(Part 1 of Mandatory Sentence a short narrative video dramatizing the seriousness of the new federal mandatory sentencing guidelines. This video is targeted towards urban youth who maybe involved in the criminal justice system. Produced in Boston by The US Probation Department, Boston super group 4Peace, Performers of the peace anthem "Start Peace" and Stop Handgun Violence inc.)
(Part 2 of Mandatory Sentence a short narrative video dramatizing The seriousness of the new Federal mandatory sentencing guidelines for urban youth who maybe involved in the criminal justice system. Produced in by The US Probation Department, Boston super group 4Peace Performers of the peace anthem "Start Peace" and Stop Handgun Violence inc.)
A seemingly divided Supreme Court wrestled Monday with whether teenagers can be locked away forever for their crimes. The question arose in two cases involving Florida men who are serving life prison terms with no chance of parole for crimes they committed as teenagers. Their lawyers argue that the sentences for people so young are cruel and unusual, in violation of the Constitution, because young people have greater capacity to change.
Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote the Supreme Court opinion four years ago that ruled out the death penalty for people under 18, judging them less responsible than adults. So most eyes were on him Monday as the court considered whether to extend that rationale to life without parole sentences.
But Kennedy offered little hint of his position, at one point suggesting it might be difficult to distinguish between juveniles and adults in cases that do not involve the death penalty.
"Why does a juvenile have a constitutional right to hope, but an adult does not?" he asked.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg provided a possible answer, wondering whether teenagers can be accurately evaluated at the time they are sentenced. It may be possible that only after some years have passed that the state can determine, "Has this person overcome those youthful disabilities?" she said.
A second chance?
On the other side of the issue, Justice Samuel Alito questioned whether every last juvenile offender had to be given a second chance. "Some of the actual cases in which this sentence has been imposed in Florida involve factual situations that are so horrible that I couldn't have imagined them if I hadn't actually seen them," Alito said, recounting two that involved the rape of children.
In the two cases before the court, Joe Sullivan was sent away for life for raping an elderly woman when he was 13 and Terrance Graham was implicated in armed robberies when he was 16 and 17.
Graham, now 22, and Sullivan, now 34, are in Florida prisons, which hold more than 70 percent of juvenile defendants locked up for life for crimes other than homicide.
The justices could distinguish between the two based on the difference in their ages at the time of the crimes: It could rule that someone as young as Sullivan was must eventually be considered for parole without granting Graham any relief from his sentence.
Sullivan's lawyer, Bryan Stevenson, stated his basic argument simply: "To say to any child of 13 that you are only fit to die in prison is cruel." Sullivan would be resentenced to 40 years in prison if he were to win his case at the high court, he said.
Kennedy's opinion in 2005 was rooted in two principles — that death is different from other punishments and that children are less culpable than adults.
Following that ruling, Stevenson noted that juveniles on death row in Florida — all convicted of murder — "got a better sentence than Joe Sullivan," life prison terms with the possibility of parole.
"He is beyond help," Judge Nicholas Geeker said of Joe Harris Sullivan. "I'm going to try to send him away for as long as I can."
And then Geeker sentenced Sullivan to life in prison without the possibility of parole. At the time, Sullivan was 13 years old.
Now, 20 years after that sentencing in a courtroom in Pensacola, Fla., the Supreme Court will consider whether Sullivan's prison term -- and what his supporters say is an only-in-America phenomenon of extreme sentences for juveniles -- violates the Constitution's prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment.
The case -- which has drawn widespread notice and briefs from former senator Alan Simpson (R-Wyo.) and others describing their own youthful crimes -- is likely to be a cardinal criminal justice decision for the court this term.
It is a natural outgrowth of the court's bitterly divided ruling in 2005 that juveniles cannot be executed for murders they commit.
Those challenging sentences of life without parole for teenagers base their optimism on words in Justice Anthony M. Kennedy's majority opinion in that case: "The reality that juveniles still struggle to define their identity means it is less supportable to conclude that even a heinous crime committed by a juvenile is evidence of irretrievably depraved character. . . . It would be misguided to equate the failings of a minor with those of an adult, for a greater possibility exists that a minor's character deficiencies will be reformed."
Sullivan is represented by Bryan Stevenson of the Equal Justice Initiative in Alabama, who said his client's sentence is no different from the punishment the court found unconstitutional.
"They are both effectively death sentences," Stevenson said in an interview. "One is death by execution, and the other is death by incarceration, but they are both terminal sentences."
Only two 13-year-olds in the country have been sentenced to life without parole for crimes that were not homicides, Stevenson said, and both of them are held in Florida.
Florida officials would not discuss Sullivan's case before the November arguments, but their brief to the court said states are within their rights to lock up forever those thought to pose a perpetual threat to society.
"There is no consensus against life sentences for juveniles, particularly for heinous crimes such as sexual battery," Florida Solicitor General Scott Makar wrote.
Across the country, 111 people are serving life sentences without parole for crimes they committed as juveniles that did not result in a death, according to one report; 77 of them are locked up in Florida, for crimes including armed robbery and carjacking. The state took a get-tough approach in the 1990s in response to a crime wave that was "compromising the safety of residents, visitors, and international tourists, and threatening the state's bedrock tourism industry," Florida's brief to the court states.
That brief came in the case of Terrance Jamar Graham, a second petition the court accepted. Graham, of Jacksonville, received a life sentence after being part of a group that robbed a barbecue restaurant when he was 16; while on probation a year later, he was part of an armed burglary. Again, a judge doubted Graham's ability to ever change his ways; his accomplices served short sentences.
A range of issues
In accepting both cases and deciding to hear them separately, the court gives itself a wide range of issues to ponder. The justices may rule that such sentences are acceptable for 17-year-olds, for instance, but not 13-year-olds. They could look at the relative seriousness of the crimes, or differentiate the non-homicides in both cases with crimes in which someone is killed.
Sullivan, who his lawyer said had been living on the streets since he was 10, had a troubled history with the law. He had 17 offenses before the crime at issue. In 1989, he and two friends burglarized the home of a 72-year-old woman one day while she was away, then returned later. The woman was raped by one of the juveniles; she never saw his face, identifying him only as a "dark, colored boy." But she remembered that he said something like, "If you can't identify me, I may not have to kill you."
At the one-day trial, Sullivan was made to say the words over and over. The victim listened and said: "It's been six months. It's hard, but it does sound similar."
The other boys singled out Sullivan as committing the rape.
"The conviction itself was very questionable," Stevenson said. "We do think he's innocent."
But that is not at issue in the case before the Supreme Court. Stevenson only seeks to have Sullivan, now 33, resentenced so that at some point he becomes eligible for release.
Stevenson contends that Florida made no conscious policy decision that 13-year-olds should be eligible for life without parole for a non-homicide. No state that has debated the question has set the age that low. Instead, he said, Sullivan and others were caught up in a legislative reaction to escalating crime.
"What happened is we lowered the minimum age for trying kids as adults and brought them into the adult system, and we expanded the range of very harsh sentences for an adult, and these two things have collided," he said.
Besides the two Floridians serving life sentences for non-homicides committed at 13, seven others have received that sentence for crimes resulting in a death, Stevenson said.
An Index of Mercy
But the state of Florida and its supporters said that is evidence that the sentences are carefully applied to the worst of the worst.
"It is a rare and agonizing decision to sentence a juvenile to life-without-parole," said a brief filed by Louisiana and 18 other states. "But rare does not mean unconstitutional. Rather, rarity is an index of mercy -- of reluctance to take this severe step."
The National District Attorneys Association, supporting Florida, said that while life without parole for juveniles might be unusual, "permanent incarceration for the most violent, hardened juvenile offenders is by no means 'cruel.' "
Sullivan and Graham are supported by a wide-ranging group of organizations: the American Bar Association, the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, and academics and social scientists who argue that juveniles cannot be held responsible for their actions in the same way adults are. For the same reason, they say, younger teenagers are not entrusted with decisions such as voting, marrying or drinking.
A group of educators and social scientists told the court that such research was crucial to the 2005 decision that juveniles should not be subject to the death penalty. "The principal purposes of sentencing -- punishing the culpable and deterring the rational -- are not furthered by denying the possibility of parole to adolescents," the group said.
Graham and Sullivan are also supported in an unusual friend-of-the-court brief by former juvenile offenders such as Simpson, director and actor Charles Dutton, and a poet, a software executive and a former assistant U.S. attorney.
"At some point, you have to look at them again and ask, 'What have you done with your life?' " said Simpson, who said that as a youth he burned down an abandoned federal building, destroyed property and fought with a police officer. "Maybe 90 percent of them you throw back in, but what about the other 10 percent?"
Information about DSS Fraud probe e-mails exposing Corruption within Charlotte-Mecklenburg's Dept of DSS (as it relates to how Foster Care Children funding is being wasted NOT used for children in the program) was not released to Charlotte Voters until AFTER the Mayoral election because it may have affected the outcome of election results.
This is really sad because Newspapers are NOT supposed to be Biased in their reporting practices.
Nor are they supposed to play mind games with their readers to help sway Political Elections.
They are supposed to report the TRUTH regardless of what implications may occur after doing so.
For Charlotte Observer staff to have used their Media Influence for evil, either newspaper "bigwigs" were getting paid heavily or someone with a lot of Political Power persuaded them NOT to expose anymore information about Charlotte-Meck. DSS Fraud until AFTER the Charlotte Mayoral election.
No further worries from me on this subject because I'm moving.
I refuse to remain under the leadership of a Corrupt, Irresponsibly run City-County government.
While its true no city is perfect, I choose not to remain in a city that's obviously going to end up like Atlanta, Detroit, Chicago or South Central Los Angeles.
Furthermore I also don't believe that Southern Blacks from the Deep South can become competent, honest Leaders unless they have relocated to other regions, i.e., North (New York), Washington, DC, New England or California for the purpose of changing their mentality.
Blacks from Virginia are the exception to this rule because Virginia is NOT located in the Deep South.
When Blacks choose to remain in the Deep South they become Willie Lynch minded, Extremely Selfish and often very Corrupt.
Thus they end up being totally ineffective to help their race.
Just because a Southern Black citizen becomes Well-Educated doesn't mean they can't still be Willie Lynch minded.
The Charlotte Observer doesn't really want Minority Citizens to rise up and be FREE.
Their endorsement of Foxx was just a farce and a trick to fool Southern Black Voters who don't read the issues of what a Political Candidate is running on.
The Charlotte Observer wants Minority Citizens to remain Slave Minded.
Why?
So that they can continue to control them, use them and keep them at the bottom of Society.
That's why they endorsed a Black Man (Anthony Foxx) already programmed to help tear down and step on his own race, even his Blood Cousins, Low Income and Middle Class Black Voters. (Just like Harvey Gantt. Sue Myrick called him out and she was right!)
In some cases people like Anthony Foxx will even disown their Blood Cousins if it means getting what he or she wants.
As I've mentioned previously people like Harvey Gantt and Anthony Foxx ONLY mingle with Low Income Black Voters or Middle Class Black Voters when they want to be elected or re-elected to Public Office. That's It!
At least that's the way it is in Charlotte, NC
Do Charlotte's Black Leaders speak up for Black Children who are failing in our district's Public Schools? No!
Do Charlotte's Black Leaders speak up for Black Children being abused, raped or mistreated in North Carolina's Foster Care? No!
Do Charlotte's Black Leaders speak up for Black Children being killed while in North Carolina's Foster Care system? No!
However these so-called leaders are quick to vote YES for building more jails in which to imprison Black Children and Youth.
Please! Neither of those organizations are helping equalize the playing field between White America and Minority Citizens. Instead they've become Social Clubs for America's Black Elite.
Which is why I think both the NAACP and Congressional Black Caucus should be disbanded.
After all why remain in existence if your no longer effective or relevant right?
Perhaps you think I'm preaching or encouraging RACISM.
No Way!
I'm just educating America to the inner workings of Charlotte's Black Political Community.
Think I'm exaggerating or expressing sour grapes because my candidate John Lassiter (Rep) didn't win?
Please! That's just for show. Its more or less a shrine to Harvey Gantt. I don't worship other human beings.
What about a shrine to former mayor Pat McCrory (Rep) who's done more for Charlotte than any other mayor in Charlotte's political history?
If you think I'm lying drive through Southwest Charlotte, West Charlotte, Northwest Charlotte Charlotte and East Charlotte.
Those are communities with the largest population of Charlotte's Minority (Blacks & Hispanics) citizens, than tell me how much decent Economic Development you observed.
While your on that little stroll tell me how many Parks, Recreational Centers, Nature trails or Nice Schools you observed.
Betcha I can tell you how many Liquor stores and Chicken Joints I observed.
Don't worry I'm moving.
People like myself are considered an outcast within Charlotte's new culture because I won't conform to this extreme Public Corruption.
I can't because I care. I've always cared. Just because I'm not super wealthy or don't possess a Law degree or PH.D. doesn't mean I don't care. Nor does it mean I along with many other constituents can't help cure what ails Charlotte's problems.
Case in point the Charlotte City Council recently stole my Project H.O.P.E. idea, obtained Stimulus Funding for it and still hasn't given me any credit.
That's okay because I have legal proof that its my original idea.
