HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997 04-16 HHSCMINUTES OF THE
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
Administration Building Conference Room
1001 N. Idaho Road, Apache Junction, AZ
April 16,1997 6:35 p.m.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:
CARMEN HUERTA, CHAIRPERSON
JENNIE BENNETT
CAROL CRANMER
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT:
ED BARKER
1.Call to Order/Attendance.
STAFF PRESENT:
KATHLEEN CONNELLY, CITY CLERK
OTHERS PRESENT
COUNCILMEMBER URICH
COUNCILMEMBER SURRA
Chairperson Huerta called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m.City Clerk Kathy
Connelly called the roll call and advised there was a quorum present.
2.Election of Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.
Chairperson Huerta stated the elections of the chairpersons should be postponed until
the next meeting when everyone should be present.
3.Discussion of FY 1997-98 funding applications and procedure for reviewing
applications.
Chairperson Huerta asked if everyone had read their paperwork.She opened the
meeting to discussion and questions from everyone.
Chairperson Huerta started out with the Food Bank.She stated they did not get all
the information that they normally do,such as the names of people and their
addresses.City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated she normally does not distribute that as
it can be stacks of paperwork.Chairperson Huerta asked about the problem City
Clerk Kathy Connelly was having with them.City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated their
recent report was in bad shape.They had a lot of volunteers in the last quarter who
did not keep track of the people and their addresses.She stated they might also have
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
APRIL 16,1997
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had more services than the city funds.Commissioner Cranmer asked Commissioner
Bennett if this was the organization that was doing fairly well financially.
Commissioner Bennett stated she did not know if they were doing well financially, but
they do run it all with volunteer help.She stated the problem that Kathy mentioned
came about because the people who were responsible for the reports before have left
and either taken other jobs or gone to school.The only questions she had were on
the $60 under miscellaneous,which is not very much,and $336 for packaging.
Chairperson Huerta stated she wondered about the packaging cost,too.
Commissioner Bennett stated she knew they had to buy a certain type of bag to fit
things in, and she wished they would do away with the packaging.The packaging
is about their splitting up the larger items so more people can benefit from them.
Commissioner Bennett stated that was something she wanted to ask them about
when they were interviewed.There were no other concerns about the Food Bank.
City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated she could give them copies of the quarterly reports
but it would be about three times the paperwork that they have right now.
Chairperson Huerta moved on to the Boys & Girls Club of Apache Junction which has
merged with the Abuse Prevention Council.She stated they were matching funds
with them earlier and inquired if they were doing the same this year.City Clerk Kathy
Connelly stated they are hoping to do that, having various applications pending in
various locations.She does not believe they have heard anything on those but this
is the beginning of the grant cycle.She has twice asked them for their proof of non-
profit status.They are looking for it and no one has been able to produce it yet.
Chairperson Huerta asked if they could use the same one as for the Abuse Prevention
Council and was told they could not.Commissioner Bennett recalled they could not
produce anything before, which was the reason they were ineligible last year.City
Clerk Kathy Connelly stated they assured her they had applied for it and that
somebody has it.Commissioner Cranmer stated you cannot give them the money if
they cannot produce the status, and asked how much longer they have to produce the
document.City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated until the time the commission is ready
to interview them and make a recommendation,which could be as short as two
weeks.She stated she has checked with a member of the club who works for the
city and she has been assured that they have the status.She added she will ask them
again.Commissioner Bennett asked why they had to pay for the rent of the school
if they were transferring from the other council.Chairperson Huerta advised her it is
not the school, but a separate building, and she believes the school pays rent for the
use of the building.Councilmember Surra stated they use it for an alternative school.
Commissioner Bennett asked about the $575 spent on the travel fund and $361 plus
on the current report for telephone.She stated she believed the current request was
for $500 on this proposal and wondered about the discrepancy. Councilmember Surra
stated they merged two organizations and the budget for the Boys & Girls Club was
not considered last year.She stated there may be additional activities due to the
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APRIL 16,1997
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merger that would not have appeared on last year's budget.She stated the travel
expenses could be due to field trips, but it is a question which should be pursued on
the interview.City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated their staff may also have to get some
type of certification, which could account for some of their travel.Chairperson Huerta
asked if the budget was from Mesa or an estimated one from Apache Junction.City
Clerk Kathy Connelly stated they will be part of the East Valley Boys & Girls Club, and
it is her understanding there will be some merging of funds, which will be used as
leverage to get some more grants.She stated the paperwork should be just for the
local club.
