PLEASE NOTE MARCH 19,2022
UPDATED STORY: DEB MURPHY SUBMITTED CORRECTIONS TO THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE REGARDING BISHOP CITY COUNCIL ACTION AT THE LAST MEETING. THERE WAS NO VOTE ON THE AMOUNT TO ALLOCATE AND A VOTE WILL BE TAKEN AT THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING. IN ADDITION, LESLIE CHAPMAN WAS INCORRECTLY IDENTIFIED AS LINDA CHAPMAN AND KATE MORLEY’S NAME WAS MISSPELLED. SIERRA WAVE MEDIA IS SORRY FOR ANY CONFUSION THIS MAY HAVE CAUSED AND HAS CORRECTED THE ARTICLE.
Three weeks after Mono County and the Town of Mammoth Lakes allocated $100,000 each to keep the Inyo Mono Advocates for Community Action (IMACA) functioning, the City of Bishop and Inyo County Board of Supervisors dealt with the issue. Inyo came up with $100,000. Bishop Cty Council to vote on $25,000 at their next meeting. Councilmember Stephen Muchovej explained Bishop is the smallest of the four impacted entities with less available monies.
Kate Morley, IMACA’s executive director hired just prior to the financial implosion, repeated
the details of the organization’s financial issues for the third and fourth time in the last month.
The organization lost its controller and got behind on billing. IMACA is grant funded; those
grants are reimbursable, meaning the services are provided and the grantor is billed before any
money comes down to the organization. COVID and the subsequent shut-down of businesses
across the county increased the demand on services.
Supervisor Jeff Griffiths, who also sits on the IMACA Board of Directors, explained the depth of
red tape attached to the billing process. With the reporting requirements and requests for
additional information, a bill for $1,300 could cost $1,500 in staff time.
Moberly explained the organization has 30 contracts, representing “a lot of balls in the air.” As
an example, the food bank provided supplemental goods for 450 families prior to COVID.
During the pandemic, that number ballooned to more than 1,000 families.
IMACA also staffed and ran pre-schools; those will be handed off to the Inyo Office of Education as of April 1. The organization is still looking for a home for its housing assistance work.
In response to a public comment citing IMACA’s “bloated salaries,” Griffiths noted that a former pre-school teacher at IMACA was now working at a local fast food restaurant because it paid more.
In general, the Board was sympathetic to IMACA’s situation, but a bit guarded on providing
funding, asking for a budget and forecast within the next six months. Morley was willing to
comply with whatever contingencies were placed on the funding.
Griffiths made the motion to provide the $100,000; the motion was seconded and the Board
voted 4-1 to approve. Supervisor Jennifer Roeser was the “no” vote, explaining that her
constituents “wanted sidewalks.” Leslie Chapman, Inyo Chief Administrative Officer, explained
the funding would come from contingency funds “set aside for unforeseen emergencies,” not
capital improvement funding for sidewalks.
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You know what would be really great? If some of those folks with massive homes up in Aspendell who don’t even work for or contribute to our local economy in any way? Some of which rake in cash from out of area jobs and then buy and build these huge mansions without contributing to the local community? You know, those folks who might even be half time or more in the big city elsewhere or just sitting on trust funds… what if they contributed some of that cash they are using to push all of us locals out of affordable housing based on our local ecomic incomes, not their out of area incomes, toward helping those they have now actually rendered homeless because they can’t afford to rent here on a salaried local job as a result of these actions? Maybe living within your needs is a thing to not destroy rural communities with big city dollars?
What if the very loud and rich we catered to protecting their quality of life here as a society actually tossed a bone to the rest of us living down in the lowly valley instead of making the general public shoulder the burden of their economic atrocities?
How about them apples?
I’m also interested in the rules on conflict of interest for Inyo county supervisors to give county money to organizations that they sit on the boards of? Conflict of interest..
Supervisor Griffiths explained that he was appointed to the IMACA board by the Board of Supervisors. All the Supes sit on other boards, like ESTA, OVGA, etc. OVGA (when it was forming) requested funding from all participants; that vote came to and was approved by the Supervisors.
In this case there is no conflict. Jeff Griffiths is appointed by the Board of Supervisors to sit on the IMACA board
Understand your point, but not sure it is applicable to what you may be thinking:
“members of the Board of Supervisors are themselves appointed each year to serve on a variety of local, regional, state, and national committees, subcommittees, commissions and boards of directors for organizations and other agencies large and small.” IMACA is the only non-profit in Inyo and Mono Counties to support children and families in need. Now, an example of conflict of interest is Supervisor Roeser’s thwarted plan to speak at the “Free Eastsider Town Hall” along with Brad Dacus. Be certain we don’t step on the toes of this group’s right to thumb their noses at public health but be certain to deny anybody else’s rights to freedom if it makes them uncomfortable.
