Correction, 10:15 p.m., Dec. 22 – Community Action Program, not partnership.
NORWALK, Conn. – A crumbling South Norwalk anti-poverty agency will continue to see that the needs of its clients are met even if it goes bankrupt, its board chairman said Friday.
Norwalk Economic Opportunity Now (NEON) Board Chairman Michael Berkoff indicated during Thursday evening’s board meeting that bankruptcy is being considered for the agency, which bounced employee paychecks last month. Friday, he addressed that issue as well as questions surrounding former interim CEO and President Chiquita Stephenson.
“No decision (about bankruptcy) has been made yet but there are options that are under discussion and consideration,” he said. “Right now the decision is to keep NEON open and operate as possible for the consumers. We will not allow bankruptcy unless there is a local CAP (Community Action Program) agency in lower Fairfield County that will serve as NEON is designed to serve the community.”
The Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) is “looking to help us put in the controls that are needed to move the agency forward,” he said.
The public portion of Thursday’s meeting was brief but sparked with a bit of drama: the appearance of Stephenson.
“I was surprised she was there; even more surprised she didn’t say anything,” board member Michael Geake said in a Friday morning email.
Stephenson remained silent when Berkoff gave the public the opportunity to speak, then bolted from the room when an executive session was called 16 minutes after the meeting was called to order.
At last month’s meeting the board voted on whether to dismiss Stephenson, who was described as being on unpaid leave after all the employee paychecks bounced Nov. 5. Four board members voted to dismiss Stephenson and four abstained.
The minutes written by board secretary Dale Ferguson, a Stephenson supporter, called that a “no” vote. She cited Robert’s Rules of Order as she explained the issue at Thursday’s board meeting.
“In the NEON bylaws it states ‘board members present,’” she said. “Then I went to the 11th edition of Roberts Rules of Order and it stated that if the by laws specifically state present board members abstentions actually become ‘nos’.”
“Been using Robert’s Rules for decades. Dale’s issues are new to me!” Geake said Friday morning.
Berkoff said NEON’s attorney confirmed the validity of the vote to dismiss Stephenson.
“That’s all straightened out,” he said. “Our attorney said that that vote was fine.”
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