ThisWeek CW 12/10/2015

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/12/07/council-debates-funding-for-senior-transport-program.html

Councilwoman Bobbie Mershon raised questions at the Nov. 30 City Council meeting about how city funding for the Canal Winchester Human Services senior transportation program is being used.

Mershon said the $62,000 the city allocates to the program isn’t being used properly and financial reports from Human Services Administrator Penny Miller need to include more details.

The $62,000 is expected to cover all material, administrative and related salary costs for the senior transportation program.

“I want to know where the money is being spent,” Mershon said. “I want to know how much money is left over; she’s been taking the $3,600 out of the drivers’ fund for administration.”

Councilman Joe Abbott, who is one of two City Council representatives on the Human Services board, said Mershon should better familiarize herself with the program before making accusations about how funds are being used.

“We’ve figured out that it costs about $21 per transport trip and that seems very reasonable,” he said. “This is where I’m coming from: We agreed to give Human Services $62,000 to take over this program, and I think if you have an issue with it, you need to get more involved.”

Abbott’s term on council ends Jan. 1 and he suggested that Mershon should volunteer to take over his spot as a representative on the Human Services board.

“What I’m saying is that you can’t pay for scheduling rides … out of this money that has to go for senior transport drivers,” Mershon said.

Abbott refuted this comment, saying that the drivers are also handling some of the scheduling.

“If we want to micromanage the program, then we should’ve just kept it. If we don’t give them this money, then this program won’t happen,” Abbott said.

Miller did not attend the Nov. 30 meeting. When contacted on Thursday, Dec. 3, she said she found Mershon’s statements confusing.

“The senior transportation program has traveled in excess of 31,000 miles in the last year,” Miller said. “More than 3,000 one-way trips have been provided so that senior citizens can attend medical appointments, the grocery, the food pantry, a variety of personal needs, and social opportunities, including community center activities. Of those trips, more than 80 percent were provided to city residents. Senior transportation and several other partnerships we have with the city would not be possible without their support, which is why Mrs. Mershon’s negative comments are confusing.”

Councilman Steve Donahue asked Mershon at the Nov. 30 meeting if she was trying to cut the senior transportation program funds. Donahue said he believes it is “evident the money is needed.”

“At this point, I just want better reporting. We asked for quarterly reports. I want financial reports and the purpose of use so if she’s using this for drivers, I want a report stating the purpose of use of this money,” Mershon said.

Clarifications provided

Finance Director Amanda Jackson said Miller had provided clarifications to the city about the current report that she said shows the money from the city covers only part of the total program costs, with grants covering the rest.

“In the updated report, she listed out her actual expenses,” Jackson said. “She paid out $10,381 in drivers’ salary alone, which is more than we’re giving her for that line item, so she’s not paying a scheduler out of that.

“The $3,645 that she’s paying is under the $14,500 administrative fees that she’s always paid it from, so my assumption is that she’s covering the additional expenses through grants or other revenue sources,” Jackson added.

“Essentially what she’s trying to show is that she’s not spending the money we gave her for communication equipment or gas or other things on the drivers and she’s showing that she’s spending a lot more on administration than we give.”

Councilman Jim Wynkoop, also a member of the Human Services board, said he agrees that some of the reporting “could be better” but ultimately, he doesn’t “think it’s going to change any direction or how the spending is being made.”

Mershon agreed to work on developing specific reporting items she’d like to request from Miller.

Several other council members said she should be aware that additional reporting requirements could result in increased administrative costs, further decreasing the budget for providing services.

New representatives to Human Services will be selected in January when City Council holds its 2016 organizational meeting.