Chairperson Huerta stated the next agency was the Central Arizona Shelter Services.
She is concerned about there being no way of knowing who is receiving the services.
City Clerk Kathy Connelly asked the business manager about that and he stated they
could not provide the information because many of these people do not have any
identification.Commissioner Cranmer asked how they knew they were residents of
Apache Junction.City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated they relied upon the information
those people told them.Commissioner Cranmer stated another concern is that
everyone else in that partnership is in Maricopa County, and by virtue of the fact that
Apache Junction is in Pinal County, she does not feel they should be a part of that
service.She added there is no shelter in Apache Junction,and asked where the
closest shelter was and if the city is bound to that shelter.Councilmember Surra
stated a couple of years ago a minister approached her about buying a building in the
city to start a shelter and she believed the city would be very supportive of such a
move.She did not hear from him for a long time, and when she finally heard from
him years later, he told her he could not find enough homeless people who wanted
a shelter in Apache Junction.They did not want to live in a shelter, they wanted help
with rent for a place of their own.She stated she would hesitate to put city funds
into something that will probably be utilized more by people in Maricopa County.
Commissioner Bennett asked if the city's contribution would take some of our
homeless off the street, but there is no way of telling if that is occurring.They might
have lived in Apache Junction for one day or for a long period of time.Chairperson
Huerta added another problem is the east end of Maricopa County is called Apache
Junction so they may not have been in the city.Chairperson Huerta stated they
appeared to be in agreement that this application would be denied.City Clerk Kathy
Connelly stated she would send them a letter stating they were being declined since
they could not comply with the ordinance.
Chairperson Huerta stated the next application was Community Action Human
Resources Agency and that they have always done real well and have been a lot of
help.Councilmember Surra stated they received a number of letters from the
recipients of the program complimenting the people in the program. They have a good
reputation.City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated they call if they have a question as to
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APRIL 16,1997
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whether something is allowed under the contract, so they are always in compliance.
Councilmember Surra stated they are very responsible with our funding.
Commissioner Cranmer asked City Clerk Kathy Connelly about their service level
exceeding city funding.City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated they spend more within the
city limits than we are able to fund.Commissioners Bennett and Cranmer stated the
agency looks real good to them.
Chairperson Huerta went on to the East Valley Addiction Council.She stated this
appears to be the same as the shelter;most of it is Maricopa services.
Councilmember Surra questioned whether this organization thought they could step
in where the Abuse Prevention Council left off since they merged with the Boys &
Girls Club.City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated she checked with the court and the
police department and they have no recollection of referring anyone there.She stated
in their cover letter they stated they would not be able to provide verification of
residency as they believe that is confidential information.Commissioner Bennett
stated she had a few things written down but she cannot see justifying this one,
either.City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated according to their budget pages they appear
to give employees advances.Councilmember Surra stated she believed their
employees are former addicts and they are doing that to help them with their rent to
try to mainstream them.Commissioner Bennett also questioned their use of uniforms.
Councilmember Urich asked City Clerk Kathy Connelly which United Way was used
in the city,and when she was informed it was the Pinal County United Way she
commented that they are not listed as one of the Addiction Council's revenue sources.
The commission decided not to interview this applicant.
Chairperson Huerta stated the next one was the Mesa Senior Center and she
commented that really bothers her.She stated the last year they were going through
the Pinal-Gila and now they are going through Mesa.City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated
they were actually providing the services last year but because the change had not
taken place when the deadline fell for funding, the Pinal-Gila Senior Citizens Group
applied on their behalf with the Mesa Senior Center providing the services.
Councilmember Surra stated there is no other center in Pinal County that will provide
the services or the meals for that cost.Chairperson Huerta stated all of their
paperwork has to do with the office in Mesa.Councilmember Surra and Chairperson
Huerta stated they should have given the information for the center in Apache
Junction.Councilmember Surra requested they bring that information at the time of
the interview.City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated she could give them the quarterly
reports as to who goes there, and asked if they needed more budgetary information.
