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DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT ~B~ COMMITTEE SOUTH NORWALK OFFICIAL SITE Robert Burgess, Chairman Sylvester Maultsby, Vice-Chair Al Ayme, Secretary Phaedrel (Faye) L. Bowman, Corresponding Secretary Yvonne Rodriguez, Treasurer We appreciate your contributions. Please send contributions payable to: DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT ~B~ COMMITTEE ~click here~ STATE OF THE CITY | '2005 - '2007 STATE OF THE CITY | '2007 - Present CT. STATE NEWS | ISSUES NATIONAL NEWS | ISSUES MAILING LIST EVENTS | PICTURES VIEW | POST - BLOG STREET MAP OF SOUTH NORWALK |
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PRESS RELEASES VOLUNTEER to join our team of members and government officials. You can make a difference. We are glad to hear from Norwalk residents with their ideas, suggestions and/or concerns, and those who recognize the importance of engaging dynamic participation in the political process. |
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IN THE NEWS... Opening Statement Let me begin by saying: We're not buffoons or the laughing stock of the community. We're a group of concerned citizens and Taxpayers, who have formed this committee: SOSS. Because of numerous complaints from the community. There is no hidden or personal agenda here. Nor are we living in the past, or creating an illusion that we're leaders in the community. As far as going to the Director and airing our concerns they were express in the June 27,2007 board meeting That we're asking the funding sources to investigate. A letter was sent to Michael Starkowski, Commissioner CT. Department of Social Services. On: August 20, 2007 Asking him to look into the attempt to change the By-Laws And an audit report. These are only some of the issue we're asking the commissioner To look into. The Director and the Chairman are aware of our letter to the co mmissioner. Therefore they should wait to change the by-laws until the DSS Commissioner finishes his investigation. Bea Brown Deacon William Murphy Richard Fuller Carolyn Fuller Brad Schmidt Jorge Martell ALAyme John Lombardi Angelo Rubino Robert Burgess Mary (Mimi) Burgess LETTER TO Michael Starkowski, Commissioner CT Department of Social Services AUGUST 20, 2007 Michael Starkowski, Commissioner CT Department of Social Services 25 Sigourney Street Hartford, CT. 06106 Complaint and request pursuant to Norwalk Economic Now, Inc. Dear Commissioner Starkowski, We, residents and taxpayers in the city of Norwalk and supporters of Norwalk Economic Opportunity now (NEON ),have form an ad-hoc Committee,"S.O.S.S."(Save our social services) in response to numerous Complaints from the received by one or more committee members from NEON board members, staff and community activists.We have met twice and elected officers of the committee. The most pressing concern is the recent attempt to change the NEON By-Laws, which attempt will be made again at the planned Sept. NEON board meeting. Thus we are requesting that, you or your designee, meet with our group Prior to the meeting to hear our request that the by-law changes not passed until the community has been heard. We can be reached at the Chairwoman's phone 1 203 853 9566 or at a spokesman ( Robert Burgess) at 1 203 451 4664. This letter will be followed by hard copies of attachments pursuant to the matter as follows:
Many of the complaints refer to the changes to the by-laws which include: 1. failure to conduct agency business under the existing by-laws. 2. The attempt to change the number of board members, which would result in the loss of a number of poverty area residents. This plan, coupled with any rumored change in the designation of Target areas, would also get rid of some target area elected board members who have continually challenged the administrative Staff's daily operating procedures. 3. the establishment (which has already been accomplished) of a "Governance Committee" which would supersede the power of the board executive committee and board itself which was in place. 4. Proposed change of title of the Director to CEO and President. This is widely believe, would place to much power in the hands Of the Director. 5. The Director's instance that the entity may choose it's own it's own board members and that board members can be removed without cause. Other allegation that our committee will address in the near future , hopefully with the aid of your department's internal compliance division are: 1. Allegations of missing or incomplete records of NEON Finance committee meetings. 2. Allegations of unavailable records of NEON expenditures. 3. Rumors that is either renting or leasing a building own by Mt. Zion Baptist Church which is being renovated to house a NEON program. The board Chairman is a Deacon in that church and also resides In the building. The community wants to learn if the Chairman's apartment Is also renovated and if so ,were NEON program funds used for the entire building renovation. We also question weather the Chairman pays rent to NEON or to the church. 4. Questions whether or not the renovations to this building And NEON central administration area, received the necessary\ Fire Marshall and City building departments permits, and Whether or not the board approved the renovations and The source of funds. 5. The Mayor's appointment of a relative of the Executive Director to the NEON board. Although this member subsequently Appointed an alternate, it is believe that this alternate is loyal To the Chairman and the Director. 6. Community unrest concerning the hiring of the Executive Director at a salary greater than that of the previous Director And the granting of merit bonus prior to being in the position For a year. The unrest also centers around the unacceptably Low salaries of lower level NEON staff and the alleged lack Of timely salary increases for lower staff coupled with sizeable Increases for select administrative staff. 7. Allegations that some members of the NEON Staff are close Relatives of the Executive Director. This is being cited as Nepotism throughout the community. 8. The apparent failure to have an active board affirmative action committee and a designated Affirmative Action Officer, and the lack of knowledge on the part of some staff members of affirmative action procedures. Please contact us at your earliest convenience. Mary T. Brown Chairperson Committee Members, Mary T.(Bea) Brown, ad-hoc committee chair, former Neon board chair, former elected official, member Norwalk Human Relations Commission former president tenant association Former Neon staff. Richard Fuller, Former Neon delegate agency director, Former elect official Brad Schmidt, community activist, former NEON staff member Jorge Martell, community activist, elected official Al Ayme, community activist, former elected official John Lombardi, former Neon board member, former Elected official Angelo Rubino, former NEON board member, former Labor activist Robert Burgess, former Neon Executive Director Mary E. (Mimi) Burgess, ad-hoc committee vice Chair, elected official, NEON former delegate Agency chair Deacon William Murphy, former NEON board member, Former NEON internal counsel (volunteer) , former Elected Official |