Many of you are probably saying "good riddance" to my departure but I bet you won't be saying that two years from now.
Am I angry? No.
Am I bitter. No.
Disappointed but definitely not angry or bitter. Life is too short to harbor such destructive emotions.
Charlotte, NC your going to be sorry. Your going to have regrets once "White Flight" and even more Public Corruption begins to occur.
Internal e-mails reveal new allegations of misspending at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services, raising more unanswered questions about what happened to money intended to help needy children.
Some of the more than 1,000 e-mails the Charlotte Observer obtained through a Public Records Request provide the most detailed account to date about the agency's accounting fiasco.
E-mails show:
Officials suspected an employee wrote $80,000 in checks to herself from donations.
An administrator questioned why other donations were used to buy $340 diamond earrings, leather coats and a $300 DVD player.
A top executive complained that a senior fiscal administrator frustrated co-workers with her "inability to explain the simplest concepts of revenue and expenses."
After nearly a year, officials have never said who was at fault for $162,000 that disappeared or whether anyone was disciplined.
No one has been charged in an ongoing police investigation and a county report says officials cannot be certain where the money went.
Meanwhile, donors are left to wonder whether their generosity ever helped buy Christmas gifts for those in need.
In one e-mail, a woman describes calling the county in 2007 to give $900 for single mothers at Christmas. The person who answered the phone told her to make a check payable to the worker's sister.
The donor said she grew suspicious and made the check out to the county, but the idea that it may still have been misused is "like a kick in the stomach."
In another e-mail, a founder of Second String Santa said he was concerned whether kids received the more than 50,000 toys his group had donated since 1989.
Will Miller said he believes some of the toys reached children, but he's not sure about the rest.
"Will we ever know? Probably not," he said.
Two Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Commissioners said they have asked County Administrators for a full accounting of what went wrong at DSS but have yet to receive answers. County officials have never explained who was responsible, they said.
"To fix it, you have to admit all the stuff that is messed up," Commissioner Bill James said. "They don't want to do too much digging."
County administrators declined interview requests. Instead, a county spokesman released a prepared statement saying appropriate fiscal controls have been installed in response to an outside audit and an internal investigation.
"Our review of the e-mails we provided and your follow up questions did not reveal any new information that would suggest any change in the audit findings or in management's response to those findings," the statement said.
Some commissioners said they have been told that the employees involved have either left county government or been placed in new positions. Unusual spending patterns
DSS spends $176 million annually and employs 1,200 workers to assist Mecklenburg's poor and neglected. The agency administers everything from food stamps to foster care and child protection services.
Last spring, DSS Director Mary Wilson ordered financial audits following reports of suspicious spending.
Auditors looked at multiple spending programs and financial practices in the agency. They found a $10,000 check made out to an employee, missing and altered receipts and money for kids spent on office supplies.
County leaders responded by suspending the programs, putting DSS finance under direct county control, training workers on accounting procedures and ordering a review of financial procedures in each county agency.
The Observer reviewed e-mails dating from December 2008 to July 2009 for seven current and former county administrators, including Wilson, County Manager Harry Jones, County Finance Director Dena Diorio and Internal Auditor Cornita Spears.
E-mails show county officials noticed unusual spending patterns as early as last December but did not disclose problems to the public until March.
On New Year's Eve, Wilson told staff she had suspended a voucher program the agency used to purchase clothes and other items for clients at local stores. She wrote that officials were worried about a lack of oversight and a spike in spending.
One monthly retail bill leapt from between $5,000 and $6,000 to more than $20,000 in October 2008, the e-mail says. Employees turned in receipts only 30 to 35 percent of the time, she wrote.
At one time or another, workers possessed or had access to numerous credit cards and gift cards, including some to Bath & Body Works, Bass Pro Shops, Macy's, the Cheesecake Factory and Outback Steakhouse.
Outside auditors verified for county administrators that DSS workers possessed county-issued credit cards, including 10 credit cards for Sam's Club, three for Harris Teeter and an online charge account with Amazon.com
In February, county officials asked internal auditors to look into questionable spending, including purchases of diamond earrings, leather coats and a DVD player.
An e-mail to one of the auditors from a human resources consultant said the purchases raise "many questions and concerns."
According to the county's statement, most gifts were typical children's items such as toys, clothes and books. More expensive items such as diamond earrings and leather coats were approved purchases for foster children who reached special milestones like high school graduation, the statement says.
"Receiving a gift of some significant value was viewed as an incentive for other children who were in foster care to set goals and accomplish them," the statement said.
Commissioner Harold Cogdell said he spent part of his early childhood in foster care and believes the gifts are a good idea.
"It makes sense to me to show the kids some love," Cogdell said.
A new Accountant
DSS has endured multiple management shakeups in recent years. The latest came when Wilson reorganized the agency after she was hired in July 2008.
She laid out the reasons to hire a new finance director in a February e-mail.
Wilson wrote that the senior fiscal administrator who managed DSS finances failed to provide reports about oversight, alienated staff and lacked the ability to conduct productive discussions with senior county executives. The e-mail does not name the senior fiscal administrator.
DSS later hired accountant Angela Hurlburt to oversee its finances.
James, the commissioner, said he has asked for the names and background information on Hurlburt's predecessors. He wants them to answer questions from the Board of Commissioners' Audit Review Committee, which investigated accounting lapses at DSS.
He said administrators have failed to respond to his requests and complained that officials "keep us in the dark."
Other Charlotte-Mecklenburg Commissioners disagreed.
Chairman Jennifer Roberts and Commissioner Dumont Clarke said county leaders have already put in place reforms that will protect taxpayer and donor money.
"The highest priority" is implementing new financial controls, Clarke said.
Shifting the Finances
Auditors from Cherry, Bekaert & Holland reviewed DSS and found that Mecklenburg officials responded appropriately. The county's Audit Review Committee came to the same conclusion.
But DSS Director Wilson bristled at one of the major reforms.
Leaders put DSS finance under the direct control of the county's main finance department after allegations of misspending surfaced.
In April, Wilson sent an e-mail to County General Manager Michelle Lancaster to complain. Calling the decision "premature" and "shortsighted," Wilson said there are emergencies when DSS workers must write checks immediately, including occasions when the agency takes children in custody who need clothes, toiletries and school supplies.
"I understand the urgency at the time, but there was a reason DSS had check writing capability and I think we threw the baby out with the bathwater instead of fixing the underlying issue, which is documentation and accountability," Wilson wrote.
Donors left with questions
Past supporters of the DSS Christmas charity include Young Lawyers, employees of Wachovia and Bank of America, and Project Joy, the holiday fund drive initiated by Observer columnist Tommy Tomlinson. The Christmas charity, known as the Giving Tree, is now run by the Salvation Army.
The donor who gave $900 e-mailed the county in July after learning about accounting failures from news accounts. She attached a picture of the check copy she made around Christmas in 2007.
She wrote that she did not remember the name of the woman she spoke with on the phone.
The donor said she and her family all pitched in to raise the money so she could assist women like her who had struggled as single mothers.
When she heard there were allegations of misspending in a DSS charity program, "It's like your stomach just drops." Staff reporter April Bethea contributed.
Here's a link to an e-mail highlighted in our story, in which Wilson says a senior fiscal administrator has left directors "frustrated with her inability to explain the simplest concepts of revenue and expenses."
E-mails:
Wilson email Posted: Saturday, Nov. 07, 2009
From: Wilson, Mary Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:22 AM To: Wilson, Mary Subject: Reasons to Hire Finance Director For DSS
The Finance Department at DSS is managed by a senior fiscal administrator who has significant government revenue experience. What she lacks is a capacity to use that experience to develop strategic plan for DSS finance to (i) increase revenue, (ii) put in policy and procedural checks and balance, (iii) teach/educate division directors on financial accountabilities and (iv) manage the staff of finance department for maximum efficiency and effectiveness. Following are examples of the issues I have had to deal with since coming on board July 2008;
1. Request for budget, updated on a monthly basis Response: still working on receiving something short of the 600 page detail for expense and revenue each month
2. Request for areas of opportunity to increase revenue Response: sporadic discussions of "pots of money" that may come in. No discussion of opportunity to better utilize uncapped revenue funds available to counties
3. Discussion about using P-card as an efficiency Response: P card will not make a difference. She did not understand that instead of reviewing 500 reimbursement transactions per month, we could go to 10 P cards and cut down transaction review time and build more accountability for purchases.
4. Request for discussion monthly with division Directors on Division finances Response: Division Directors frustrated with her inability to explain the simplest concepts of revenue and expenses and confirm where budget is with respect to spending and availability
5. Turnover in department Issue: I have received numerous complaints about her management style and inability to distribute work, grow competency and rough treatment of staff
6. Strategic discussion of budget cuts Issue; suggestion was made to change administrative assistants to case managers and increase revenue. I had to ask for how much this would increase our revenue an walk through analysis process.
7. Review of FY 2010 budget Issue: I am having to review and discuss budget process with senior fiscal administrator to 9i) understand where we are over for FY 2009 (and have not informed Budget) and how this will impact our projected budget cuts for FY2010
8. Staffing Issue: staffing levels are down by 2 people in finance and there has not been a redeployment of staff to cover functions. It is haphazard and items are falling in between the cracks.
9. Approval Authority/Policy development?oversight Issue: I have asked for review of areas where we have "risk" due to unclear approval authority/lack of policy or procedure or lack of oversight. I have not received any feedback but we currently have three investigations pending: i. Clothing voucher: unnecessary budgeted item of approximately $200,000 for clothing for foster care which should be paid by foster care contracts ii. Possible misappropriation of $80,000-$100,000 in the donated funds to YFS Giving Tree iii. Possible misappropriation of $10,000 in the Community Resources Office
10. Lack of communication skills Issue: The senior fiscal administrator lacks the communication skills to participate at the Senior Executive Team and add value to the discussions.
I am putting all this in writing to make the case for the position I have requested. The senior fiscal administrator is a valuable member of the DSS team but she is not the senior person needed to lead the finance effort to make DSS more efficient, effective and to create the new model we will need to deliver services during this economic downturn.
Please advise if you have any questions.
Regards, Mary
Mary E. Wilson Director Department of Social Services 301 Billingsley Road Charlotte, NC 28211 W) 704-336-Mary C) 704-649-0568 mary.wilson@mecklenburgcountync.gov
Email correspondence of Harry Jones Posted: Thursday, Nov. 05, 2009
From: Walton, Jennifer Sent: Saturday, January 10, 2009 9:44 AM To: Wilson, Mary Subject: RE: anonymous letter
Dear Mrs.Wilson, The words in the letter must come from employee's who are feeling threaten by you. It does not make any sense we are all adults and if you are unhappy about the changes that are taking place find another job. I think you are doing great and you are exactly what DSS needed. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO! Keep doing what needs to be done.. Jennifer Walton Dist.#754 Mecklenburg County, DSS Foodstamp Case Manager 301-Billingsley Rd. Charlotte,NC 28211 Phone:(704)432-1307 Fax:(704)353-1328 jennifer.walton@mecklenburgcountync.gov
_____
From: Wilson, Mary Sent: Friday, January 09, 2009 6:43 PM To: DSS-ALL Subject: anonymous letter
Dear Team:
The County Manager recently shared the attached letter with me. I requested permission to share this with all of you as I want to keep you informed. While I had hoped these letters would stop based upon the progress we have been making, unfortunately, they have not.
Nevertheless, we will continue our efforts to move the department from being good to great.
Over the past 6 months, I believe we have taken some significant strides together as an organization. We have held a DSS wide staff training and recognition that for the first time in the history of the organization, brought all 1200 employees together for training and recognition. We have implemented a Tuition Reimbursement Program for the first time for all employees. We have aligned ourselves with County shared services which are already improving our access to resources. And we have engaged community partners and placed social workers in the community to meet the client where they are located.
Since I have come on Board at DSS I have taken the opportunity to get to know as many of you as I can through small group meetings, one on one sessions, meetings at different DSS locations and attending your staff meetings. I have met with hundreds of employees at every level of the organization and I will continue to do so. Over and over I have had employees tell me things such as, "Once again I want to thank you for listening to what we had to say. Once again I have that feeling that you really care about the front line workers. In all the years I have been at DSS, the director has always kept his distance from the front line workers, but ever since you have been here I have felt someone really does care about us."
What I have learned is that there are passionate people at DSS who love what they do but don't always have a way to have their voice heard at every level of the organization. You have questions and ideas and there is not always a non-threatening way to share ideas or get answers. My vision for DSS is that every employee will be valued as an important part of the team. It is my desire that each one of you would embrace this vision, to continue to move our organization forward.
Next week the Senior Executive Team will be involved in an offsite meeting to develop our vision and mission statement for DSS and our 6 month Strategic Plan. Once that is finalized, we will develop and publish a communication plan to keep you updated on how you can get involved to help make a difference. We will continue to communicate progress on all initiatives on a regular basis.
Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. You are the BEST team and I look forward to working with you to serve all the citizens of Mecklenburg County.
