The Port Chalmers Historical Society is making another attempt to elect a committee for the 2009-10 year, after the first one, almost five months ago, failed.
The committee must comprise at least nine people - a president, secretary, treasurer and at least six committee members - but, because of a lack of nominations at the annual meeting in September, only three positions were filled.
In a letter to the society, auditor Tom Trotter said another meeting needed to be "urgently reconvened", as until a constitutional committee was elected, the society was unable to operate under the rules for incorporated societies.
Co-opting members to fill the vacancies was not an option.
The reconvened meeting will be held today at the Port Chalmers Town Hall, at 2pm.
The 96-year-old society runs the Port Chalmers Museum.
Although it was not technically able to function, it had been able to continue paying its sole staff member, president John Neilson said this week.
The staff member's part-time employment contract ended yesterday, but Mr Neilson said that was because funding for the position had run out.
Mr Neilson said he had paid another urgent society account himself, pending the outcome of today's meeting.
Information sent to the Otago Daily Times this week indicated people were reluctant to join the committee because of bad feelings between Mr Neilson and society treasurer Bill Lloyd.
Asked about that this week, Mr Lloyd said people did not like working with Mr Neilson, whom he described as "difficult".
Mr Lloyd, who has been treasurer for 20 years, said the committee "barely functioned" last year.
The ODT was sent copies of letters Mr Lloyd had sent society members complaining about several issues, including Mr Neilson's leadership and decision-making.
Mr Lloyd said he was "stirring, but hoped it was for the good of the society".
Mr Neilson said the bad feeling "was all to do with Mr Lloyd", who, he said, was argumentative.
"Every committee meeting ends in an argument and people don't want to be part of that."
He said there had been a good response from people approached to stand for the committee.
He was confident a functioning committee would be elected today and the society's problems would be resolved.
Mr Lloyd said he believed today's meeting was required to fill only the vacancies on the committee, and that both he and Mr Neilson's places on the committee were confirmed.
But Mr Neilson said he had spoken to a staff member in the office of the Registrar of Incorporated Societies and had been told the society must elect a new management committee.
"The sole motion for the meeting is that a new management committee be formed from valid nominations.
"That includes everyone, including Mr Lloyd and myself."
