It wasn’t so long go that the federal government threatened to take away NEON’s HeadStart grants and designation. Citing irregularities in accounting, NEON faced the lost of between 60-65% of the agency’s funding in 2001 because of mismanagement. You’d think that the lesson of that era would be fresh on the minds of NEON board members. But no, wild accusations and hot tempers flared during the Wednesday night board meeting.

Throughout the nearly two-hour session, allegations of financial irregularities and a proposal to reduce the board’s 33 seats continued to spark outrage from audience members and some of the 17 board members in attendance.

“Everybody can have an opinion,” board chairman Carvin Hilliard said. “But let’s conduct this meeting in a sensible manner.”

But Hilliard’s continued pleas for order went largely ignored.

Board member John Mosby angrily accused the organization’s leadership of keeping board members in the dark.

“You all are making deals with whoever you want, and that’s a violation of federal and state law,” Mosby said. “You don’t let us see anything.”

Bea Brown, a former board chairwoman, has accused NEON Executive Director Joseph Mann of withholding financial records and trying to change bylaws to give himself more power. Mann has denied the allegations.

Mosby has apparently decided to mess with God by violating one of the 10 Commandments, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.”

So what happened? The changes to NEON bylaws, the ones designated to meet the standards of the agencies that give funding to NEON have been tabled to another meeting.

“I think since Mr. Mann has been chairman, the transparency of this organization has improved,” he said. “Let’s not make any allegations you can’t substantiate.”

Although Mann said he works diligently to provide all pertinent documents to the board, he sometimes gets requests that take more time to accommodate.

“The board needs to understand I am trying to be as responsible as I can, but there isn’t much more I can do,” Mann said. “If the board requires anything, we will provide it.”

He told board members they already had the complete audit for 2006, the earliest it has ever been completed in recent years.

“No matter where you look, our programs are running well,” Mann said. “We’re on the road to doing some very good and positive things.”

Out of 33 board members only 17 were in attendance.

The Rev. Janet Hodge, the board’s vice chairwoman, said the proposed bylaw changes should be seriously considered.

“Our funding sources are saying we should do something,” she said. “If they are not comfortable with us, they do not have to give us money. Let’s be honest.”

And so by doing nothing, other agencies who compete for the ever dwindling grants that fund these types of organizations will gain a leg up, and NEON will struggle to increase transparency and advance into the 21st century because of a few misguided people.

source: The Advocate, Hotter heads prevail at NEON board meeting By Jamie DeLoma, September 6 2007