Senior board defends policy

Costa Mesa Senior Center leaders say that — although they think it’s unnecessary — they would be fine with giving a City Council member voting rights on the center’s board of directors, but they don’t want the vote to go to Councilwoman Wendy Leece, who has been pushing for more of a substantial role in the center’s management.

Leece is the City Council’s non-voting liaison to the private corporation, but she thinks she should have a vote because one-third of the center’s money comes from the city.

Information like employee salaries should be made available for residents’ scrutiny, Leece said.

“Because a portion of the budget is the public’s, then it is my opinion that salaries and benefits should be made available to the public,” Leece said.

The board keeps that information private — which it deems reasonable and normal because the center is a private corporation — but all other financial information is independently audited and released to the public.

The center submits to reporting practices above and beyond what’s required by its contract with the city, said board member Mike Scheafer, because it needs the rigorous assessment in order to compete for outside grants.

The board decides employee pay, and the salaries they make are less than many neighboring senior centers, board members said.

“It’s an insult that Wendy would think we’re misspending money,” Scheafer said.

The board members also provide much of the center’s funding for programs, classes, parties and other activities through donations, according to center Director Aviva Goelman.

Judy Lindsay, for instance, is one of the community members appointed by the council, and she single-handedly saved the center’s annual Christmas party with a large, last-minute donation, Goelman said.

Lindsay said she was offended by Leece’s claim that the center needs stricter financial oversight.

Leece’s attempt at more involvement in the center’s affairs has undermined the staff’s ability to do their jobs, according to Goelman.

Seniors have threatened employees, saying their jobs might be in jeopardy because they are going to go to Leece with their complaints, staff members have reported.

“The vote isn’t the important part. She has antagonized everyone. I have a staff that’s very uneasy because of her,” Goelman said.

Leece was prompted to get involved by complaints she received from some seniors who attend the center and weren’t happy with the service. She said she has been contacted more than 30 times by seniors who had criticisms of the center.

Many of the board members have said it’s only a handful of seniors who are generally unhappy with the center’s management, but the vast majority of seniors are satisfied with the offerings.

ALAN BLANK may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or at alan.blank@latimes.com.