Regards,
Mary
Mary E. Wilson Director Department of Social Services 301 Billingsley Road Charlotte, NC 28211 W) 704-336-Mary C) 704-649-0568 mary.wilson@mecklenburgcountync.gov
From: Wilson, Mary Sent: Monday, January 12, 2009 9:32 PM To: Isler, Cynthia Subject: RE: anonymous letter
Cynthia,
Thanks for your kind words of support and encouragement. I encourage you and others to share your positive feedback with the County Manager and the Board of County Commissioners. Don't let a few speak for you! Thanks again for at least giving change a chance! Take care, Mary Mary E. Wilson Director Department of Social Services 301 Billingsley Road Charlotte, NC 28211 W) 704-336-Mary C) 704-649-0568 mary.wilson@mecklenburgcountync.gov
_____
From: Isler, Cynthia Sent: Mon 1/12/2009 9:52 AM To: Wilson, Mary Subject: RE: anonymous letter
Dear Mary, Keep your head up and press on. You are doing a fantastic job. Cynthia
_____
From: Wilson, Mary Sent: Friday, January 09, 2009 6:43 PM To: DSS-ALL Subject: anonymous letter
Dear Team:
The County Manager recently shared the attached letter with me. I requested permission to share this with all of you as I want to keep you informed. While I had hoped these letters would stop based upon the progress we have been making, unfortunately, they have not.
Nevertheless, we will continue our efforts to move the department from being good to great.
Over the past 6 months, I believe we have taken some significant strides together as an organization. We have held a DSS wide staff training and recognition that for the first time in the history of the organization, brought all 1200 employees together for training and recognition. We have implemented a tuition reimbursement program for the first time for all employees. We have aligned ourselves with County shared services which are already improving our access to resources. And we have engaged community partners and placed social workers in the community to meet the client where they are located.
Since I have come on Board at DSS I have taken the opportunity to get to know as many of you as I can through small group meetings, one on one sessions, meetings at different DSS locations and attending your staff meetings. I have met with hundreds of employees at every level of the organization and I will continue to do so. Over and over I have had employees tell me things such as, "Once again I want to thank you for listening to what we had to say. Once again I have that feeling that you really care about the front line workers. In all the years I have been at DSS, the director has always kept his distance from the front line workers, but ever since you have been here I have felt someone really does care about us."
What I have learned is that there are passionate people at DSS who love what they do but don't always have a way to have their voice heard at every level of the organization. You have questions and ideas and there is not always a non-threatening way to share ideas or get answers. My vision for DSS is that every employee will be valued as an important part of the team. It is my desire that each one of you would embrace this vision, to continue to move our organization forward.
Next week the Senior Executive Team will be involved in an offsite meeting to develop our vision and mission statement for DSS and our 6 month Strategic Plan. Once that is finalized, we will develop and publish a communication plan to keep you updated on how you can get involved to help make a difference. We will continue to communicate progress on all initiatives on a regular basis.
Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. You are the BEST team and I look forward to working with you to serve all the citizens of Mecklenburg County.
Regards,
Mary
Mary E. Wilson Director Department of Social Services 301 Billingsley Road Charlotte, NC 28211 W) 704-336-Mary C) 704-649-0568 mary.wilson@mecklenburgcountync.gov
From: William F. James, Jr. [wjames@carolina.rr.com] Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 10:24 AM To: Paige, Janice; CountyCommissioners; Jones, Harry L. Subject: FW: Support for Director Wilson
Importance: High
I got this from a management analyst regarding the letter about Mary Wilson that was sent to Channel 36 (WCNC).
The allegations in the letter is lengthy and I am sure Bill Warren is looking into the stuff about redecorating of offices and such. One of the questions was about the $20,000 for the ëChristmas partyÃ. That event and the costs said to be associated with it landed in the paper and in a WCNC news segment.
I have been asked about it and wanted to know some of the details of the expenditure. Vilma Leake made reference to a party at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church but I donÃt know if that is the $20,000 party that was being discussed.
I am asking about that directly because Ms. Wilson used to work for Friendship and frankly a predominantly Black church seems a strange place to hold a secular DSS (County Department) Christmas party (if that is what happened). If $20,000 was spent on a party there I would like to know what the costs were per person, how many actually attended, why there (as opposed to the Marriott, Westin, etcÖ), and how the pricing on the event was developed (whether bids were taken or did they look at various places before settling on Friendship).
If the cost per unit was high it would also be helpful to know the menu of what was served to make it that high. I recall Vlima saying something about the high quality of the food.
Of course, this may all be sour grapes from the person writing the letter but it could also be true which is why it is important to have the facts before this story gets legs.
Regards,
Commissioner Bill James (R, District 6)
Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners
600 East Fourth Street, 11th Floor
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
HTTP://billjames.org Confidentiality Notice: E-mail correspondence to and from this address regarding public matters pertaining to Mecklenburg County business may be subject to the North Carolina Public Records law "NCGS Ch 132" and may be disclosed to third parties. This electronic mail transmission may contain information that is confidential, priviledged, or proprietary. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you are not authorized to read, print, retain, copy or disseminate this message, any part of it, or any attachments. If you have received this message in error, please delete the message and any attachments from your system without reading the content and notify me immediately of the inadvertent transmission. There is no intent on the part of the sender (me) to waive any priviledge that may attach to this communication. Thank you for your cooperation.
From: Heilman, Amy [mailto:Amy.Heilman@mecklenburgcountync.gov] Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 9:16 AM To: Jones, Harry L.; CountyCommissioners Subject: Support for Director Wilson
Dear County Manager and County Commissioners,
Good morning. I want to share my response I sent to Director Wilson regarding the appalling "anonymous letter" that she courageously shared with her Team at DSS.
I feel it is important that a few "anonymous letter writers" don't speak for me, or for the DSS Team collectively. I believe that the vast majority of us welcome and embrace the innovation and positive change Director Wilson brings to DSS. I am grateful that she is here as our leader.
Please see the attached email (below).
Regards,
Amy Heilman
Amy Heilman, MSW, LCSW
Management Analyst
Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services
Office: 704.353.1541
Fax: 704.353.1898
E-mail: amy.heilman@mecklenburgcountyNC.gov
This message may contain information that is confidential and/or protected by law. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, copying or communication of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please contact the sender immediately and delete the message.
_____
From: Heilman, Amy Sent: Monday, January 12, 2009 9:24 AM To: Wilson, Mary Subject: RE: anonymous letter
Dear Director Wilson,
I support you 100%, and I believe that the re-organization you have accomplished in such a short period of time really does benefit the employees, customers and residents of Mecklenburg County. It is clear that you don't just talk about a more effective and efficient Department, you are creating one.
Unfortunately, there are some people who feel otherwise, and do not have the maturity to handle their grievances in a professional manner. In my opinion, the immaturity demonstrated by these letter writers is an indication of the how these letter writers must have conducted themselves in their positions at DSS.
I see something positive despite the negative nature of the letters. I think the letters are an indication that you are doing your job well. You are re-organizing the Department to create strong leadership. Re-assigning people to positions that they are better suited for is only going to make our Department better, even if that means that some people no longer have positions with authority. If this means that some people feel that this is unfair, then so be it.
Thank you for the work you do, and for all the motivational emails you send to us.
Regards,
Amy Heilman
_____
From: Wilson, Mary Sent: Friday, January 09, 2009 6:43 PM To: DSS-ALL Subject: anonymous letter
Dear Team:
The County Manager recently shared the attached letter with me. I requested permission to share this with all of you as I want to keep you informed. While I had hoped these letters would stop based upon the progress we have been making, unfortunately, they have not.
Nevertheless, we will continue our efforts to move the department from being good to great.
Over the past 6 months, I believe we have taken some significant strides together as an organization. We have held a DSS wide staff training and recognition that for the first time in the history of the organization, brought all 1200 employees together for training and recognition. We have implemented a tuition reimbursement program for the first time for all employees. We have aligned ourselves with County shared services which are already improving our access to resources. And we have engaged community partners and placed social workers in the community to meet the client where they are located.
Since I have come on Board at DSS I have taken the opportunity to get to know as many of you as I can through small group meetings, one on one sessions, meetings at different DSS locations and attending your staff meetings. I have met with hundreds of employees at every level of the organization and I will continue to do so. Over and over I have had employees tell me things such as, "Once again I want to thank you for listening to what we had to say. Once again I have that feeling that you really care about the front line workers. In all the years I have been at DSS, the director has always kept his distance from the front line workers, but ever since you have been here I have felt someone really does care about us."
What I have learned is that there are passionate people at DSS who love what they do but don't always have a way to have their voice heard at every level of the organization. You have questions and ideas and there is not always a non-threatening way to share ideas or get answers. My vision for DSS is that every employee will be valued as an important part of the team. It is my desire that each one of you would embrace this vision, to continue to move our organization forward.
Next week the Senior Executive Team will be involved in an offsite meeting to develop our vision and mission statement for DSS and our 6 month Strategic Plan. Once that is finalized, we will develop and publish a communication plan to keep you updated on how you can get involved to help make a difference. We will continue to communicate progress on all initiatives on a regular basis.
Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. You are the BEST team and I look forward to working with you to serve all the citizens of Mecklenburg County.
Regards,
Mary
Mary E. Wilson
Director
Department of Social Services
301 Billingsley Road
Charlotte, NC 28211
W) 704-336-Mary
C) 704-649-0568
mary.wilson@mecklenburgcountync.gov
From: William F. James, Jr. [wjames@carolina.rr.com] Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 10:24 AM To: Paige, Janice; CountyCommissioners; Jones, Harry L. Subject: FW: Support for Director Wilson
Importance: High
I got this from a management analyst regarding the letter about Mary Wilson that was sent to Channel 36 (WCNC).
The allegations in the letter is lengthy and I am sure Bill Warren is looking into the stuff about redecorating of offices and such. One of the questions was about the $20,000 for the ëChristmas partyÃ. That event and the costs said to be associated with it landed in the paper and in a WCNC news segment.
I have been asked about it and wanted to know some of the details of the expenditure. Vilma Leake made reference to a party at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church but I donÃt know if that is the $20,000 party that was being discussed.
I am asking about that directly because Ms. Wilson used to work for Friendship and frankly a predominantly Black church seems a strange place to hold a secular DSS (County Department) Christmas party (if that is what happened). If $20,000 was spent on a party there I would like to know what the costs were per person, how many actually attended, why there (as opposed to the Marriott, Westin, etcÖ), and how the pricing on the event was developed (whether bids were taken or did they look at various places before settling on Friendship).
If the cost per unit was high it would also be helpful to know the menu of what was served to make it that high. I recall Vlima saying something about the high quality of the food.
Of course, this may all be sour grapes from the person writing the letter but it could also be true which is why it is important to have the facts before this story gets legs.
Regards,
Commissioner Bill James (R, District 6)
Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners
600 East Fourth Street, 11th Floor
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
HTTP://billjames.org
Confidentiality Notice: E-mail correspondence to and from this address regarding public matters pertaining to Mecklenburg County business may be subject to the North Carolina Public Records law "NCGS Ch 132" and may be disclosed to third parties. This electronic mail transmission may contain information that is confidential, priviledged, or proprietary. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you are not authorized to read, print, retain, copy or disseminate this message, any part of it, or any attachments. If you have received this message in error, please delete the message and any attachments from your system without reading the content and notify me immediately of the inadvertent transmission. There is no intent on the part of the sender (me) to waive any priviledge that may attach to this communication. Thank you for your cooperation.
From: Heilman, Amy [mailto:Amy.Heilman@mecklenburgcountync.gov] Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 9:16 AM To: Jones, Harry L.; CountyCommissioners Subject: Support for Director Wilson
Dear County Manager and County Commissioners,
Good morning. I want to share my response I sent to Director Wilson regarding the appalling "anonymous letter" that she courageously shared with her Team at DSS.
I feel it is important that a few "anonymous letter writers" don't speak for me, or for the DSS Team collectively. I believe that the vast majority of us welcome and embrace the innovation and positive change Director Wilson brings to DSS. I am grateful that she is here as our leader.
Please see the attached email (below).
Regards,
Amy Heilman
Amy Heilman, MSW, LCSW
Management Analyst
Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services
Office: 704.353.1541
Fax: 704.353.1898
E-mail: amy.heilman@mecklenburgcountyNC.gov
This message may contain information that is confidential and/or protected by law. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, copying or communication of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please contact the sender immediately and delete the message.
_____
From: Heilman, Amy Sent: Monday, January 12, 2009 9:24 AM To: Wilson, Mary Subject: RE: anonymous letter
Dear Director Wilson,
I support you 100%, and I believe that the re-organization you have accomplished in such a short period of time really does benefit the employees, customers and residents of Mecklenburg County. It is clear that you don't just talk about a more effective and efficient Department, you are creating one.
Unfortunately, there are some people who feel otherwise, and do not have the maturity to handle their grievances in a professional manner. In my opinion, the immaturity demonstrated by these letter writers is an indication of the how these letter writers must have conducted themselves in their positions at DSS.
I see something positive despite the negative nature of the letters. I think the letters are an indication that you are doing your job well. You are re-organizing the Department to create strong leadership. Re-assigning people to positions that they are better suited for is only going to make our Department better, even if that means that some people no longer have positions with authority. If this means that some people feel that this is unfair, then so be it.
Thank you for the work you do, and for all the motivational emails you send to us.