Councilmember Surra stated they wanted to know how much of the dollars funded
were spent on the lunch program.The commission agreed as a whole that they
believe more money is spent than what they receive from the city.Councilmember
Surra stated their other problem from last year was their inability to tell them how
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
APRIL 16,1997
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many winter residents were using the program.City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated the
current director believes they are bringing in more local residents than they have
before.She is working more on outreach and is a very proactive director.
Councilmember Surra stated most of the funds were for the lunch program and she
wanted to know how many were actually getting lunch there.She added since they
receive federal funding they cannot discriminate between local and winter residents.
Commissioner Bennett added the social functions are also part of the program.
Chairperson Huerta stated they need to take the information and compile a list of all
those who are residents, both temporary and permanent.Chairperson Huerta asked
if they should be considered permanent residents if they stayed 6 months or more out
of the year here.Councilmember Surra suggested giving half credit to the winter
residents using the program.Commissioner Bennett stated she had asked if they
could monitor what people came for the social part and then check to see if they paid
for the lunch, but they said they could not do that.City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated
the new director brings her a binder of the the events and functions the Senior Center
has had for each quarter,which is something the past directors did not do.
Councilmember Surra stated she has noted when she has gone in there that there is
more signs of it being used.Chairperson Huerta asked if everyone was comfortable
with using it as Mesa Senior Center.Councilmember Surra stated no one is happy
with the name, but City Clerk Kathy Connelly added that the Mesa Senior Center is
just the umbrella organization;it is still the Apache Junction Senior Center.
Councilmember Surra stated they are Apache Junction funds and they are providing
the service.Chairperson Huerta asked City Clerk Kathy Connelly to send them a letter
requesting the budget information required.Councilmember Surra stated she
understood the Mesa Senior Center has opened its doors to Apache Junction residents
for services that could not be provided here.Chairperson Huerta stated her concern
is that they are turning down two of them that are in Maricopa County or Mesa, and
they may inquire about why Mesa Senior Center was funded.Councilmember Surra
stated all they have to say is they provide a specific service in Apache Junction.City
Clerk Kathy Connelly stated they provide meals to those who can walk in and meals
on wheels to those that cannot get in to the center.Commissioner Bennett stated her
only concern was in making sure only Apache Junction residents were being served
meals.City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated she receives a quarterly report that gives her
the addresses of the people being served, and they are primarily in the city.They
now have a waiting list of people trying to get into the senior center, and whenever
there is an opening, they call the next person on the list to come and get their meal.
Councilmember Surra reminded them they are spending more than they are receiving
from the city so she has no problem with other people getting some meals.
Councilmember Surra mentioned they might want to consider counting the non-
residents as half a resident as they are spending their sales tax money in the city.
Chairperson Huerta stated the next applicant is the Salvation Army.Councilmember
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APRIL 16,1997
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Surra stated there have been so many changes in the administration over the last few
years that it has been very difficult for them.Chairperson Huerta stated she is
concerned about their Christmas bellringing.They advertise it as help for the
community but in their documents they show they are only using FEMA and city
financing.It shows the bellringing is national financing and it is turned in.She added
they put down rent for certain months, and she asked City Clerk Kathy Connelly if the
addresses were provided for those months.City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated they
give her a copy of a driver's license, if available, or a copy of a utility notice.There
was one quarter they did not and since then she has insisted they provide her with
the backup documentation.Chairperson Huerta stated on a monthly report Apache
Junction appeared to be the only source of funding.There appear to be no matching
funds for the other programs.She stated she feels like the city is being used.
Commissioner Cranmer asked if there had been a refund.City Clerk Kathy Connelly
stated they were funded a year ago and ran into bookkeeping problems in December
1995 and returned the money.Due to it already being in the budget cycle, it was too
late to disburse the funding to other agencies.Commissioner Cranmer asked if they
were any more stable now.City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated she had doubts on that.
Councilmember Surra stated her other problem with them was their sponsoring the
food share program, wherein for so many hours of volunteer service you can buy a
certain amount of food at a reduced price.It was not hours at the Salvation Army,
but assisting anyone with anything for no pay without it having to be community
service.They do not go by your income, and people with two jobs were going in and
buying the food at a discount price for these "hours volunteered".There is no
monitoring of the hours; it is all an honor system.You buy $40 worth of food for $15
and the money goes to St. Mary's Food Bank.Commissioner Bennett suggested that
St.Mary's Food Bank might be able to tell how much food was given out.
