Revamped Costa Mesa Senior Center opens its doors

Hundreds of senior citizens sat in the recreation room of the Costa Mesa Senior Center last week inspecting this year’s holiday gifts – mugs containing candy and a $5 gift card good at grocery or other stores.

Last year, the nonprofit that was running the center didn’t have enough money to buy gift cards for everyone, so they were dispersed in a raffle-style drawing. Some staff members and their families walked away with multiple gift cards, while several seniors left empty-handed.

“The seniors were not happy about that,” said Ernie Feeney, a former board member who often frequents the center. “It was a real downer.”

But on Friday, about 200 people were welcomed to the newly revamped senior center for its Christmas party, considered by many to be the center’s pinnacle event each year.

The party coincided with the facility’s grand re-opening after a three-month closure for about $200,000 in renovations.

The new paint, carpets, refinished woodwork and new countertops represent a new era for the center under city management, Feeney said.

“It’s like night and day,” she said. “It truly is a pleasant place.”

A troubled year

The celebration ended a difficult year for the center on a high note, participants said.

At various times, the center, at 695 W. 19th St., was rocked with news of financial insolvency – which jump-started a lengthy city takeover – an embezzlement case and increasing tension between visitors and the center’s board.

The center, which had been a hub of social activity for Costa Mesa’s older population, stopped being fun, said volunteer Stella Adkins, a former board member.

Seniors accused the staff of being rude and publicly ridiculing several guests.

The 20,000-square-foot facility previously served about 300 to 400 people per day, but the number had dwindled in recent years, according to those who frequent the center.

Last year, participation in center programs decreased by 20% compared with 2008-09 and 2011-12, and volunteer hours dropped by 35%, according to an audit requested by city staff.

“It was a cold atmosphere and people stopped coming,” Adkins said.

According to city officials, participation has increased this year, with 1,101 people signing up for the center’s programs, parties and newsletter.

Financial woes

The city has always owned the senior center building, but officials began contemplating taking over its management after the Costa Mesa Senior Center Corp.’s financial problems came to light in January.

The nonprofit’s board projected that its general fund would run dry by June. But it fought a city takeover, hoping to use money from a foundation set up by a former center regular, Albert Dixon, to shore up its budget.

Then in June, Costa Mesa police arrested a former senior center employee on suspicion of embezzling from the center.

Though the center had checked the woman’s references before she was hired, it did not perform a criminal background check that would have shown a conviction for stealing from another area senior center.

After months of pushback from the board, the city assumed operations of the center in September, hired new staff and began working to select a commission to report the center’s activities to the City Council.

Former senior center board members voted to keep the previous management corporation intact to handle any lawsuits that arose after the city’s takeover.

Foundation funds raise questions

While some are pleased with the center’s transformation, some longtime members question how money managed by the Albert Dixon Memorial Foundation will be spent.

Dixon was a daily fixture at the center until his death in 2002. The foundation was created in 2006 after his second wife died, leaving the senior center $650,000.

The money was intended to “provide funds for the disadvantaged and aged and to support the programs and activities of the Costa Mesa Senior Center,” according to the foundation’s tax forms.

The foundation is managed by a five-member board that reviews and deliberates requests for funding. The board is made up of four previous senior center board members and former center Executive Director Aviva Goelman, who was appointed to the board in November.

Albert Dixon board members serve two-year terms, though there is no term limit.

“We’ve never really opened it for applications,” said foundation board President Mike Scheafer. “The five of us could stay on for the rest of our lives if we wanted to.”

While the previous senior center board was still operating, the Albert Dixon board approved transferring $50,000 to the center to keep it afloat until the city assumed all functions. Dozens filled the senior center board meetings to oppose the transfer. Many seniors contended the money should be used for programs that directly benefit seniors and not for day-to-day expenses and employee salaries.

More recently, seniors circulated a petition requesting that the foundation dissolve and donate all funds to the senior center.

“Two words sum up the board of directors – secrecy and non-transparency,” Feeney said. “When Albert Dixon died, he didn’t give money to five board members. That money was supposed to be for the seniors at the senior center.”

Scheafer declined to disclose the amount of money left in the fund. But he said it is not being misused.

“I think people need to be careful about what they’re saying,” he said. “I’m a public figure and if someone accuses me of misappropriating funds, it gets the hair on the back of my neck a little crazy.”

Scheafer said the foundation will consider requests from the center once the city commission is established. The organization is prohibited from donating money to the city.

“It’s a little up in the air as to what we can and cannot do,” he said. “It’s as clear as mud.”