Regards,
Amy Heilman
_____
From: Wilson, Mary Sent: Friday, January 09, 2009 6:43 PM To: DSS-ALL Subject: anonymous letter
Dear Team:
The County Manager recently shared the attached letter with me. I requested permission to share this with all of you as I want to keep you informed. While I had hoped these letters would stop based upon the progress we have been making, unfortunately, they have not.
Nevertheless, we will continue our efforts to move the department from being good to great.
Over the past 6 months, I believe we have taken some significant strides together as an organization. We have held a DSS wide staff training and recognition that for the first time in the history of the organization, brought all 1200 employees together for training and recognition. We have implemented a tuition reimbursement program for the first time for all employees. We have aligned ourselves with County shared services which are already improving our access to resources. And we have engaged community partners and placed social workers in the community to meet the client where they are located.
Since I have come on Board at DSS I have taken the opportunity to get to know as many of you as I can through small group meetings, one on one sessions, meetings at different DSS locations and attending your staff meetings. I have met with hundreds of employees at every level of the organization and I will continue to do so. Over and over I have had employees tell me things such as, "Once again I want to thank you for listening to what we had to say. Once again I have that feeling that you really care about the front line workers. In all the years I have been at DSS, the director has always kept his distance from the front line workers, but ever since you have been here I have felt someone really does care about us."
What I have learned is that there are passionate people at DSS who love what they do but don't always have a way to have their voice heard at every level of the organization. You have questions and ideas and there is not always a non-threatening way to share ideas or get answers. My vision for DSS is that every employee will be valued as an important part of the team. It is my desire that each one of you would embrace this vision, to continue to move our organization forward.
Next week the Senior Executive Team will be involved in an offsite meeting to develop our vision and mission statement for DSS and our 6 month Strategic Plan. Once that is finalized, we will develop and publish a communication plan to keep you updated on how you can get involved to help make a difference. We will continue to communicate progress on all initiatives on a regular basis.
Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. You are the BEST team and I look forward to working with you to serve all the citizens of Mecklenburg County.
Regards,
Mary
Mary E. Wilson
Director
Department of Social Services
301 Billingsley Road
Charlotte, NC 28211
W) 704-336-Mary
C) 704-649-0568
mary.wilson@mecklenburgcountync.gov
From: Bentley, Karen Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 11:30 AM To: James, Bill; Paige, Janice; CountyCommissioners; Jones, Harry L. Subject: RE: Support for Director Wilson
Bill and BOCC Colleagues, I attended the "mandatory" Christmas party/training session you refer to below. My interest in attending was to assess the content - was this mostly a social event or was the main focus on training? Ms. Wilson started the program by recognizing several DSS employees with awards - well deserved, I'm sure. Once that was completed, employees dispersed into various self-directed sessions that were, in my observation, designed to make employees aware of the broader organization and the various vendors/non-profits associated with DSS. The employees had an activity (a sheet of questions that could only be answered by attending the breakout sessions) that they were asked to complete. I do not know how the completion of this activity was assessed by management and what, if any consequences, there were for not completing the activity. In my observation, the employees were fully engaged in the training activities and found them to be relevant and useful. Many expressed great appreciation to Ms. Wilson for the opportunity. It appeared that after the employees walked through the breakout sessions, they were free to proceed to the refreshments. I did not attend this part of the event, but glanced into the room prior to the beginning of the awards session. I will say that is was pretty extravagant for a government function, especially in a time when we all personally and corporately are tightening our belts significantly. Of the $20,000 budget for the event, approximately $15,000 of that was related to the reception (mostly for catering, but some for entertainment). The cost of the Christmas party last year was about $9500. The event was held at Grady Cole and involved no training. I believe Ms. Wilson is doing a great job at the helm of DSS. However, I do question her judgment about spending significant dollars (albeit small relative to the overall DSS budget) on an office remodel and an event where most of the expense was food/entertainment related. Regards, Karen Karen Bentley Mecklenburg County Commissioner, District One
_____
From: William F. James, Jr. [mailto:wjames@carolina.rr.com] Sent: Tue 1/13/2009 10:24 AM To: Paige, Janice; CountyCommissioners; Jones, Harry L. Subject: FW: Support for Director Wilson
I got this from a management analyst regarding the letter about Mary Wilson that was sent to Channel 36 (WCNC).
The allegations in the letter is lengthy and I am sure Bill Warren is looking into the stuff about redecorating of offices and such. One of the questions was about the $20,000 for the ëChristmas partyÃ. That event and the costs said to be associated with it landed in the paper and in a WCNC news segment.
I have been asked about it and wanted to know some of the details of the expenditure. Vilma Leake made reference to a party at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church but I donÃt know if that is the $20,000 party that was being discussed.
I am asking about that directly because Ms. Wilson used to work for Friendship and frankly a predominantly Black church seems a strange place to hold a secular DSS (County Department) Christmas party (if that is what happened). If $20,000 was spent on a party there I would like to know what the costs were per person, how many actually attended, why there (as opposed to the Marriott, Westin, etcÖ), and how the pricing on the event was developed (whether bids were taken or did they look at various places before settling on Friendship).
If the cost per unit was high it would also be helpful to know the menu of what was served to make it that high. I recall Vlima saying something about the high quality of the food.
Of course, this may all be sour grapes from the person writing the letter but it could also be true which is why it is important to have the facts before this story gets legs.
Regards,
Commissioner Bill James (R, District 6)
Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners
600 East Fourth Street, 11th Floor
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
HTTP://billjames.org
Confidentiality Notice: E-mail correspondence to and from this address regarding public matters pertaining to Mecklenburg County business may be subject to the North Carolina Public Records law "NCGS Ch 132" and may be disclosed to third parties. This electronic mail transmission may contain information that is confidential, priviledged, or proprietary. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you are not authorized to read, print, retain, copy or disseminate this message, any part of it, or any attachments. If you have received this message in error, please delete the message and any attachments from your system without reading the content and notify me immediately of the inadvertent transmission. There is no intent on the part of the sender (me) to waive any priviledge that may attach to this communication. Thank you for your cooperation.
From: Heilman, Amy [mailto:Amy.Heilman@mecklenburgcountync.gov] Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 9:16 AM To: Jones, Harry L.; CountyCommissioners Subject: Support for Director Wilson
Dear County Manager and County Commissioners,
Good morning. I want to share my response I sent to Director Wilson regarding the appalling "anonymous letter" that she courageously shared with her Team at DSS.
I feel it is important that a few "anonymous letter writers" don't speak for me, or for the DSS Team collectively. I believe that the vast majority of us welcome and embrace the innovation and positive change Director Wilson brings to DSS. I am grateful that she is here as our leader.
Please see the attached email (below).
Regards,
Amy Heilman
Amy Heilman, MSW, LCSW
Management Analyst
Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services
Office: 704.353.1541
Fax: 704.353.1898
E-mail: amy.heilman@mecklenburgcountyNC.gov
This message may contain information that is confidential and/or protected by law. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, copying or communication of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please contact the sender immediately and delete the message.
_____
From: Heilman, Amy Sent: Monday, January 12, 2009 9:24 AM To: Wilson, Mary Subject: RE: anonymous letter
Dear Director Wilson,
I support you 100%, and I believe that the re-organization you have accomplished in such a short period of time really does benefit the employees, customers and residents of Mecklenburg County. It is clear that you don't just talk about a more effective and efficient Department, you are creating one.
Unfortunately, there are some people who feel otherwise, and do not have the maturity to handle their grievances in a professional manner. In my opinion, the immaturity demonstrated by these letter writers is an indication of the how these letter writers must have conducted themselves in their positions at DSS.
I see something positive despite the negative nature of the letters. I think the letters are an indication that you are doing your job well. You are re-organizing the Department to create strong leadership. Re-assigning people to positions that they are better suited for is only going to make our Department better, even if that means that some people no longer have positions with authority. If this means that some people feel that this is unfair, then so be it.
Thank you for the work you do, and for all the motivational emails you send to us.
Regards,
Amy Heilman
_____
From: Wilson, Mary Sent: Friday, January 09, 2009 6:43 PM To: DSS-ALL Subject: anonymous letter
Dear Team:
The County Manager recently shared the attached letter with me. I requested permission to share this with all of you as I want to keep you informed. While I had hoped these letters would stop based upon the progress we have been making, unfortunately, they have not.
Nevertheless, we will continue our efforts to move the department from being good to great.
Over the past 6 months, I believe we have taken some significant strides together as an organization. We have held a DSS wide staff training and recognition that for the first time in the history of the organization, brought all 1200 employees together for training and recognition. We have implemented a tuition reimbursement program for the first time for all employees. We have aligned ourselves with County shared services which are already improving our access to resources. And we have engaged community partners and placed social workers in the community to meet the client where they are located.
Since I have come on Board at DSS I have taken the opportunity to get to know as many of you as I can through small group meetings, one on one sessions, meetings at different DSS locations and attending your staff meetings. I have met with hundreds of employees at every level of the organization and I will continue to do so. Over and over I have had employees tell me things such as, "Once again I want to thank you for listening to what we had to say. Once again I have that feeling that you really care about the front line workers. In all the years I have been at DSS, the director has always kept his distance from the front line workers, but ever since you have been here I have felt someone really does care about us."
What I have learned is that there are passionate people at DSS who love what they do but don't always have a way to have their voice heard at every level of the organization. You have questions and ideas and there is not always a non-threatening way to share ideas or get answers. My vision for DSS is that every employee will be valued as an important part of the team. It is my desire that each one of you would embrace this vision, to continue to move our organization forward.
Next week the Senior Executive Team will be involved in an offsite meeting to develop our vision and mission statement for DSS and our 6 month Strategic Plan. Once that is finalized, we will develop and publish a communication plan to keep you updated on how you can get involved to help make a difference. We will continue to communicate progress on all initiatives on a regular basis.
Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. You are the BEST team and I look forward to working with you to serve all the citizens of Mecklenburg County.
Regards,
Mary
Mary E. Wilson
Director
Department of Social Services
301 Billingsley Road
Charlotte, NC 28211
W) 704-336-Mary
C) 704-649-0568
mary.wilson@mecklenburgcountync.gov
From: Bentley, Karen Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 11:30 AM To: James, Bill; Paige, Janice; CountyCommissioners; Jones, Harry L. Subject: RE: Support for Director Wilson
Bill and BOCC Colleagues, I attended the "mandatory" Christmas party/training session you refer to below. My interest in attending was to assess the content - was this mostly a social event or was the main focus on training?
Ms. Wilson started the program by recognizing several DSS employees with awards - well deserved, I'm sure. Once that was completed, employees dispersed into various self-directed sessions that were, in my observation, designed to make employees aware of the broader organization and the various vendors/non-profits associated with DSS. The employees had an activity (a sheet of questions that could only be answered by attending the breakout sessions) that they were asked to complete. I do not know how the completion of this activity was assessed by management and what, if any consequences, there were for not completing the activity. In my observation, the employees were fully engaged in the training activities and found them to be relevant and useful. Many expressed great appreciation to Ms. Wilson for the opportunity. It appeared that after the employees walked through the breakout sessions, they were free to proceed to the refreshments.
I did not attend this part of the event, but glanced into the room prior to the beginning of the awards session. I will say that is was pretty extravagant for a government function, especially in a time when we all personally and corporately are tightening our belts significantly. Of the $20,000 budget for the event, approximately $15,000 of that was related to the reception (mostly for catering, but some for entertainment). The cost of the Christmas party last year was about $9500. The event was held at Grady Cole and involved no training. I believe Ms. Wilson is doing a great job at the helm of DSS. However, I do question her judgment about spending significant dollars (albeit small relative to the overall DSS budget) on an office remodel and an event where most of the expense was food/entertainment related.
Regards, Karen Karen Bentley Mecklenburg County Commissioner, District One
From: William F. James, Jr. [mailto:wjames@carolina.rr.com] Sent: Tue 1/13/2009 10:24 AM To: Paige, Janice; CountyCommissioners; Jones, Harry L. Subject: FW: Support for Director Wilson
I got this from a management analyst regarding the letter about Mary Wilson that was sent to Channel 36 (WCNC).
The allegations in the letter is lengthy and I am sure Bill Warren is looking into the stuff about redecorating of offices and such. One of the questions was about the $20,000 for the ëChristmas partyÃ. That event and the costs said to be associated with it landed in the paper and in a WCNC news segment.
I have been asked about it and wanted to know some of the details of the expenditure. Vilma Leake made reference to a party at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church but I donÃt know if that is the $20,000 party that was being discussed.
I am asking about that directly because Ms. Wilson used to work for Friendship and frankly a predominantly Black church seems a strange place to hold a secular DSS (County Department) Christmas party (if that is what happened). If $20,000 was spent on a party there I would like to know what the costs were per person, how many actually attended, why there (as opposed to the Marriott, Westin, etcÖ), and how the pricing on the event was developed (whether bids were taken or did they look at various places before settling on Friendship).
If the cost per unit was high it would also be helpful to know the menu of what was served to make it that high. I recall Vlima saying something about the high quality of the food.
Of course, this may all be sour grapes from the person writing the letter but it could also be true which is why it is important to have the facts before this story gets legs.
