Chatsworth, Northridge Chambers Call Off Merger

Less than two months after chambers of commerce in Chatsworth and Northridge voted to merge, the marriage is off, presidents of the two groups said Wednesday.

Citing “essentially irreconcilable differences,” the board of the Chatsworth/Porter Ranch Chamber of Commerce notified the Northridge/Porter Ranch Chamber of Commerce in writing early last month that the deal was dead, according to Leslie Himes, president of the Chatsworth group. The two groups had hoped to form a 500-member Northwest San Fernando Valley chamber.

“We were pushed into a corner,” said Himes, adding that the discussions “were not going to go forward, so somebody had to take the initiative to say ‘This isn’t going to work, we’re done.’ ”

“There were fundamental differences, culturally,” he said.

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Officials of both groups said the two sides came to loggerheads over issues such as the authority of the chief executive versus the board, and the shape of the bylaws.

“It’s a very disappointing thing,” said Maureen Fried, president of the Northridge chamber, who noted that the two groups already had merged bank accounts and dumped their old stationery. “We were the Northwest San Fernando Valley chamber. We were going to be a great team.”

This marks the third time in recent years that the two groups have tried to become one.

But those previous attempts ended far short of the latest effort.

“We were beyond the altar. We just didn’t survive the honeymoon,” remarked Himes, who said he had worked hard for about two years to promote the merger.

“And the honeymoon was such a frightening affair that I don’t think there will be a reconciliation in the near future.”