First, IMACA has all of the tools necessary to sustain itself. The ED should be reaching out to her funding sources (CSD, HCD, CSBG) for cash assistance. Second, ask the Board Chair to call the former Controller for help, I did. She was willing to help, thus far has not heard a word from the Board or Management. Finally, encourage board members to participate in the day to day operations of the agency (no, a board meeting once every other month for an hour or so…is not adequate participation). It is in the By-Laws folks. This agency has been in operation since 1981. Get. It. Together. The Community deserves better.
Deb Murphy,
I’m confused by this report. I listened to the entire Bishop city council meeting. The council did not vote on any monies for IMACA. The mayor mentioned 25k and there was agreement to discuss it at the next council meeting. No money was allocated. (Unless there has been a subsequent decision or announcement that I am not aware of)
Council members had great points, Stephen stated that they were , “stewards of the public funds”. The consensus to me seemed that all wanted more information, before committing any money to the potential “black hole” of IMACA finances.
I personally want a real accounting if the books at IMACA before any sort of bailout by local government.
-andrew
You’re right; I got it wrong in the story, along with screwing up a few names. Was obviously having a serious case of brain fade. Here’s the fixed story.
March 16, 2022
Bishop, Inyo County Pitch in to Help IMACA
Three weeks after Mono County and the Town of Mammoth Lakes allocated $100,000 each to keep the Inyo Mono Advocates for Community Action functioning, the City of Bishop and Inyo County Board of Supervisors dealt with the issue. Bishop and Inyo came up with $25,000 and $100,000 respectively.
Bishop requested more clarity before a final vote is taken. Councilmember Stephen Muchovej explained Bishop is the smallest of the four impacted entities with less available monies.
Kate Morley, IMACA’s executive director hired just prior to the financial implosion, repeated the details of the organization’s financial issues for the third and fourth time in the last month. The organization lost its controller and got behind on billing. IMACA is grant funded; those grants are reimbursable, meaning the services are provided and the grantor is billed before any money comes down to the organization. COVID and the subsequent shut-down of businesses across the county increased the demand on services.
Supervisor Jeff Griffiths, who also sits on the IMACA Board of Directors, explained the depth of red tape attached to the billing process. With the reporting requirements and requests for additional information, a bill for $1,300 could cost $1,500 in staff time.
Morley explained the organization has 30 contracts, representing “a lot of balls in the air” in addition to more supportive services through the last two years of COVID. As an example, the food bank provided supplemental goods for 450 families prior to COVID. During the pandemic, that number ballooned to more than 1,000 families.
IMACA also staffed and ran pre-schools; those will be handed off to the Inyo Office of Education as of April 1. The organization is still looking for a home for its housing assistance work.
In response to a public comment citing IMACA’s “bloated salaries,” Griffiths noted that a former pre-school teacher at IMACA was now working at a local fast food restaurant because it paid more.
In general, the Board was sympathetic to IMACA’s situation, but a bit guarded on providing funding, asking for a budget and forecast within the next six months. Morley was willing to comply with whatever contingencies were placed on the funding.
Griffiths made the motion to provide the $100,000; the motion was seconded and the Board voted 4-1 to approve. Supervisor Jennifer Roeser was the “no” vote, explaining that her constituents “wanted sidewalks.” Leslie Chapman, Inyo Chief Administrative Officer, explained the funding would come from contingency funds “set aside for unforeseen emergencies,” not capital improvement funding for sidewalks.
Thanks for the correction. Did you listen or attend the city council meeting prior to writing the first story? The direction from Council was to have staff look into funding. I’m still not positive that means a yes or no vote on anything by next meeting.
We will see how the vote goes on the Bishop city council funding. As a constituent I want them to get a full accounting of what’s going on before committing any money.
I’ll be listening to the next IMACA board meeting as well.
Why do they not post there financials on there website. No Form 990. No meeting minutes that I can find.
I’m a constituent of Supervisor Roeser and I do NOT prefer sidewalks over feeding and housing the homeless. Thank you to the other supervisors who have their priorities straight.
I agree I’m so disappointed with her. We have a huge housing problem in this community. Even those with money can’t get housing. But that was just one of may disturbing and tone deaf statements of the meeting. It’s clear who she believes who her constituents are and many of them don’t live in her district.
Kay,
Are you the same Kay quoted on the IMACA site thanking them for the gift of weatherization program? How much grant money did they “gift” you?
Looking for some transparency on IMACA programs..
No, not the same person, I’ve not received any funding nor support from them. But, I do know a number of people who have, all very deserving.
Concerned
Seems you’re more concerned about,and against what you perceive as being “free-hees” or “hand-outs” coming from IMACA to those in need of financial help…not so much how they are dispersing the funds to those in need…
Unspent Covid monies?
Not at all.
What kind of evil is Roeser. Imaca does so much than I’m sure she is aware of. Some day when she’s old I hope she has a limited income and gets turned down for heat assistance and winterization. Let’s not let her have another term, she doesn’t deserve the overly extravagant retirement package she would get if she does.