Regards,
Commissioner Bill James (R, District 6)
Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners
600 East Fourth Street, 11th Floor
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
HTTP://billjames.org
Confidentiality Notice: E-mail correspondence to and from this address regarding public matters pertaining to Mecklenburg County business may be subject to the North Carolina Public Records law "NCGS Ch 132" and may be disclosed to third parties. This electronic mail transmission may contain information that is confidential, priviledged, or proprietary. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you are not authorized to read, print, retain, copy or disseminate this message, any part of it, or any attachments. If you have received this message in error, please delete the message and any attachments from your system without reading the content and notify me immediately of the inadvertent transmission. There is no intent on the part of the sender (me) to waive any priviledge that may attach to this communication. Thank you for your cooperation.
From: Heilman, Amy [mailto:Amy.Heilman@mecklenburgcountync.gov] Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 9:16 AM To: Jones, Harry L.; CountyCommissioners Subject: Support for Director Wilson
Dear County Manager and County Commissioners,
Good morning. I want to share my response I sent to Director Wilson regarding the appalling "anonymous letter" that she courageously shared with her Team at DSS.
I feel it is important that a few "anonymous letter writers" don't speak for me, or for the DSS Team collectively. I believe that the vast majority of us welcome and embrace the innovation and positive change Director Wilson brings to DSS. I am grateful that she is here as our leader.
Please see the attached email (below).
Regards,
Amy Heilman
Amy Heilman, MSW, LCSW
Management Analyst
Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services
Office: 704.353.1541
Fax: 704.353.1898
E-mail: amy.heilman@mecklenburgcountyNC.gov
This message may contain information that is confidential and/or protected by law. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, copying or communication of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please contact the sender immediately and delete the message.
_____
From: Heilman, Amy Sent: Monday, January 12, 2009 9:24 AM To: Wilson, Mary Subject: RE: anonymous letter
Dear Director Wilson,
I support you 100%, and I believe that the re-organization you have accomplished in such a short period of time really does benefit the employees, customers and residents of Mecklenburg County. It is clear that you don't just talk about a more effective and efficient Department, you are creating one.
Unfortunately, there are some people who feel otherwise, and do not have the maturity to handle their grievances in a professional manner. In my opinion, the immaturity demonstrated by these letter writers is an indication of the how these letter writers must have conducted themselves in their positions at DSS.
I see something positive despite the negative nature of the letters. I think the letters are an indication that you are doing your job well. You are re-organizing the Department to create strong leadership. Re-assigning people to positions that they are better suited for is only going to make our Department better, even if that means that some people no longer have positions with authority. If this means that some people feel that this is unfair, then so be it.
Thank you for the work you do, and for all the motivational emails you send to us.
Regards,
Amy Heilman
From: Wilson, Mary Sent: Friday, January 09, 2009 6:43 PM To: DSS-ALL Subject: anonymous letter
Dear Team:
The County Manager recently shared the attached letter with me. I requested permission to share this with all of you as I want to keep you informed. While I had hoped these letters would stop based upon the progress we have been making, unfortunately, they have not.
Nevertheless, we will continue our efforts to move the department from being good to great.
Over the past 6 months, I believe we have taken some significant strides together as an organization. We have held a DSS wide staff training and recognition that for the first time in the history of the organization, brought all 1200 employees together for training and recognition. We have implemented a tuition reimbursement program for the first time for all employees. We have aligned ourselves with County shared services which are already improving our access to resources. And we have engaged community partners and placed social workers in the community to meet the client where they are located.
Since I have come on Board at DSS I have taken the opportunity to get to know as many of you as I can through small group meetings, one on one sessions, meetings at different DSS locations and attending your staff meetings. I have met with hundreds of employees at every level of the organization and I will continue to do so. Over and over I have had employees tell me things such as, "Once again I want to thank you for listening to what we had to say. Once again I have that feeling that you really care about the front line workers. In all the years I have been at DSS, the director has always kept his distance from the front line workers, but ever since you have been here I have felt someone really does care about us."
What I have learned is that there are passionate people at DSS who love what they do but don't always have a way to have their voice heard at every level of the organization. You have questions and ideas and there is not always a non-threatening way to share ideas or get answers. My vision for DSS is that every employee will be valued as an important part of the team. It is my desire that each one of you would embrace this vision, to continue to move our organization forward.
Next week the Senior Executive Team will be involved in an offsite meeting to develop our vision and mission statement for DSS and our 6 month Strategic Plan. Once that is finalized, we will develop and publish a communication plan to keep you updated on how you can get involved to help make a difference. We will continue to communicate progress on all initiatives on a regular basis.
Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. You are the BEST team and I look forward to working with you to serve all the citizens of Mecklenburg County.
Regards,
Mary
Mary E. Wilson
Director
Department of Social Services
301 Billingsley Road
Charlotte, NC 28211
W) 704-336-Mary
C) 704-649-0568
mary.wilson@mecklenburgcountync.gov
From: Bentley, Karen Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 11:30 AM To: James, Bill; Paige, Janice; CountyCommissioners; Jones, Harry L. Subject: RE: Support for Director Wilson
Bill and BOCC Colleagues, I attended the "mandatory" Christmas party/training session you refer to below. My interest in attending was to assess the content - was this mostly a social event or was the main focus on training? Ms. Wilson started the program by recognizing several DSS employees with awards - well deserved, I'm sure. Once that was completed, employees dispersed into various self-directed sessions that were, in my observation, designed to make employees aware of the broader organization and the various vendors/non-profits associated with DSS. The employees had an activity (a sheet of questions that could only be answered by attending the breakout sessions) that they were asked to complete. I do not know how the completion of this activity was assessed by management and what, if any consequences, there were for not completing the activity. In my observation, the employees were fully engaged in the training activities and found them to be relevant and useful. Many expressed great appreciation to Ms. Wilson for the opportunity. It appeared that after the employees walked through the breakout sessions, they were free to proceed to the refreshments. I did not attend this part of the event, but glanced into the room prior to the beginning of the awards session. I will say that is was pretty extravagant for a government function, especially in a time when we all personally and corporately are tightening our belts significantly. Of the $20,000 budget for the event, approximately $15,000 of that was related to the reception (mostly for catering, but some for entertainment). The cost of the Christmas party last year was about $9500. The event was held at Grady Cole and involved no training. I believe Ms. Wilson is doing a great job at the helm of DSS. However, I do question her judgment about spending significant dollars (albeit small relative to the overall DSS budget) on an office remodel and an event where most of the expense was food/entertainment related. Regards, Karen Karen Bentley Mecklenburg County Commissioner, District One
_____
From: William F. James, Jr. [mailto:wjames@carolina.rr.com] Sent: Tue 1/13/2009 10:24 AM To: Paige, Janice; CountyCommissioners; Jones, Harry L. Subject: FW: Support for Director Wilson
I got this from a management analyst regarding the letter about Mary Wilson that was sent to Channel 36 (WCNC).
The allegations in the letter is lengthy and I am sure Bill Warren is looking into the stuff about redecorating of offices and such. One of the questions was about the $20,000 for the ëChristmas partyÃ. That event and the costs said to be associated with it landed in the paper and in a WCNC news segment.
I have been asked about it and wanted to know some of the details of the expenditure. Vilma Leake made reference to a party at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church but I donÃt know if that is the $20,000 party that was being discussed.
I am asking about that directly because Ms. Wilson used to work for Friendship and frankly a predominantly Black church seems a strange place to hold a secular DSS (County Department) Christmas party (if that is what happened). If $20,000 was spent on a party there I would like to know what the costs were per person, how many actually attended, why there (as opposed to the Marriott, Westin, etcÖ), and how the pricing on the event was developed (whether bids were taken or did they look at various places before settling on Friendship).
If the cost per unit was high it would also be helpful to know the menu of what was served to make it that high. I recall Vlima saying something about the high quality of the food.
Of course, this may all be sour grapes from the person writing the letter but it could also be true which is why it is important to have the facts before this story gets legs.
Regards,
Commissioner Bill James (R, District 6)
Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners
600 East Fourth Street, 11th Floor
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
HTTP://billjames.org
Confidentiality Notice: E-mail correspondence to and from this address regarding public matters pertaining to Mecklenburg County business may be subject to the North Carolina Public Records law "NCGS Ch 132" and may be disclosed to third parties. This electronic mail transmission may contain information that is confidential, priviledged, or proprietary. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you are not authorized to read, print, retain, copy or disseminate this message, any part of it, or any attachments. If you have received this message in error, please delete the message and any attachments from your system without reading the content and notify me immediately of the inadvertent transmission. There is no intent on the part of the sender (me) to waive any priviledge that may attach to this communication. Thank you for your cooperation.
From: Heilman, Amy [mailto:Amy.Heilman@mecklenburgcountync.gov] Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 9:16 AM To: Jones, Harry L.; CountyCommissioners Subject: Support for Director Wilson
Dear County Manager and County Commissioners,
Good morning. I want to share my response I sent to Director Wilson regarding the appalling "anonymous letter" that she courageously shared with her Team at DSS.
I feel it is important that a few "anonymous letter writers" don't speak for me, or for the DSS Team collectively. I believe that the vast majority of us welcome and embrace the innovation and positive change Director Wilson brings to DSS. I am grateful that she is here as our leader.
Please see the attached email (below).
Regards,
Amy Heilman
Amy Heilman, MSW, LCSW
Management Analyst
Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services
Office: 704.353.1541
Fax: 704.353.1898
E-mail: amy.heilman@mecklenburgcountyNC.gov
This message may contain information that is confidential and/or protected by law. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, copying or communication of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please contact the sender immediately and delete the message.
_____
From: William F. James, Jr. [mailto:wjames@carolina.rr.com] Sent: Monday, February 02, 2009 11:40 AM To: CountyCommissioners; Jones, Harry L. Subject: NYT welfare article Importance: High
Saw this in the New York Times.
Evidently, they are claiming that DSS (welfare) aid is not growing as expected even with the slowing economy
Regards,
Commissioner Bill James (R, District 6)
Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners
600 East Fourth Street, 11th Floor
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
HTTP://billjames.org
Confidentiality Notice: E-mail correspondence to and from this address regarding public matters pertaining to Mecklenburg County business may be subject to the North Carolina Public Records law "NCGS Ch 132" and may be disclosed to third parties. This electronic mail transmission may contain information that is confidential, priviledged, or proprietary. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you are not authorized to read, print, retain, copy or disseminate this message, any part of it, or any attachments. If you have received this message in error, please delete the message and any attachments from your system without reading the content and notify me immediately of the inadvertent transmission. There is no intent on the part of the sender (me) to waive any priviledge that may attach to this communication. Thank you for your cooperation.
Welfare Aid Isn't Growing as Economy Drops Off
Fabrizio Costantini for The New York Times
Michigan cut welfare rolls 13 percent despite the fact that its October unemployment rate topped 9 percent. An office cubicle at the welfare agency in Detroit.
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By JASON DEPARLE
Published: February 1, 2009
WASHINGTON - Despite soaring unemployment and the worst economic crisis in decades, 18 states cut their welfare rolls last year, and nationally the number of people receiving cash assistance remained at or near the lowest in more than 40 years.
State-by-State Welfare Assistance
State
Welfare recipients, 2007
Welfare recipients, 2008
Pct. change in welfare recipients
Unemployment rate, 2007
Unemployment rate, 2008
Pct. pt. change in unemployment
Food stamp recipients, 2007
Food stamp recipients, 2008
Pct. change in food stamp recipients
North Carolina
47,898
49,653
3.7
4.7
7.1
2.4
896,913
1,012,481
12.9
Fabrizio Costantini for The New York Times
Unemployment applicants waiting at the Wayne County office of the welfare services division.
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E-mail correspondence of Dena Diorio Posted: Thursday, Nov. 05, 2009
From: Riddle, Joel Sent: Monday, June 04, 2007 8:55 AM To: County All Subject: Health Screening Appointment Requests
You are invited to register for free health screenings to be held in recognition of the Mecklenburg County Employee Health and Benefits Fair.
When: Wednesday June 13, 2007
Time: 7:30 am - 11:30 am
Where: Department of Social Services (DSS)
Kuralt Centre (301 Billingsley Road)
Charlotte Training Room
Screening appointments are available from 7:30 am to 11:30 am. The screenings will include a complete biometric profile (blood pressure, height, weight, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL and Triglycerides). Following your screening, you will have immediate access to your results.
*
Appointments are required, so please make sure you register. *
Appointments will be confirmed by email. *
Every effort will be made to schedule your first or second choice.
