DESERT HOT SPRINGS

Max Liebermann

Publisher

Linda Moore

Operation Director

Leslie Andrews

Staff Writer

Dean Gray

Staff Writer

Jackie Devereaux

Staff Writer

Cathy Jardine

Photographer

Ken Dow

Photographer

Pat Krause

Photographer Jim Fox Distribution

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DIRTY LAUNDRY AIRED:

Chamber Board Dismantled

BY DEAN GRAY and JACKIE DEVEREAUX DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CA - The Chamber of Commerce in this windy burg of Coachella Valley may have violated a number of rules and regulations when they called an emergency board meeting here last month. The meeting violated the bylaws and the contract with the city, said Alta Hester of the Board's executive committee. Adding to the mix, some board members were concerned about the implied political and media influence by Buzz Gambill, a local bi-weekly publisher. The Chamber has not acted in a BY DEAN GRAY and JACKIE DEVEREAUX DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CA - Charges of alleged mismanagement of the local Visitor Information Center plagues the Chamber of Commerce, causing a leadership meltdown within the board here. What concerns people most is how the fifty thousand dollars, given annually by the City to manage the Visitor Information Center, is being spent. Additionally, questions are being raised over why new volunteers were placed in prominent staff positions without adequate training or supervision. Linda Moore, the former Chamber office manager recognized a need to coordinate the volunteers with a Volunteer Policy & Procedure Manual. Against objections, Moore created a manual, but doubts whether it is being utilized by the present Chamber. If the city was not financially involved, then this would be an internal matter within the Chamber. However, the City essentially provides the Chamber with its financing and the funds are commingled. Questions of malfeasance arise when City dollars may have been dispersed without receiving the services contracted for. City management and city council members are especially concerned about recent claims of insufficient funding, and weak or insufficient information provided to the public, sometimes after weeks of delay. Allegedly, in some cases, the information fiscally responsible way. New leadership is needed, Hester added. "I don't take direction from the Board. He tells me what to do,? said embattled CEO Carol Farm. Past president Lane Sarasohn refused comment. In the emergency meeting, employee performance, pay, benefits and duties were openly discussed. Worried executive committee members said the discussion might be violating employee civil rights. Privileged personnel matters previously were only discussed at closed executive committee meetings. Some board members disagreed, request has been "short-changed? or cut back by withholding some materials deemed too expensive to mail. Moore worked for the Chamber for six months, leaving only recently when her hours were cut. A month and a half earlier, CEO Farm received a four thousand dollar bonus, an amount equaling one month of City funding. Moore repeatedly made verbal and written requests for job descriptions. Those requests were ignored, she said, frustrated with the lack of management accountability. Moore says she quit after Farm and Gillis independently de-

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cided to reduce her hours, without board approval. Farm then hired Gloria Hayes, a personal friend, without the approval of the executive committee. The board of directors approved the personnel policy giving the executive committee sole authority for personnel issues, including the hiring, firing, pay scale and number of employee hours. Farm has no comment as to how and why she is hiring and managing employees without executive committee approval.

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arguing that personnel matters were matters open to public discussion. Mission Springs Water District board members, John Furbee, Randy Duncan, Mary Gibbons and Frank Persina voiced their concerns at this meeting. "The purpose of the board meeting is to air our dirty laundry in public,? Furbee said, dismaying some board members. Rhonda Rascoe and Eric Pontius expressed concerns about a lack of fiscal accountability, and a failure to follow the by-laws. Additionally, an inaccurate list of members suggests the recent board elections did not follow Chamber by-laws either. City Councilman Scott Matas said new leadership was needed, and that money would be well spent to revamp the Chamber by-laws. Matas cautioned that further discussion could generate negative headlines for months, adding that this meeting may be illegal. Gillis, blaming financial troubles on former personnel, seemed oblivious to Matas' warnings. Other board members, sensing doom, stopped Gillis' ranting, and voted to close the emergency meeting to the public.

QUESTIONS SWIRL OVER VISITOR CENTER

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