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June 30, 2009

Decision pending on Comlinks director

Decision pending on longtime director, now on paid leave

By DENISE A. RAYMO

MALONE — ComLinks officials may make a more-permanent decision July 15 about the future of Chief Executive Officer Nancy Reich, who is out on paid administrative leave.

At the same time, a recruiting committee will be asked to find candidates for the 15-member Board of Directors, due to the resignation of three members earlier this month.

And a contracted employee-search agency will advertise two staff vacancies that have occurred since Reich was removed from duty at the Malone-based community-action agency.

DIFFERENT DIRECTION
Board President John Ray said he and the board met in executive session several times since mid June to gather information and speak with employees, but he declined to elaborate.

He said Reich is paid $80,000, plus benefits, but has never had a formal employment agreement.

"She is an at-will employee," Ray said. "There is no contract. She was appointed years ago with no end time to it.

"But I think we're at a point where we're ready to make a decision about a different direction and a different approach.

"I'm hedging because this is a personnel matter, but we're getting closer to a longer-term decision."

Ray said he has heard the criticism of the board as unresponsive or slow to action, "but not everyone has the information we have.

"And you have to remember, it's not one person making decisions; it's a lot of board members as a group, and there may not be a consensus."

CUT OFF
Reich was out of town and couldn't be reached for comment.

"Communication has been cut off" between Reich and the ComLinks staff since her departure, Ray said, with orders for her not to carry out any work-related business or be consulted on any ComLinks issues.

Chief Financial Officer Brenda Mallette-Glennon and Housing Development Director Brian Cassini have been appointed co-directors.

Each has filled in for Reich during vacations and other extended leaves, Ray said, so the transition has been smooth.

"I doubt anyone from the outside using the services and programs could tell the difference."

MORALE
He said morale at the agency is improving, "but there are still some underlying issues."

Three board members quit during the recent turmoil: Patricia Manchester, Fred Mueller and Shirley Morris.

Two employees also resigned in the past three weeks.

AUDITS UNDER WAY
And as if all that weren't enough, ComLinks is the focus of two independent audits — one by the Internal Revenue Service and the other by the State Comptroller's Office.

Ray said there has been no word on the conclusion of either probe, but the IRS doesn't usually contact an agency after an audit unless it finds a discrepancy.

The state investigation is more far-reaching, he said, because it looks at transactions and payments from several years past.

"It's a worry, especially when your expectation is that they are not going to find anything illegal or unethical. But you give it your best shot, and we're hoping, so it is a worry."

The bottom line is the volunteer directors "are committed to the agency and to the lives of the citizens of Franklin County," Ray said. "And we're doing the best we can."

E-mail Denise A. Raymo at: draymo@pressrepublican.com

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