To register, go to: http://survey.co.mecklenburg.nc.us/Surveys/TakeSurvey.aspx?surveyid=1401
Please contact Christie Dvorak (336-5035) or Anna Mendenahll (336-5036) with questions. From: McCullough, Dallas Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2008 3:40 PM To: Walters, Patrick; Cook, Richard Cc: Jones, Donna; Jones, Ron A. (DSS); Hosseini, Teresa C.; Wilson, Bob; Heptig, Barbara L. Subject: RE: Encryption
Hello Patrick, As you stated, to DSS customers, we have always "preached" the policy of saving any confidential information ( and actually anything that you do not want accidentally deleted) to your home directory on the network. I am not aware of any YFS staff or application situations that would not be doing so. Thanks. Dallas McCullough
_____
From: Walters, Patrick Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2008 3:33 PM To: Cook, Richard Cc: Jones, Donna; Jones, Ron A. (DSS); Hosseini, Teresa C.; Wilson, Bob; Heptig, Barbara L.; McCullough, Dallas Subject: FW: Encryption
Hi Richard, This request has now found its way to me. By policy, DSS users aren't generally supposed to store/save documents or data on the hard drives. They are encouraged to save them on the networks. All of the data (confidential, sensitive, or otherwise) from our custom applications is saved on the network not on desktops or laptops. I have copied the IT liaisons to each of our divisions to see if they can identify individuals or situations where this might not be the case and we would need the encryption software installed. Thanks, Patrick 64888
_____
From: Villescas, Susana Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 3:27 PM To: Walters, Patrick Subject: FW: Encryption
Patrick: See below: Two suggestions: 1. Get a timetable to see when we have to have this completed 2. Get a definition of what HIPAA related information means as it relates to DSS. I don't believe that we have any HIPAA related information, but I may be wrong. 3. We may need someone from the US Department of HHS to help us sort our the definition. Susana
_____
From: Lipman, Helen Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 2:54 PM To: Villescas, Susana Subject: FW: Encryption
Please work with Patrick to get the correct information provided. Even though we do not have HIPPA data, we may have other data that we would want to encrypt. Thanks. Helen Lipman Interim Deputy Director Mecklenburg Department of Social Services 301 Billingsley Road Charlotte, NC 28211 Phone: 704-336-6293 Fax: 704-336-3361 Email
Helen.Lipman@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
_____
From: Jackson, Janice Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 2:45 PM To: Lipman, Helen Subject: FW: Encryption
Plse get this info to Richard. Thanks.
_____
From: Cook, Richard Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 1:34 PM To: Jackson, Janice Subject: Encryption
We are in the process of implementing encryption software for desktops/laptops to ensure sensitive/confidential data is properly secured in the event of loss and/or theft. To that end, we would like to identify employees within D.S.S. which have access to this type of information (i.e. HIPPA data etc.) for the initial phase across the County. This particular solution is the same which is being deployed at the State level. A contact to provide such a list (individuals, whole areas etc.) will be necessary. We will then work with D.S.S. Technology support to implement. Please let me know if any comments/concerns. Thanks in advance for your assistance. Richard Cook Sr. IST Security Manager - Mecklenburg County 704.336.4433 (W) 704.578.8934 (BB) Richard.Cook@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov From: Hosseini, Teresa C. Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2008 7:14 AM To: Walters, Patrick; Cook, Richard Cc: Jones, Donna; Jones, Ron A. (DSS); Wilson, Bob; Heptig, Barbara L.; McCullough, Dallas Subject: RE: Encryption
Several years back Debbie Espin worked with the County Attorney and determined we do not have HIPPA data. Sincerely, Teresa Hosseini IT Project Manager DSS Information Services Division Work number: (704)-336-3205 Email address: TeresaC.Hosseini@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
_____
From: Walters, Patrick Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2008 3:33 PM To: Cook, Richard Cc: Jones, Donna; Jones, Ron A. (DSS); Hosseini, Teresa C.; Wilson, Bob; Heptig, Barbara L.; McCullough, Dallas Subject: FW: Encryption
Hi Richard, This request has now found its way to me. By policy, DSS users aren't generally supposed to store/save documents or data on the hard drives. They are encouraged to save them on the networks. All of the data (confidential, sensitive, or otherwise) from our custom applications is saved on the network not on desktops or laptops. I have copied the IT liaisons to each of our divisions to see if they can identify individuals or situations where this might not be the case and we would need the encryption software installed. Thanks, Patrick 64888
_____
From: Villescas, Susana Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 3:27 PM To: Walters, Patrick Subject: FW: Encryption
Patrick: See below: Two suggestions: 1. Get a timetable to see when we have to have this completed 2. Get a definition of what HIPAA related information means as it relates to DSS. I don't believe that we have any HIPAA related information, but I may be wrong. 3. We may need someone from the US Department of HHS to help us sort our the definition. Susana
_____
From: Lipman, Helen Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 2:54 PM To: Villescas, Susana Subject: FW: Encryption
Please work with Patrick to get the correct information provided. Even though we do not have HIPPA data, we may have other data that we would want to encrypt. Thanks. Helen Lipman Interim Deputy Director Mecklenburg Department of Social Services 301 Billingsley Road Charlotte, NC 28211 Phone: 704-336-6293 Fax: 704-336-3361 Email Helen.Lipman@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
_____
From: Jackson, Janice Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 2:45 PM To: Lipman, Helen Subject: FW: Encryption
Plse get this info to Richard. Thanks.
_____
From: Cook, Richard Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 1:34 PM To: Jackson, Janice Subject: Encryption
We are in the process of implementing encryption software for desktops/laptops to ensure sensitive/confidential data is properly secured in the event of loss and/or theft. To that end, we would like to identify employees within D.S.S. which have access to this type of information (i.e. HIPPA data etc.) for the initial phase across the County. This particular solution is the same which is being deployed at the State level. A contact to provide such a list (individuals, whole areas etc.) will be necessary. We will then work with D.S.S. Technology support to implement. Please let me know if any comments/concerns. Thanks in advance for your assistance. Richard Cook Sr. IST Security Manager - Mecklenburg County 704.336.4433 (W) 704.578.8934 (BB) Richard.Cook@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov From: Adams, Rodney Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2008 4:49 PM To: Cook, Richard Subject: Meeting Request
Richard, I would like to discuss the need for additional computer support. Please contact me at your earliest convenience to discuss. Thanks in advance for your time. Rodney Adams Support Services Division Director Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services 301 Billingsley Road Charlotte, NC 28211 704-353-1594 From: Adams, Rodney Sent: Friday, June 27, 2008 9:21 AM To: Cook, Richard Subject: Computer Support
Mr. Cook, Please contact me regarding computer support needed at the Kuralt Centre of DSS. Thanks. Rodney Adams Support Services Division Director Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services 301 Billingsley Road Charlotte, NC 28211 704-353-1594 From: Buchanan, Cheryl Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2008 2:02 PM To: AMH-ALL; AMH-Clinical Managers; AMH-PSO-All Managers-Supervisors; CS-Court Services; DSS Call Center Mgrs; Elections Staff; IST-MGRS; LUE/HLT/GIS-Supv; MCSO-SUPERVISORS; ParkRecreation; PARKALL; ParkSMT; PRKMGR; YFS-ALL; SFA-Adult Medicaid Management Team; SFA-Adult Medicaid-Q&T All; NDS-ADS SECURITY; HR-ALL; Fire Marshall; DEP-ALL Subject: FW: Memo and registration
From: Spears, Cornita Sent: Thursday, January 01, 2009 9:47 AM To: Wilson, Mary; Diorio, Dena R. Cc: Lancaster, Michelle; Jackson, Janice; Waddell, Christopher; Barber, Douglas Subject: RE: Voucher Protocol
I'm a bit confused. Your e-mail to staff indicates that you've requested Internal Audit to review all invoices and expenditures, but other than receiving an e-mail from Janice at 12:52 today indicating that she had suggested that you contact me about an unspecified issue with expenditures, your e-mail of 5:03 is the first I've heard of the matter. Perhaps you may have spoken with one of our audit staff members and requested the audit that you've referred to in your e-mail to your staff. I don't know who you spoke with, but depending on the volume of transactions, it may be impratical for us to review all invoices and expenditures. I'm in the office on Friday. Give me a call to discuss. I don't have staff available to perform an audit right now, but we do have a project that is winding down in the next couple of weeks and can place this next on the list.
_____
From: Wilson, Mary Sent: Wed 12/31/2008 5:03 PM To: Diorio, Dena R.; Spears, Cornita Cc: Lancaster, Michelle; Jackson, Janice Subject: FW: Voucher Protocol
Anita, I'd like to speak with you soon about how we conduct an internal audit on this issue. Thanks, Mary Mary E. Wilson Director Department of Social Services 301 Billingsley Road Charlotte, NC 28211 W) 704-336-Mary C) 704-649-0568 mary.wilson@mecklenburgcountync.gov
_____
From: Wilson, Mary Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 4:58 PM To: DSS-ALL Subject: Voucher Protocol
Dear Staff,
On Monday, December 1st, I instructed Paul Risk, Division Director for Youth and Family Services (YFS) to discontinue using vouchers at local stores for purchases until we could understand why the costs had increased so significantly. In recent months one retail bill increased from an average of $5,000 - $6,000 per month to over $20,000 in October. Additionally, it was learned that contrary to County policy, only 30 ñ 35% of receipts have been returned to DSSà Finance Department by the person making the purchases. I ceased the use of YFS vouchers due to a lack of strict oversight of our voucher system for clothes and other consumable supplies for foster children. As a result of this lack of oversight I have asked County Finance internal audit department to review all invoices and expenditures to ensure compliance with County policies.
Upon further investigation, we have found that (i) foster care families are responsible for purchasing clothes for the kids in their care but do not receive a check until 45 days after the child comes to their home, (ii) Mecklenburg County was spending money in addition to the money being paid to the foster care families to purchase clothes, (iii) there are other families with unmet needs such as grandparents in our Kinship care program and (iv) there are donations available to provide for many of these resources for our children who are in need but not in DSS custody.
Following my guidance to discontinue using the vouchers until further research was completed, I received an email from a staff member and subsequently received questions during the round of supervisory meetings I held across DSS. I want to thank the staff member who was courageous enough to send me an e-mail asking me about my decision and I want to thank the supervisors who raised the question during the supervisory meetings.
The following is an update on the issue and our plan for the new process going forward.
A foster parentÃs monthly maintenance payment is intended to meet the needs of youth in custody such as clothing and/or other essential items, however they can not do so if they do not receive their check on time. Therefore, the following clothing protocol is being implemented immediately:
1) Foster parents are informed at the beginning of their relationship with DSS that they are expected to use the maintenance payment to meet the needs (clothing, school supplies, food, and increases in utilities) of a child placed within their home.
2) Foster parents are responsible for ensuring that foster youth are adequately clothed for the season and should have clothing equal to or greater than the minimum clothing list as established by the Department within three months of placement in the foster home.
3) DSS will provide a $150 check within one business day of placement of the foster child to the foster parent for initial clothing purchases and will have that amount deducted from the first foster care payment. This will apply to public and private provider agencies.
4) The licensing worker for the agency will monitor the foster parent to ensure that a foster childÃs basic needs are met.
5) When a youth leaves a foster care placement it is expected that they will have clothing that meets their minimum needs. If they do not the provider will have the cost of replacement clothing deducted from their next maintenance payment.
6) Emergency placements: after-hours staff are authorized to use a clothing voucher, up to $50, so that the provider can get essential clothing that evening or the next day when the child has no clothing.
7) Petitioning social workers should attempt to get clothing from the family and if the family denies access to their children's clothing this matter should be discussed in court at the initial hearing and YFS should request the court to order the family to provide all clothing that is available.
8) Social workers should also contact the Community Resource Office to access funds for safety, preventive or reunification services when a juvenile is remaining in the home or returning to the home (ex. cribs, car seats, etc.). The main contact number to the Community Resources is 704-336-4809.
The YFS Management team is developing the following protocols and will communicate these at a later date:
* A protocol for youth who go "absent with out leave " (AWOL).
* A protocol for kinship care placements throughout DSS. Permanency planning worker should ensure that basic clothing and other needs are met through the kinship care providerÃs resources. If additional resources are required , the social worker should contact the Community Resource Office for assistance using funds donated by the public for the care of our clients. Additionally, the worker should encourage the kinship provider to apply for the Work First cash assistance program to receive Temporary Assistance of Needy Families (TANF) funds and explore becoming licensed as a foster parent which will entitle them to additional cash assistance.
This is a great example of how I hope we can address issues within DSS by being open, honest and transparent and without fear of retaliation. Going forward, I believe it is essential to bring resolution by reviewing the situation and determining whether we are consistent with the policy intended or have we created a work around to fix another problem? In this instance, we created a work around to fix the problem of foster parents not being paid timely and children not having necessary items. This work around was on schedule to costing the County approximately $200,000 a year (up from $58,000 in FY 2007 without an increase in the number of children served). I think all of us would prefer to see these funds used for other items, such as summer camp opportunities or after school transportation for tutoring, that we know our clients need.
Finally, please know that no child was left without necessary items during this time of review and transition. Every Division Director has access to me 24 hours a day 7 days a week so that decisions can be made timely and effectively for our clients. While we will take the time to review and correct our policies and procedures we will always do the right thing to take care of our clients.
Thanks for your continued hard work on behalf of those we serve,
Mary
Mary E. Wilson
Director
Department of Social Services
301 Billingsley Road
Charlotte, NC 28211
W) 704-336-Mary
C) 704-649-0568
mary.wilson@mecklenburgcountync.gov
From: Spears, Cornita Sent: Thursday, January 01, 2009 9:47 AM To: Wilson, Mary; Diorio, Dena R. Cc: Lancaster, Michelle; Jackson, Janice; Waddell, Christopher; Barber, Douglas Subject: RE: Voucher Protocol
I'm a bit confused. Your e-mail to staff indicates that you've requested Internal Audit to review all invoices and expenditures, but other than receiving an e-mail from Janice at 12:52 today indicating that she had suggested that you contact me about an unspecified issue with expenditures, your e-mail of 5:03 is the first I've heard of the matter. Perhaps you may have spoken with one of our audit staff members and requested the audit that you've referred to in your e-mail to your staff. I don't know who you spoke with, but depending on the volume of transactions, it may be impratical for us to review all invoices and expenditures. I'm in the office on Friday. Give me a call to discuss. I don't have staff available to perform an audit right now, but we do have a project that is winding down in the next couple of weeks and can place this next on the list.
