Updated
The embittered president of the Sonoma Valley Certified Farmer’s Market board of directors, Jim Cahoon, announced his immediate resignation Monday night in a strident email to fellow board members.
Cahoon said the move was a protest against what he saw as the city’s goal of “total control” of the Tuesday night market on the Plaza. “Our attempts to work with them have been met with derision and arrogance,” he wrote of city officials and staff. “We have been maligned and mischaracterized.”
In the email announcement, Cahoon urged his fellow board members to follow his example and resign as a message to “the destructive elements within the community.”
It is expected that Bill Dardon, the current vice president of the farmer’s market board, will be voted into the top spot. “I haven’t been kicked into gear yet,” he told The Sun on Tuesday. Dardon said that adding new members to the market board was likely, and that the group will move quickly to make necessary changes.
But, “honestly, I’m a babe in arms,” Dardon said. “I’ve only been on the board since March and am not as up to speed as I should be on what’s been going on.”
Cahoon’s resignation comes a week after a formal review of the market by the Sonoma City Council. During that session, he and Market Manager Hilda Swartz were criticized for not showing progress on policies mandated by the council, including developing a clear application and appeal process, and demonstrating overall financial transparency.
In a separate email Monday, sent to Public Works Director Melinka Bates but widely circulated, Cahoon likened the council meeting to “being bitch-slapped in public. All the trust and goodwill built up over the last few months was evaporated in an hour.”
Of the council’s directives, Cahoon said, “Their demands are unrealizable and their ignorance unpalatable.”
As for Dardon, “I want this to succeed,” said the Sonoma realtor. “Many of the things that we’ve been trying to get done will get done before we next meet with council.”
Cahoon’s decision, which he said “was a great relief,” has no effect on the market’s contract with the city. Thus it was business as usual Tuesday evening on the Plaza.
Text of email as sent by
Jim Cahoon
Dear Fellow SVCFM Board Members,
It is with a great sense of relief I have made the decision to resign immediately from both my position as Board President and as a Board member. I have enjoyed serving the community in these capacities in spite of the opposition of the destructive elements within the community. I cannot devote the huge amount of time nor continue to absorb the costs to my business and personal life. I truly regret not affording the Board more time to transition but I no longer have the resources to spare, nor the belief that anything less than total control of the Market is the goal of the City apparatus. Our attempts to work with them have been met with derision and arrogance, our efforts have gone largely unappreciated by our community, we have been maligned & mischaracterized. Their demands are unrealizable and their ignorance unpalatable.
I personally recommend that you each give thought to whether your efforts stand any chance of success in this present atmosphere and that you all resign in protest as I have done. I have forwarded this communication to all pertinent parties.
Sincerely,
James Cahoon