Councilmember Surra stated the Salvation Army does not have to verify their
residency for that program.It is not a requirement.Councilmember Surra questioned
where their other funding source is to put money back into the community.All of the
other agencies have other sources, and they do not appear to do so.Commissioner
Bennett asked why the people did not use the Food Bank.Councilmember Surra
stated they use St. George's.Commissioner Bennett stated there are too many food
banks.Commissioner Cranmer suggested they might go from one to the other, and
Councilmember Surra stated they are supposedly linked to prevent that.There was
a discussion on how often people can receive boxes from the food banks.
Councilmember Urich stated she is concerned about their lack of concern for
deadlines.City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated it was more than a lack of concern; if she
had not called they would not have made the deadline.Councilmember Surra stated
the publicity of not giving them any funds would be disastrous for the organization.
She suggested a minimal, token gesture.Commissioner Cranmer asked if they could
give them something pending release of more concise records.City Clerk Kathy
Connelly stated they can put all kinds of stipulations in the contract.Commissioner
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APRIL 16,1997
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Cranmer suggested giving them a certain amount of money and if documentation
comes in to cover that amount they can then be given more.Councilmember Surra
stated they should disburse whatever is in the fund by the time the decisions are
made.However, she stated they can stipulate how the funds will be spent, and if the
documentation does not support how the funds were to be spent, they have to return
that portion.City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated they did make the application deadlines
for United Way and FEMA this year,so they may have more funding sources.
Commissioner Cranmer wanted to know how this amount would fund Apache
Junction,and she was told she could ask them about that at the interview.
Councilmember Urich stated she wanted restrictions of some sort when they give the
money out.City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated that would make it easier, because if
you give them too much room they get confused.
Chairperson Huerta went on to Superstition Mountain Mental Health.Councilmember
Surra stated she believes they serve a population that needs help direly.She is
supportive of the agency but is not happy with them providing a plan and changing
the plan after the support is given.She believes the change has always been in the
back of their mind, but they wait to change it until afterwards, and that offends her.
She is offended by individuals being contacted for support rather than doing a
presentation.She is suspect of someone who lobbies.Commissioner Cranmer stated
she believes the council gave them a much needed message.Commissioner Cranmer
stated she would like to see restrictions of some sort for them as well as the Salvation
Army.Chairperson Huerta stated there has been a change in attitude, like they are
expecting another entitlement.Councilmember Surra suggested they feel it is their
right to have it and to do with it as they please without being held accountable.
Councilmember Urich stated they do not like to be questioned.Councilmember Surra
stated they are double-dipping into the governmental funds that we use.The more
they get out of those funds limits the fundings the city will have for health and human
services.She is unhappy with their not complying with what they said they would
use it for.Councilmember Urich agreed.Commissioner Cranmer and Chairperson
Huerta agreed, also.Chairperson Huerta stated she was concerned about their having
apartments and making it look like the people in them are not paying rent to them.
She stated they make their paperwork look like the grants and funding they are
receiving are paying for those people to live there, when those people are actually
paying them rent.Councilmember Surra stated they have not separated out the rent
as an income source, and the commission has a right to ask for that.Chairperson
Huerta stated it shows that they pay for their patients' medication, when the patients
have their medication paid for by ACCSS.Councilmember Urich stated that is very
misleading.Councilmember Surra wanted to know why they are not showing the
source of funding that supports all the expenditures.Commissioner Cranmer
questioned if the revenue put down as residential services is part of what they are
collecting.Councilmember Surra stated they need to call it rent if they are calling
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
APRIL 16,1997
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themselves landlords.City Clerk Kathy Connelly added because they are non-profit
the city does not receive the sales tax from the rent, and they are in competition with
people who are receiving rent and paying sales tax.Commissioner Bennett mentioned
in the past she was surprised to see $623,000 left at the end of the year, until she
was told it was for use as capital to build a new complex.City Clerk Kathy Connelly
stated they will not build the new complex now, and Councilmember Surra stated it
was because they could not afford the wall required around the property by the
landscaping ordinances.Commissioner Bennett questioned the relative expenses of
$23,000 and was told that may be the new time clock for salaried employees.
