The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

The Senior Center Board meeting scheduled for Wednesday, July 27th did not take place as planned since two of the board members who were present for the meeting submitted their letters of resignation. In addition, the previous board president, Gloria Godfrey, resigned as a non-voting consultant member. A third board member resigned in absentia. Due to a lack of quorum the meeting was canceled and a public discussion forum was held.

The resignations took place in response to a letter sent to the board and the Chouteau County Commissioner. The letter, sent by the North Central Area Agency on Aging (NCAAA) director, Sue Bender, addressed conditions that must be met for the contract to be awarded that allows for continued state funding of the Big Sandy Senior Center. Without the awarded contract, the Senior Center would not have any external funding to put toward reopening and would be required to repay funds they had received up to this point in the year. The letter alleged that Lorrie Merrill, Pat Matthews, and consultant Gloria Godfrey were "non-compliant," and that they had personal and professional conflicts of interest. Each of the resigning board members who was present made a statement and submitted their letters of resignation early in the meeting. Brad Moore, who was not present due to pressing family business that came up just before the meeting was scheduled to start, also resigned. No reasons were given for his resignation. When those present for the meeting asked for clarification regarding the required resignations, representatives did not offer specifics out of concern for the privacy of those involved.

The discussion that followed became heated at times and was hampered by technological glitches that made communication with representatives of the NCAAA difficult. Several points of importance to the Big Sandy Senior Center that were brought up and discussed included September 1, 2022 deadline for reopening the Center in order to be awarded a contract with the state through the NCAAA. The most significant point of non-compliance with the NCAAA's requirements at this time is the fact that the center has not been open for 4 months. Another issue included in the letter requiring the board resignations was that the center would need to adopt new bylaws. This was scheduled to take place at the July 27th meeting, but could not since the board resignations eliminated the quorum that was present. There was additional discussion regarding an amendment to change the age requirement for membership on the board. The NCAAA supported this change. A large part of the discussion amongst those present dealt with the practical steps that need to take place to move the process of returning the organization to compliance with the NCAAA forward.

A special meeting has been scheduled for the 3rd of August to replace board members, discuss the changes to the board's age requirements, and to approve the hiring of a new cook.

In the days following the meeting on the 27th, the Senior Center Board has scheduled to reopen the Center for Senior's 9 AM Coffee. The following Monday, the 8th, the Center will reopen for lunches. The reopening of the Center solves the most significant point of non-compliance raised by the NCAAA.