfer/license
Emergency Planning: Fire hall is being outfitted with new equipment, screens & computers, office equipment to run as a fully functional command center working in conjunction with our new tsunami sirens; working to get the hall added to INAC Asset Inventory for ongoing (retro?) O&M funds
Anderson Creek New Water Line (from dam)
Replacement/Redundant Water Line (from treatment centre)
Membership Meetings w/CCP
Ahousaht Pride sale
FoodFish Planning Budget is now set
Abandoned vehicles and houses
Ottawa project: the Ahousaht Project
Subdivision Culverts
Subdivision Power Lines
OH&S
Speed Bylaws in anticipation of all roads being paved by fall 2017
Community Safety
Finance Projects:
- Social Development EFTs
- Chief and Council EFTs
- Remote Approvals
Contact Rob Bullock, CPA CGA
If you or someone you know has an idea, comment, question or complaint, I would like to hear it. You can contact me anytime by phoning the office number below, asking to talk to me, leaving me a message, or ask for my email address.
If you or someone you know has an idea, comment, question or complaint, I would like to hear it. You can contact me anytime by phoning the office number below, asking to talk to me, leaving me a message, or ask for my email address.