_____
From: Wilson, Mary Sent: Wed 12/31/2008 5:03 PM To: Diorio, Dena R.; Spears, Cornita Cc: Lancaster, Michelle; Jackson, Janice Subject: FW: Voucher Protocol
Anita, I'd like to speak with you soon about how we conduct an internal audit on this issue. Thanks, Mary Mary E. Wilson Director Department of Social Services 301 Billingsley Road Charlotte, NC 28211 W) 704-336-Mary C) 704-649-0568 mary.wilson@mecklenburgcountync.gov
_____
From: Wilson, Mary Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 4:58 PM To: DSS-ALL Subject: Voucher Protocol
Dear Staff,
On Monday, December 1st, I instructed Paul Risk, Division Director for Youth and Family Services (YFS) to discontinue using vouchers at local stores for purchases until we could understand why the costs had increased so significantly. In recent months one retail bill increased from an average of $5,000 - $6,000 per month to over $20,000 in October. Additionally, it was learned that contrary to County policy, only 30 ñ 35% of receipts have been returned to DSSà Finance Department by the person making the purchases. I ceased the use of YFS vouchers due to a lack of strict oversight of our voucher system for clothes and other consumable supplies for foster children. As a result of this lack of oversight I have asked County Finance internal audit department to review all invoices and expenditures to ensure compliance with County policies.
Upon further investigation, we have found that (i) foster care families are responsible for purchasing clothes for the kids in their care but do not receive a check until 45 days after the child comes to their home, (ii) Mecklenburg County was spending money in addition to the money being paid to the foster care families to purchase clothes, (iii) there are other families with unmet needs such as grandparents in our Kinship care program and (iv) there are donations available to provide for many of these resources for our children who are in need but not in DSS custody.
Following my guidance to discontinue using the vouchers until further research was completed, I received an email from a staff member and subsequently received questions during the round of supervisory meetings I held across DSS. I want to thank the staff member who was courageous enough to send me an e-mail asking me about my decision and I want to thank the supervisors who raised the question during the supervisory meetings.
The following is an update on the issue and our plan for the new process going forward.
A foster parentÃs monthly maintenance payment is intended to meet the needs of youth in custody such as clothing and/or other essential items, however they can not do so if they do not receive their check on time. Therefore, the following clothing protocol is being implemented immediately:
1) Foster parents are informed at the beginning of their relationship with DSS that they are expected to use the maintenance payment to meet the needs (clothing, school supplies, food, and increases in utilities) of a child placed within their home.
2) Foster parents are responsible for ensuring that foster youth are adequately clothed for the season and should have clothing equal to or greater than the minimum clothing list as established by the Department within three months of placement in the foster home.
3) DSS will provide a $150 check within one business day of placement of the foster child to the foster parent for initial clothing purchases and will have that amount deducted from the first foster care payment. This will apply to public and private provider agencies.
4) The licensing worker for the agency will monitor the foster parent to ensure that a foster childÃs basic needs are met.
5) When a youth leaves a foster care placement it is expected that they will have clothing that meets their minimum needs. If they do not the provider will have the cost of replacement clothing deducted from their next maintenance payment.
6) Emergency placements: after-hours staff are authorized to use a clothing voucher, up to $50, so that the provider can get essential clothing that evening or the next day when the child has no clothing.
7) Petitioning social workers should attempt to get clothing from the family and if the family denies access to their children's clothing this matter should be discussed in court at the initial hearing and YFS should request the court to order the family to provide all clothing that is available.
8) Social workers should also contact the Community Resource Office to access funds for safety, preventive or reunification services when a juvenile is remaining in the home or returning to the home (ex. cribs, car seats, etc.). The main contact number to the Community Resources is 704-336-4809.
The YFS Management team is developing the following protocols and will communicate these at a later date:
* A protocol for youth who go "absent with out leave " (AWOL).
* A protocol for kinship care placements throughout DSS. Permanency planning worker should ensure that basic clothing and other needs are met through the kinship care providerÃs resources. If additional resources are required , the social worker should contact the Community Resource Office for assistance using funds donated by the public for the care of our clients. Additionally, the worker should encourage the kinship provider to apply for the Work First cash assistance program to receive Temporary Assistance of Needy Families (TANF) funds and explore becoming licensed as a foster parent which will entitle them to additional cash assistance.
This is a great example of how I hope we can address issues within DSS by being open, honest and transparent and without fear of retaliation. Going forward, I believe it is essential to bring resolution by reviewing the situation and determining whether we are consistent with the policy intended or have we created a work around to fix another problem? In this instance, we created a work around to fix the problem of foster parents not being paid timely and children not having necessary items. This work around was on schedule to costing the County approximately $200,000 a year (up from $58,000 in FY 2007 without an increase in the number of children served). I think all of us would prefer to see these funds used for other items, such as summer camp opportunities or after school transportation for tutoring, that we know our clients need.
Finally, please know that no child was left without necessary items during this time of review and transition. Every Division Director has access to me 24 hours a day 7 days a week so that decisions can be made timely and effectively for our clients. While we will take the time to review and correct our policies and procedures we will always do the right thing to take care of our clients.
Thanks for your continued hard work on behalf of those we serve,
Mary
Mary E. Wilson
Director
Department of Social Services
301 Billingsley Road
Charlotte, NC 28211
W) 704-336-Mary
C) 704-649-0568
mary.wilson@mecklenburgcountync.gov
From: Wilson, Mary Sent: Thursday, January 01, 2009 10:57 AM To: Spears, Cornita; Diorio, Dena R. Cc: Lancaster, Michelle; Jackson, Janice; Waddell, Christopher; Barber, Douglas Subject: Re: Voucher Protocol
Sorry if I misspoke. I thought Janice discussed with you. It is important but not time sensitive. We can work with your schedule.
Thanks for the response.
Happy New Year! Mary
Mary E. Wilson Director Department of Social Services 301 Billingsley Road Charlotte, NC 28211 W) 704-336-mary C) 704-649-0568 mary.wilson@mecklenburgcountync.gov
E-mail correspondence of Cindy Brady Posted: Thursday, Nov. 05, 2009
Since tomorrow is jeans day, I would like to pack up the Christmas toys and clean up the storage room. I think we will leave all the clothing in the old Intake room since we may need them due to not having vouchers. We may also move the tote bags into the old Intake room for convenience! We will start after lunch, about 1:00. I would love to have your help if you are available! Thank you for all your help throughout the entire Christmas season. Cindy E. Brady MSEd Licensing & Placement Supervisor Youth and Family Services 700 East Stonewall St. Charlotte, NC 28202 704-336-7348
Since tomorrow is jeans day, I would like to pack up the Christmas toys and clean up the storage room. I think we will leave all the clothing in the old Intake room since we may need them due to not having vouchers. We may also move the tote bags into the old Intake room for convenience! We will start after lunch, about 1:00. I would love to have your help if you are available! Thank you for all your help throughout the entire Christmas season. Cindy E. Brady MSEd Licensing & Placement Supervisor Youth and Family Services 700 East Stonewall St. Charlotte, NC 28202 704-336-7348
I will be out of the office from January 5th -9th. I will be returning to the office on Monday January 12th.
Subject: giving tree 08 labels Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 10:40:42 -0500 From: "Fox, Morgan" To: "Brady, Cindy"
attached Morgan F. Jeter, MSW Resource Development Social Worker Youth and Family Services Department Mecklenburg County DSS 700 E Stonewall St Charlotte, NC 28202 (704) 353-0067
Subject: RE: giving tree 08 labels Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 11:28:35 -0500 From: "Brady, Cindy" To: "Fox, Morgan"
Thank you so very much! Cindy E. Brady MSEd Licensing & Placement Supervisor Youth and Family Services 700 East Stonewall St. Charlotte, NC 28202 704-336-7348
_____
From: Fox, Morgan Sent: Friday, January 09, 2009 10:41 AM To: Brady, Cindy Subject: giving tree 08 labels
attached Morgan F. Jeter, MSW Resource Development Social Worker Youth and Family Services Department Mecklenburg County DSS 700 E Stonewall St Charlotte, NC 28202 (704) 353-0067
From: Taylor-Richards, Susie [mailto:STaylor@jmdlaw.com] Sent: Friday, January 09, 2009 12:05 PM To: Goree, Alyssa Subject: MCFPA Meeting
Can you please help us get the word out. _____
6209 Deep Forest Ln. Charlotte NC.
704.719.4307
January 9, 2009
RE: MECKLENBURG COUNTY FOSTER PARENTS - WE NEED YOUR INPUT
Dear Foster Parents:
The next meeting of the Mecklenburg County Foster Parent Association will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 17, at the downtown library. If you are currently utilizing the Food Bank and/or Clothing Closet, it is mandatory that you attend this meeting to discuss important issues.
Many great things are being planned for 2009 and we would like to get your input on what the association can do for you, as foster parents. It is our goal to bring new direction and renewed energy into the association.
If you would like additional information in regards to the meeting, please feel free to visit our web site at MCFPA-NC.com or you can contact me at home (704) 719-4307, on my cell (704) 287-0882, or email KSandTARichards@aol.com . Leave your name, email address and/or phone number and I will get back with you as quickly as possible.
I look forward to seeing you on Saturday, January 17.
From: Taylor-Richards, Susie [mailto:STaylor@jmdlaw.com] Sent: Friday, January 09, 2009 12:05 PM To: Goree, Alyssa Subject: MCFPA Meeting
Can you please help us get the word out. _____
6209 Deep Forest Ln. Charlotte NC.
704.719.4307
January 9, 2009
RE: MECKLENBURG COUNTY FOSTER PARENTS - WE NEED YOUR INPUT
Dear Foster Parents:
The next meeting of the Mecklenburg County Foster Parent Association will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 17, at the downtown library. If you are currently utilizing the Food Bank and/or Clothing Closet, it is mandatory that you attend this meeting to discuss important issues.
Many great things are being planned for 2009 and we would like to get your input on what the association can do for you, as foster parents. It is our goal to bring new direction and renewed energy into the association.
If you would like additional information in regards to the meeting, please feel free to visit our web site at MCFPA-NC.com or you can contact me at home (704) 719-4307, on my cell (704) 287-0882, or email KSandTARichards@aol.com . Leave your name, email address and/or phone number and I will get back with you as quickly as possible.
I look forward to seeing you on Saturday, January 17.
Sincerely,
Thomas A. Richards
President - MCFPA
TAR/ksr
Enclosure
Subject: FW: MCFPA Meeting Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 13:27:09 -0500 From: "Goree, Alyssa" To: "Brady, Cindy" , "Simpson, Crystal"
see below
_____
From: Taylor-Richards, Susie [mailto:STaylor@jmdlaw.com] Sent: Friday, January 09, 2009 1:23 PM To: Goree, Alyssa Subject: RE: MCFPA Meeting
I appreciate that. I remember Crystal mentioned that to us earlier, it just slipped my mind until I noticed the up-coming date on the calendar. Thank you for you help.
_____
From: Goree, Alyssa [mailto:Alyssa.Goree@mecklenburgcountync.gov] Sent: Friday, January 09, 2009 1:19 PM To: Taylor-Richards, Susie Subject: RE: MCFPA Meeting
In order to get this to our foster parents in time through the mail, we will need more time in the future. Our mail system is slow and if we sent it out today it may not get there til the middle of next week, which wouldnt give them very much time to plan for it. But we are sending it out! Thanks.
_____
From: Taylor-Richards, Susie [mailto:STaylor@jmdlaw.com] Sent: Friday, January 09, 2009 12:05 PM To: Goree, Alyssa Subject: MCFPA Meeting
Can you please help us get the word out.
_____
6209 Deep Forest Ln. Charlotte NC.
704.719.4307
January 9, 2009
RE: MECKLENBURG COUNTY FOSTER PARENTS - WE NEED YOUR INPUT
Dear Foster Parents:
The next meeting of the Mecklenburg County Foster Parent Association will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 17, at the downtown library. If you are currently utilizing the Food Bank and/or Clothing Closet, it is mandatory that you attend this meeting to discuss important issues.
Many great things are being planned for 2009 and we would like to get your input on what the association can do for you, as foster parents. It is our goal to bring new direction and renewed energy into the association.
If you would like additional information in regards to the meeting, please feel free to visit our web site at MCFPA-NC.com or you can contact me at home (704) 719-4307, on my cell (704) 287-0882, or email KSandTARichards@aol.com . Leave your name, email address and/or phone number and I will get back with you as quickly as possible.
I look forward to seeing you on Saturday, January 17.
