Two board members of the Lighthouse Supported Living in Saskatoon have accepted the leadership of the shelter as the executive director is on leave, according to internal communications provided to Global News.
A letter addressed to Lighthouse management on Tuesday states that the board has appointed chairman Jerome Hepfner and vice-chairman Twila Reddekopp as the facility’s co-managing directors. Executive director Don Windels was placed on leave the same day, the letter reads.
An email to staff said the board was committed to acting in the best interests of the Lighthouse.
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“As you may know, there have been challenges at the board level that have led to significant uncertainty,” reads part of the email.
No reason was given to employees for the leadership change.
Windels declined to comment when contacted by Global News, while Hepfner and Reddekopp did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“Through this process, the day-to-day operations of the Lighthouse have been damaged,” the email to staff reads. “And several very important matters are mismanaged or neglected.”
The lighthouse is the means of correcting 42 fire code and 12 property maintenance deficiencies identified by the Saskatoon Fire Department. Issues were first spotted during an April inspection and underlined by a fire at the shelter on Dec. 10, according to assistant fire chief Yvonne Raymer.
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As of Thursday, Raymer told Global News firefighters were “encouraged” to see 14 of the 42 fire code issues addressed, along with four of the 12 shortcomings in property maintenance.
“They are moving in the right direction and we do not believe we will really have to step in and do any of the work,” Raymer said in an interview.
High priority issues such as the fire alarm and sprinkler system have been rectified and fire exits have been cleared, Raymer said. The lighthouse has until the end of the month to rectify the remaining transgressions.
In the future, Lighthouse officials have discussed a maintenance plan to prevent further fire safety issues, Raymer said.
During a cold snap earlier this month, the Lighthouse leadership considered a temporary closure for up to two weeks, according to a source employed by the facility.
Staff were dealing with frozen pipes, burst sprinklers and sewage, the source said, adding someone had smashed sinks in a men’s bathroom and a water heater went off. Supply chain issues have, according to the source, meant an extended wait for replacement parts.
The facility is also struggling with staff shortages due to COVID-19. The lighthouse has been the site of a declared outbreak by the Saskatchewan government since October 21, 2021.
The incoming co-managing directors were instructed by the board to understand the extent of the repairs required in the building, security procedures leading to the “current lack of control within the building” and the “decision-making process used to take action” to close the shelter, ”according to the letter to managers.
Managers were also instructed to follow directions and perform assigned tasks.
“Insubordination in any form will not be tolerated,” reads the signed letter from Hepfner and Reddekopp.
The Lighthouse is one of three shelters for people experiencing homelessness in Saskatoon. The Salvation Army’s men’s shelter is located at 339 Avenue C South.
The Saskatoon Tribal Council’s temporary wellness center is located at 145 1st Avenue North.
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Reference-globalnews.ca