LAKE COUNTY — Helping hands were extended to the Lake County Community Action Agency (LCAA) Board of Directors Thursday. The board heard from members representing a state network of action agencies.
Representatives from organizations such as Housing and Community Development (HCD), State Association of California Action Agencies (SACAA), California Community Services and Development (CCSD) and North Coast Opportunities, Inc. (NCO) discussed with the board assistance they could provide to help get LCCAA back into proper operation.
Also present for the discussion was Pamela Harrison, Community Services division manager for the Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) program, which is an essential funding source for LCCAA food programs.
Priorities identified during the discussion include financial analysis and continuing of services.
Harrison said her department”s priority will be focused on auditing CSBG funds. She said her staff prepared a list of the records sufficient to begin a preliminary audit. Michael Micciche, of California Human Development, offered the assistance of his staff as did the representative from NCO. They said their staff could likely begin the process next week.
Marty Comito, former LCCAA employee said there will likely be trouble getting the financial records. “My feeling is that an entire agency audit needs to be done,” she said. “The (CSBG grant) money was put in one place, not in separate bank accounts. We”re not sure if the CSBG funds were put in the right place.”
Micciche said part of the problem is that the LCCAA doesn”t have a current audit.
Tim Reese, executive director of SACAA, suggested a two-pronged approach beginning with collection of the records the state will want and intimate evaluation of programs between network assistants and former LCCAA program directors and others willing to volunteer their time.
Contact South County reporter Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
