Saratoga News

Hakone meeting canceled because of the Brown Act

By Sarah Lombardo

A meeting to discuss management issues at Hakone Gardens will have to wait until a properly-called meeting of the Hakone Foundation's board.

In response to a call by some Hakone trustees for an emergency meeting, about 30 foundation members and a handful of trustees showed up at the gardens last Wednesday night, but the meeting was aborted before it was called to order.

When they arrived, members and trustees were told the meeting would violate the Brown Act, California's open meeting law. Hakone Foundation, which has taken over garden operations from the city of Saratoga, abides by the Brown Act even though it is not part of city government. According to trustees, Saratoga's city attorney advised the foundation's president, who did not call the meeting, that it would break the law.

Most trustees left, rendering the gathering short of a quorum and thus legal. Those attending discussed issues informally and agreed to meet over the next few weeks to draw up some proposals for dealing with management problems at Hakone.

Trustees have wrestled with operational and financial issues since assuming control of the garden from the city. Some foundation members, many of whom work in the gardens, contend that foundation president Daryl Becker, who has held the top post for about two months, has made staffing and policy changes at Hakone without consulting the board. A petition was circulated at the meeting asking for Becker's resignation. About six people signed it.

Becker, however, said he intends to stay. Although he would not comment on the current turmoil, Becker said, "just because a few of the previous officers decide to stir up the nest, I'm not going to let them dictate how things are done."

In a letter distributed to members at the meeting, Kay Duffy, former board president, wrote, "I have had a great deal of respect for and supported Daryl [Becker] as president ... but as for that most important attribute of leadership of the foundation, I firmly believe that I failed to adequately evaluate his ability to work well with the staff and the trustees or to follow the procedures."

Duffy cites the resignation of office manager Janet Kennedy as an example.

"Although much has led up to this meeting, it has been called as a direct result of the resignation, under intense pressure, of office manager Janet Kennedy. In spite of my personal efforts to smooth the transition, Janet's relations with [Becker] have become impossibly difficult."

Reached by telephone, Kennedy, who did not attend, told the Saratoga News that she would not comment on the situation, saying only, "It has gotten very political, and I'd rather not get involved."

Kennedy did say, however, that she did not feel pressured to resign. "I can't say that there was any pressure. I was not asked to leave," she said. "The job has gotten too much for the number of hours."

Some members said they agreed with a suggestion that the foundation look into getting an executive director. Duffy said she favored the idea.

Bruce Parkinson, chairman of the garden committee, says he supports such a plan, but added that the foundation's problems are a symptom of choosing trustees for "all the wrong reasons."

Duffy said she thought the board dissention was unfortunate, but added that having to deal with the problems now might be better in the long run.

"Maybe this turmoil is a blessing in disguise," she said, "if it pushes us toward that."

The next Hakone Foundation meeting is scheduled for Thu., Sept. 18, at 6 p.m.

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