Helen Duncan, CEO of the Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce for nearly a decade, has been dismissed from her position, according to a Feb. 1 letter addressed to Duncan from the Chair of the Board of Directors.
Duncan had been on unpaid medical leave since September and recently underwent surgery to remove a benign tumor in her pancreas, said her attorney Shannon Foley.
Though she’s expected to fully recover, her doctor evaluated her on Jan. 12 and advised her not to return to work until April. Prior to this, the Chamber Board of Directors had approved her leave through Feb. 11. Chamber Board of Directors Chairperson Jennifer Goldstein said she received nothing in writing that stated Duncan would need to be gone longer.
In the Feb. 1 letter, Goldstein informed Duncan that she would not be able to grant any further extension. “The Board of Directors is unable to grant you any further leave of absence. The Chamber is at a critical point with respect to its relationships with the City and its members. Consequently, the Board feels that the continued absence of the Chamber’s CEO/President has adversely affected the Chamber and its ability to sustain itself,” said the letter.
Duncan was in the intensive care unit when the letter was mailed to her home. “She wasn’t even home to get the letter, she has not been able to communicate,” Foley said. “She still can’t.”
Goldstein said Duncan’s family was aware the letter was on its way. “I called her daughter last week and told her the letter was coming. It was not a surprise,” Goldstein said. “I wish I could have done it in person.”
Upon being contacted by Duncan’s family, Foley, former chair of the Chamber board, asked Chair-elect DeAnn Chase to discuss the termination. Foley was advised to contact the Chamber’s legal counsel Grace Horoupian of Fisher and Phillips in Irvine.
“I think if they had had a conversation with Helen and her daughter after she was out of the ICU, and asked does she have an expected return date,” Foley said, on how she would have preferred to see the situation handled. “If it’s something that doesn’t work out for the Chamber, Helen may have been willing to come to some reasonable resolution with them. In fact, I know she would have.”
John McLellan, treasurer of the Chamber board, said he had not seen the letter but upon being told its details, said the letter speaks for itself. He declined to comment further. “Nobody should be talking to you or anybody about this,” he said, adding that HR matters are confidential.
The Chamber is dealing with the loss of financial support from the city. Until two years ago, the city contributed approximately $200,000 annually to the Chamber’s budget through a 10 percent surcharge on city business licenses. In 2010, the city reduced its contribution to $50,000 and in 2011, to $25,000. It was expected that the Chamber would be self-sufficient after two years.
In 2010, Duncan was honored as the Manhattan Beach Lions Club Woman of the Year. In presenting the award, former Councilmember Walt Dougher noted that Duncan had doubled the Chamber membership to more than 700 and was instrumental in the launch of its Women in Business and Leadership Manhattan Beach programs.
“I don’t think they realize how many people love and support Helen Duncan,” Foley said. “To disregard her that way, I think, was a big mistake.”
Goldstein said parting ways with Duncan was a very difficult but necessary decision for the Chamber. .
“I want her to get well. She and I are dear friends. This is not an easy situation,” Goldstein said. “At some point, you just go, ‘Who is leading us?’”