Councilmember Surra stated they do have the right to ask them what the money is
that was left over at the end of the year.Commissioner Cranmer stated she has a
conflict of interest with this organization and asked where she would stand in the
meeting.Chairperson Huerta asked what her conflict of interest was.Commissioner
Cranmer stated her daughter works for them.Chairperson Huerta asked if she lived
with her.Commmissioner Cranmer stated she did not live with her.Chairperson
Huerta stated there then was no conflict of interest.Councilmember Surra stated a
conflict of interest would be something that benefited her personally.City Clerk
Kathy Connelly stated she would check with Bill Farrell to see if it also involved an
immediate member of the family.Councilmember Surra stated with this being
divulged to the commission and the city,unless her vote influences something
wherein she or her daughter benefit financially, there should be no conflict of interest.
City Clerk Kathy Connelly repeated she would check with the city attorney to be on
the safe side.
The next applicant was St.George's Catholic Community.Commissioner Cranmer
asked if they could get more information and was told this was probably all they
would get.Councilmember Urich stated she was concerned when she saw that two-
thirds are distributed to Apache Junction residents and then it states where other
areas receive less then one-third distributed.Chairperson Huerta stated there is a big
concern as St.George's goes all the way to Queen Creek and Signal Butte.
Councilmember Surra stated the parish is widespread and he does not turn anyone
away based on residency.She stated the migrant workers are a big part of their
funding.She believes he spends funds from other sources to accomplish his goals
and does a lot of wonderful things.However, he does not like to comply with rules.
She does not believe an exception can be made just because it is a church.
Commissioner Bennett stated other churches are doing the same things and have
never asked the city for funds to help them do it.Councilmember Surra stated other
churches have stopped doing those things and they have a bigger program than most
churches.They go outside their parish to assist,as in Ajo,Eloy and the various
reservations.Commissioner Urich asked if they had to go through audits.City Clerk
Kathy Connelly stated the letter from the diocese states they have never had an audit.
Chairperson Huerta stated there is no other church in Apache Junction that does what
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APRIL 16,1997
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St. George's does.Commissioner Cranmer stated she did not want to give them any
money until they received some documentation on what he does with the money.
Councilmember Surra stated he refuses to accept accountability.She stated it is
different if he wants to take the money out of his rummage sales and the collection
plate and does not want to account for it to the parishoners - he does not have to.
But the city's money he has to account for.She stated the commission is responsible
if he does not account for it.Commissioner Cranmer asked if it was worth a year to
say no money until you can comply.Councilmember Surra stated that is okay if you
do not go to church there.He has knocked the city every since last year when they
refused to fund him.Commissioner Bennett asked her if she knew how much money
the church takes in each year.Councilmember Surra stated he publishes a weekly
collection report that she believes is by eye.Councilmember Urich stated other
churches have to have audits with the Internal Revenue and she does not understand
why this church does not.City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated one page was odd in the
information received where it appeared somebody covered over part of the income
statement.Commissioner Cranmer asked if they could call his bluff on this and say
they needed more information.Councilmember Surra stated you have to stipulate
exactly what you want within a certain time frame.City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated
the ordinance specifies they need to provide those things on the checklist, which he
has not done.Commissioner Bennet asked who "Susan"was and if she was
incorporated into the non-profit status.Chairperson Huerta stated she is the financial
aid who disburses the money from the account.City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated she
is asking on the behalf of St. George's.Commissioner Cranmer asked why people
were turned away from other agencies seeking aid and then go to St.George's.
Councilmember Surra stated those agencies may have a rule of funding them once in
a quarter, whereas St. George's never turns anyone away.Commissioner Cranmer
stated they could go from agency to agency each month.Chairperson Huerta stated
they can go for food, but each agency is supposed to question them as to why they
are going each month to another organization.She stated when it comes to financial
assistance, they cannot get away with going from one to the other because they all
work together on that.Other churches will help on financial assistance but only if
someone other than St. George's calls them.They will not help St. George's directly.
