A volunteer organization that helps minimize street disorder in the Downtown Eastside has seen its relationship with the city strained in recent weeks, to say the least.

On January 27, the City of Vancouver sent a letter to board members of the Downtown Eastside Street Market Society, a nonprofit that helps control vending in the neighbourhood.

“The City will not tolerate incidents of bullying and intimidation from market coordinators towards City staff, Board members, other vendors, or community organizations,” reads a copy of the letter obtained by the Straight. “Due to recent incidents of alleged harassment and inappropriate behavior by members of the Society towards City staff that are now under investigation, the board must address these issues.”

It outlines “significant concerns that the City has regarding the Society’s capacity to govern itself effectively, implement an appropriate code of conduct and good business practices, and form partnerships with other agencies.”

The letter goes on to demand reforms.

“It is evident to the City that the non-voting market coordinators have too much control over the day to day operations, finances, and strategic directions of the Society and this needs to be brought to balance,” it reads.

The delivery of further city funds is stated as conditional on improvements, and a deadline of February 4 is set for the society to deliver.

It must draft a budget and operating plan, hire a certified accounting professional, and provide the city with “evidence that accounts and other appropriate information” are delivered to that person.

According to the letter, the city will consider a budget of up to $14,500 per month, which amounts to a maximum of $174,000 annually.

The letter is signed by Teresa Hartman, acting general manager of community services for the City of Vancouver.

It notes the city will continue to work with the society, but also that there already are “plans to issue a request for expressions of interest” from other individuals or organizations who could assist with “safe and legal vending opportunities” in the Downtown Eastside.

The Downtown Street Market Society board of directors consists of 13 seats divided into two groups. There are 11 voting position filled by elections plus two nonvoting positions that were assumed by appointment.

The society operates three market locations sanctioned by the city. It also plays an unofficial role in helping control unsanctioned street vending. That more ad hoc function made the society instrumental in the city’s November 2015 clearing of vendors from the unit block of East Hastings that runs between Carrall and Columbia streets.

Interviews with multiple board members confirm that the city’s concerns relate to two individuals. Those are Roland Clark and Jacek Lorek, two founding members of the society who hold the nonvoting coordinator roles that the city mentions in its letter.

In a telephone interview, Clark—to whom everybody the Straight spoke, including Clark himself, agreed the majority of concerns pertain—maintained he city has declined to explain its specific concerns about him. Clark said he has attempted to address problems as they’ve arisen.

“This seems like an unprecedented level of internal meddling into a sovereign, incorporated B.C. society,” he added. “They are setting us up to fail. That is why the letter is so upsetting.”

Clark emphasized he has dedicated countless hours to the market society over the course of the last five years. He suggested that part of the dispute is about money and his push for more financial aid from the city.

“It is not appropriate for the city to force people of the Downtown Eastside to work for slave wages,” he said. “I no longer have the will to cooperate with the City of Vancouver, which demands that people, just because they live in the Downtown Eastside, work for $3 an hour.”

In a separate interview, Lorek described the letter as “very surprising.”

“For the last five years, we have talked to the city every week,” he told the Straight. “And everything was fine. Very fine. We talked all the time and concerns like this were never mentioned before.”

Lorek emphasized his priority is the society’s survival.

“The only way I can rationalize everything that is happened is that for some reason—and I don’t know the reason—the city does not want me and Roland to be the coordinators,” he said. “Everything that is going on points to that.”

Board members from its elected contingent told a different story.

In a telephone interview, the board’s president, Ann Livingston, supported the city’s descriptions of problems within the society.

Asked if the accusation of “bullying and intimidation” is fair, Livingston said it is.

“It wasn’t always my experience but it certainly has been [in recent weeks],” she added.

Livingston also supported the city’s claim that elected board members have been sidelined by Clark and Lorek in their roles as coordinators.

She added it is possible the city is making a play for more control over the society, but suggested if that is the case, it’s a consequence of Clark’s actions.

“It’s my attitude that you don’t want to start getting into some pissing match with the city,” she said.

Sarah Blyth is another elected board member and a former Vision Vancouver parks commissioner. She said she’s certain the society will survive, but not without reforms.

“It’s a weird situation,” Blyth said. She was reluctant to single other members out. But she also described incidents of “belligerent emails”, “vindictive actions”, and situations where coordinators “aggressively pushed people out” of the organization.

Speaking for the city, MaryClare Zak, managing director of social policy for community services, told the Straight that it is “entirely possible” the society will lose its role as the sole organization responsible for controlling vending in the Downtown Eastside. She confirmed the city will be asking for proposals from other organizations.

Zak declined to get into certain specifics discussed in the letter. But she maintained the city’s concerns were significant enough to require changes.

She acknowledged the society has taken on a greater role in recent months, and that that has meant more work for its board members. But Zak also noted the city’ monthly allowance for the society more than tripled over the course of the last year.

“We are committed to ensuring safe and legal vending opportunities in the Downtown Eastside,” she said. “We know that it creates jobs and opportunities for added income for people on social assistance. And we have significantly expanded those vending opportunities since the summer.”