Commissioner Bennett stated First Baptist Church even dispenses rent money.She
has helped put up a homeless person who came to the church.Chairperson Huerta
stated the churches should not be doing that on their own, they should work together
with Project Help, the Salvation Army and St. George's. Commissioner Bennett stated
they said people get help from their rummage sales.Councilmember Surra stated she
believes they mean the money collected from the rummage sales are distributed to the
poor.Councilmember Surra stated she believed they are still supporting the migrant
ministry,and are collecting clothing,food and blankets for them.Commissioner
Bennett stated some of that is going to the Indian project.Councilmember Surra
expressed concern about how much of that was not being distributed in Apache
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APRIL 16,1997
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Junction.She stated they are not willing to document the people they have been
helping.City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated she did not believe they would be able to
produce the documentation, for whatever reason.Chairperson Huerta requested she
send them a letter demanding documentation on proof of residency.Councilmember
Surra stated he must show what he is using the city funds for or they will have to be
returned.Commissioner Cranmer stated they must have the information.She added
he has not gotten anything before.Councilmember Surra stated this is the first
application he has done; before he used to call on the telephone and berate the city
for not giving them anything.City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated she could not release
any funds to him unless he can give a full accounting of those funds.Commissioner
Cranmer asked if they could approve funds but he would not get any money unless
he provided the documentation.City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated that was correct;
it is released one -quarter at a time and no funds are released until she has received
the quarterly report to verify the provision of services.Commissioner Cranmer asked
if they could give him a token amount pending the documentation.Councilmember
Surra stated the first year should be a very token amount, as he will expect the same
amount every year without any accountability.City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated he
has to account for those funds.Commissioner Cranmer stated if he does not provide
the documentation, withhold the funds.Councilmember Surra stated he wants to use
the money to fund and support the administrative cost of running the program.She
believes this is for Susan's salary.City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated it can be specified
in the contract that it be for direct services.Commissioner Cranmer asked if they
were making a mistake in giving him any money.City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated
she would check with the attorneys as not all the items on the checklist have been
provided and they are mandated under the ordinance.Commissioner Cranmer stated
they could just reject this.City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated he may not have some
of this other revenue, but he did not say that.She stated it appeared the income
statement was deleted.Commissioner Cranmer stated there needs to be an audit, for
them and for the parishoners.Councilmember Surra stated they cannot call for an
audit, they can only ask for the records to process the application.City Clerk Kathy
Connelly stated she cannot accept an unverified financial statement.Councilmember
Surra stated they may have to give him a blank one as a guideline.City Clerk Kathy
Connelly stated they are usually done by an accountant,and she can give him a
sample of one of those.Commissioner Cranmer asked if they had a record of
donations.City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated only if they are large enough under IRS
rules.Councilmember Surra stated the offertory donations are used to run the parish
and he does not have to disclose that.Councilmember Surra stated he can tell the
commission there is a lump amount of money and all he has to tell them is how he is
spending it.City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated a copy of the most recent financial
report was to be included but she could not find it.She stated she could call Susan
Southwick and advise her it did not reach the commission.Concern was voiced by
many about the city having to account to the citizens for the funds.Councilmember
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APRIL 16,1997
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Surra was concerned about whether office employees may be getting consideration
as people who need help and having it come out of those funds.City Clerk Kathy
Connelly asked if anyone could explain on the March 1996 report where there is a
column for assisting someone with their taxes.Chairperson Huerta stated it could be
property taxes.City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated their miscellaneous column is quite
substantial, and a financial aid of $2,000.Chairperson Huerta stated that was funeral
aid.City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated there is a column for personal.Commissioner
Bennett asked if $59,296 was what they actually spent, so that is what they are
asking for.Chairperson Huerta stated she believes that is an estimate of the food
they have given out for Christmas and Thanksgiving baskets, and the $31,684 is the
total cost directly paid out to clients in financial aid.Commissioner Bennett stated she
thought three churches in the area coordinated the food baskets on the holidays.
Councilmember Surra and Chairperson Huerta stated the Salvation Army and Project
Help also coordinated on that.Commissioner Cranmer questioned the $375 in taxes
again.The consensus was it was a property tax, possibly past due.Commissioner
Bennett questioned the column at the bottom of that sheet titled "Others agencies
aid" as to whether it was a contribution or money given out to other agencies.The
consensus was that was where other agencies were aided.Chairperson Huerta asked
the commission what they wanted City Clerk Kathy Connelly to do.City Clerk Kathy
Connelly suggested they may want to interview them and ask them to provide the
details missing.She has a form she can send them to let them know what
information is needed, and if they refuse to provide the information that will solve the
problem of whether they can be funded or not.Commissioner Cranmer asked Kathy
to send them a letter before the interview stating that we need more specific
information.City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated she would also ask for a copy of the
financial report referred to in the letter.Commissioner Cranmer requested she quote
the ordinance in the letter.City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated she had sent a checklist
with the original letter, and Commissioner Cranmer requested she send that again.
Councilnnembers Surra and Urich doubted that Susan Southwick saw the original
letter,so Commissioner Cranmer asked that the letter be addressed to Susan.
Councilmember Surra suggested the person who made out the application should be
the one present at the interviews.
Chairperson Huerta stated they had gone through all the applications and eliminated
a couple of them, but there is still more discussion on a couple of others at a later
date.
4.Discussion on Commission vacancies and City Council process for making
appointments.
Chairperson Huerta asked what applications have been turned in.City Clerk Kathy
Connelly stated there is one vacancy from when Carol Urich was placed on the City
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APRIL 16,1997
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Council, plus Chairperson Huerta's term expires this year.Chairperson Huerta stated
she had to think about whether she wanted to be reappointed and would give City
Clerk Kathy Connelly her answer next week.City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated no
applications had been turned in for the current opening as of yet.Chairperson Huerta
stated Leilani was supposed to have turned in her application.City Clerk Kathy
Connelly stated it never got to her,and she wondered if she did not turn one in
because she lives outside the city.Chairperson Huerta said she would have her pick
up another application.City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated she would check the
ordinance to see if a member may live outside the city.Councilmember Surra believes
all the members must live in the city as it deals with funds spent entirely in the city.
Commissioner Cranmer asked about Chuck Baker.City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated
Commissioner Barker thought Chuck Baker might be interested but she has not heard
from either of them.Councilmember Urich stated she knew of a woman who would
be turning in her application.Chairperson Huerta hoped they would turn them in
before the next meeting,and she was reminded by City Clerk Kathy Connelly that
they would have to appear before the council who would then appoint the member
chosen.Councilmember Surra stated the city ran an article asking for talent bank
applications.
5.Selection of future meeting dates.
City Clerk Kathy Connelly asked Chairperson Huerta what steps she should take
regarding the funding applications.Chairperson Huerta stated she should notify the
two eliminated.Councilmember Surra stated she should send letters asking for
additional information for those still under discussion, and set up appointments for the
others and come up with questions for the interviews.Chairperson Huerta stated she
believed they should meet before then to decide on the questions for the interviews.
City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated she needed to contact the Boys & Girls Club about
their 501C.Commissioner Cranmer asked what would happen if they do not have
that.Councilmember Surra stated they could not be funded.City Clerk Kathy
Connelly stated she would call them and tell them it has to be in by 5:00 p.m. on
April 25 or they would not be considered.Councilmember Surra suggested meeting
on April 30.Chairperson Huerta stated they could meet then to go over the new
information that had come in and have preliminary discussions on the disbursement
of funds.City Clerk Kathy Connelly stated they are working with $74,000 in funds
for this year again.Councilmember Surra asked if the meeting could be later than
6:30 p.m.The commission decided to schedule it for 7:00 p.m.There was a
discussion about changing it to a Monday or Tuesday, but they were reminded those
are council meeting nights.Councilmember Surra stated they did not necessarily need
to have the council liaisons in order to have a meeting.City Clerk Kathy Connelly
reminded them she needs to be there and she has the council meetings on those
nights.She stated since they are not meeting until April 30 she will give the
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APRIL 16,1997
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applicants until Monday, April 28, to provide the information requested.
6.Requests for future agenda items.
There were no requests.
7.Adjournment.
Commissioner Bennett moved for adjournment.Commissioner Cranmer seconded the
motion.The meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.
Carmen Huerta
Chairperson
Kathleen Connelly
City Clerk
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APRIL 16,1997
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