Sincerely,
Thomas A. Richards
President - MCFPA
TAR/ksr
Enclosure
Subject: anonymous letter Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 18:43:02 -0500 From: "Wilson, Mary" To: "DSS-ALL"
Dear Team:
The County Manager recently shared the attached letter with me. I requested permission to share this with all of you as I want to keep you informed. While I had hoped these letters would stop based upon the progress we have been making, unfortunately, they have not.
Nevertheless, we will continue our efforts to move the department from being good to great.
Over the past 6 months, I believe we have taken some significant strides together as an organization. We have held a DSS wide staff training and recognition that for the first time in the history of the organization, brought all 1200 employees together for training and recognition. We have implemented a tuition reimbursement program for the first time for all employees. We have aligned ourselves with County shared services which are already improving our access to resources. And we have engaged community partners and placed social workers in the community to meet the client where they are located.
Since I have come on Board at DSS I have taken the opportunity to get to know as many of you as I can through small group meetings, one on one sessions, meetings at different DSS locations and attending your staff meetings. I have met with hundreds of employees at every level of the organization and I will continue to do so. Over and over I have had employees tell me things such as, "Once again I want to thank you for listening to what we had to say. Once again I have that feeling that you really care about the front line workers. In all the years I have been at DSS, the director has always kept his distance from the front line workers, but ever since you have been here I have felt someone really does care about us."
What I have learned is that there are passionate people at DSS who love what they do but don't always have a way to have their voice heard at every level of the organization. You have questions and ideas and there is not always a non-threatening way to share ideas or get answers. My vision for DSS is that every employee will be valued as an important part of the team. It is my desire that each one of you would embrace this vision, to continue to move our organization forward.
Next week the Senior Executive Team will be involved in an offsite meeting to develop our vision and mission statement for DSS and our 6 month Strategic Plan. Once that is finalized, we will develop and publish a communication plan to keep you updated on how you can get involved to help make a difference. We will continue to communicate progress on all initiatives on a regular basis.
Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. You are the BEST team and I look forward to working with you to serve all the citizens of Mecklenburg County.
Regards,
Mary
Mary E. Wilson Director Department of Social Services 301 Billingsley Road Charlotte, NC 28211 W) 704-336-Mary C) 704-649-0568 mary.wilson@mecklenburgcountync.gov
Subject: anonymous letter Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 18:43:02 -0500 From: "Wilson, Mary" To: "DSS-ALL"
Dear Team:
The County Manager recently shared the attached letter with me. I requested permission to share this with all of you as I want to keep you informed. While I had hoped these letters would stop based upon the progress we have been making, unfortunately, they have not.
Nevertheless, we will continue our efforts to move the department from being good to great.
Over the past 6 months, I believe we have taken some significant strides together as an organization. We have held a DSS wide staff training and recognition that for the first time in the history of the organization, brought all 1200 employees together for training and recognition. We have implemented a tuition reimbursement program for the first time for all employees. We have aligned ourselves with County shared services which are already improving our access to resources. And we have engaged community partners and placed social workers in the community to meet the client where they are located.
Since I have come on Board at DSS I have taken the opportunity to get to know as many of you as I can through small group meetings, one on one sessions, meetings at different DSS locations and attending your staff meetings. I have met with hundreds of employees at every level of the organization and I will continue to do so. Over and over I have had employees tell me things such as, "Once again I want to thank you for listening to what we had to say. Once again I have that feeling that you really care about the front line workers. In all the years I have been at DSS, the director has always kept his distance from the front line workers, but ever since you have been here I have felt someone really does care about us."
What I have learned is that there are passionate people at DSS who love what they do but don't always have a way to have their voice heard at every level of the organization. You have questions and ideas and there is not always a non-threatening way to share ideas or get answers. My vision for DSS is that every employee will be valued as an important part of the team. It is my desire that each one of you would embrace this vision, to continue to move our organization forward.
Next week the Senior Executive Team will be involved in an offsite meeting to develop our vision and mission statement for DSS and our 6 month Strategic Plan. Once that is finalized, we will develop and publish a communication plan to keep you updated on how you can get involved to help make a difference. We will continue to communicate progress on all initiatives on a regular basis.
Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. You are the BEST team and I look forward to working with you to serve all the citizens of Mecklenburg County.
Regards,
Mary
Mary E. Wilson Director Department of Social Services 301 Billingsley Road Charlotte, NC 28211 W) 704-336-Mary C) 704-649-0568 mary.wilson@mecklenburgcountync.gov
Subject: anonymous letter Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 18:43:02 -0500 From: "Wilson, Mary" To: "DSS-ALL"
Dear Team:
The County Manager recently shared the attached letter with me. I requested permission to share this with all of you as I want to keep you informed. While I had hoped these letters would stop based upon the progress we have been making, unfortunately, they have not.
Nevertheless, we will continue our efforts to move the department from being good to great.
Over the past 6 months, I believe we have taken some significant strides together as an organization. We have held a DSS wide staff training and recognition that for the first time in the history of the organization, brought all 1200 employees together for training and recognition. We have implemented a tuition reimbursement program for the first time for all employees. We have aligned ourselves with County shared services which are already improving our access to resources. And we have engaged community partners and placed social workers in the community to meet the client where they are located.
Since I have come on Board at DSS I have taken the opportunity to get to know as many of you as I can through small group meetings, one on one sessions, meetings at different DSS locations and attending your staff meetings. I have met with hundreds of employees at every level of the organization and I will continue to do so. Over and over I have had employees tell me things such as, "Once again I want to thank you for listening to what we had to say. Once again I have that feeling that you really care about the front line workers. In all the years I have been at DSS, the director has always kept his distance from the front line workers, but ever since you have been here I have felt someone really does care about us."
What I have learned is that there are passionate people at DSS who love what they do but don't always have a way to have their voice heard at every level of the organization. You have questions and ideas and there is not always a non-threatening way to share ideas or get answers. My vision for DSS is that every employee will be valued as an important part of the team. It is my desire that each one of you would embrace this vision, to continue to move our organization forward.
Next week the Senior Executive Team will be involved in an offsite meeting to develop our vision and mission statement for DSS and our 6 month Strategic Plan. Once that is finalized, we will develop and publish a communication plan to keep you updated on how you can get involved to help make a difference. We will continue to communicate progress on all initiatives on a regular basis.
Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. You are the BEST team and I look forward to working with you to serve all the citizens of Mecklenburg County.
Regards,
Mary
Mary E. Wilson Director Department of Social Services 301 Billingsley Road Charlotte, NC 28211 W) 704-336-Mary C) 704-649-0568 mary.wilson@mecklenburgcountync.gov
Subject: RE: anonymous letter Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:22:08 -0500 From: "Love, Hazel" To: "Wilson, Mary" , "DSS-ALL"
_____
From: Wilson, Mary Sent: Friday, January 09, 2009 6:43 PM To: DSS-ALL Subject: anonymous letter
Dear Team:
The County Manager recently shared the attached letter with me. I requested permission to share this with all of you as I want to keep you informed. While I had hoped these letters would stop based upon the progress we have been making, unfortunately, they have not.
Nevertheless, we will continue our efforts to move the department from being good to great.
Over the past 6 months, I believe we have taken some significant strides together as an organization. We have held a DSS wide staff training and recognition that for the first time in the history of the organization, brought all 1200 employees together for training and recognition. We have implemented a tuition reimbursement program for the first time for all employees. We have aligned ourselves with County shared services which are already improving our access to resources. And we have engaged community partners and placed social workers in the community to meet the client where they are located.
Since I have come on Board at DSS I have taken the opportunity to get to know as many of you as I can through small group meetings, one on one sessions, meetings at different DSS locations and attending your staff meetings. I have met with hundreds of employees at every level of the organization and I will continue to do so. Over and over I have had employees tell me things such as, "Once again I want to thank you for listening to what we had to say. Once again I have that feeling that you really care about the front line workers. In all the years I have been at DSS, the director has always kept his distance from the front line workers, but ever since you have been here I have felt someone really does care about us."
What I have learned is that there are passionate people at DSS who love what they do but don't always have a way to have their voice heard at every level of the organization. You have questions and ideas and there is not always a non-threatening way to share ideas or get answers. My vision for DSS is that every employee will be valued as an important part of the team. It is my desire that each one of you would embrace this vision, to continue to move our organization forward.
Next week the Senior Executive Team will be involved in an offsite meeting to develop our vision and mission statement for DSS and our 6 month Strategic Plan. Once that is finalized, we will develop and publish a communication plan to keep you updated on how you can get involved to help make a difference. We will continue to communicate progress on all initiatives on a regular basis.
Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. You are the BEST team and I look forward to working with you to serve all the citizens of Mecklenburg County.
Regards,
Mary
Mary E. Wilson Director Department of Social Services 301 Billingsley Road Charlotte, NC 28211 W) 704-336-Mary C) 704-649-0568 mary.wilson@mecklenburgcountync.gov
Subject: RE: anonymous letter Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:22:08 -0500 From: "Love, Hazel" To: "Wilson, Mary" , "DSS-ALL"
_____
From: Wilson, Mary Sent: Friday, January 09, 2009 6:43 PM To: DSS-ALL Subject: anonymous letter
Dear Team:
The County Manager recently shared the attached letter with me. I requested permission to share this with all of you as I want to keep you informed. While I had hoped these letters would stop based upon the progress we have been making, unfortunately, they have not.
Nevertheless, we will continue our efforts to move the department from being good to great.
Over the past 6 months, I believe we have taken some significant strides together as an organization. We have held a DSS wide staff training and recognition that for the first time in the history of the organization, brought all 1200 employees together for training and recognition. We have implemented a tuition reimbursement program for the first time for all employees. We have aligned ourselves with County shared services which are already improving our access to resources. And we have engaged community partners and placed social workers in the community to meet the client where they are located.
Since I have come on Board at DSS I have taken the opportunity to get to know as many of you as I can through small group meetings, one on one sessions, meetings at different DSS locations and attending your staff meetings. I have met with hundreds of employees at every level of the organization and I will continue to do so. Over and over I have had employees tell me things such as, "Once again I want to thank you for listening to what we had to say. Once again I have that feeling that you really care about the front line workers. In all the years I have been at DSS, the director has always kept his distance from the front line workers, but ever since you have been here I have felt someone really does care about us."
What I have learned is that there are passionate people at DSS who love what they do but don't always have a way to have their voice heard at every level of the organization. You have questions and ideas and there is not always a non-threatening way to share ideas or get answers. My vision for DSS is that every employee will be valued as an important part of the team. It is my desire that each one of you would embrace this vision, to continue to move our organization forward.
Next week the Senior Executive Team will be involved in an offsite meeting to develop our vision and mission statement for DSS and our 6 month Strategic Plan. Once that is finalized, we will develop and publish a communication plan to keep you updated on how you can get involved to help make a difference. We will continue to communicate progress on all initiatives on a regular basis.
Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. You are the BEST team and I look forward to working with you to serve all the citizens of Mecklenburg County.
Regards,
Mary
Mary E. Wilson Director Department of Social Services 301 Billingsley Road Charlotte, NC 28211 W) 704-336-Mary C) 704-649-0568 mary.wilson@mecklenburgcountync.gov
Subject: RE: anonymous letter Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:22:08 -0500 From: "Love, Hazel" To: "Wilson, Mary" , "DSS-ALL"
_____
From: Wilson, Mary Sent: Friday, January 09, 2009 6:43 PM To: DSS-ALL Subject: anonymous letter
Dear Team:
The County Manager recently shared the attached letter with me. I requested permission to share this with all of you as I want to keep you informed. While I had hoped these letters would stop based upon the progress we have been making, unfortunately, they have not.
Nevertheless, we will continue our efforts to move the department from being good to great.
Over the past 6 months, I believe we have taken some significant strides together as an organization. We have held a DSS wide staff training and recognition that for the first time in the history of the organization, brought all 1200 employees together for training and recognition. We have implemented a tuition reimbursement program for the first time for all employees. We have aligned ourselves with County shared services which are already improving our access to resources. And we have engaged community partners and placed social workers in the community to meet the client where they are located.
Since I have come on Board at DSS I have taken the opportunity to get to know as many of you as I can through small group meetings, one on one sessions, meetings at different DSS locations and attending your staff meetings. I have met with hundreds of employees at every level of the organization and I will continue to do so. Over and over I have had employees tell me things such as, "Once again I want to thank you for listening to what we had to say. Once again I have that feeling that you really care about the front line workers. In all the years I have been at DSS, the director has always kept his distance from the front line workers, but ever since you have been here I have felt someone really does care about us."
What I have learned is that there are passionate people at DSS who love what they do but don't always have a way to have their voice heard at every level of the organization. You have questions and ideas and there is not always a non-threatening way to share ideas or get answers. My vision for DSS is that every employee will be valued as an important part of the team. It is my desire that each one of you would embrace this vision, to continue to move our organization forward.
Next week the Senior Executive Team will be involved in an offsite meeting to develop our vision and mission statement for DSS and our 6 month Strategic Plan. Once that is finalized, we will develop and publish a communication plan to keep you updated on how you can get involved to help make a difference. We will continue to communicate progress on all initiatives on a regular basis.
Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. You are the BEST team and I look forward to working with you to serve all the citizens of Mecklenburg County.
Regards,
Mary
Mary E. Wilson Director Department of Social Services 301 Billingsley Road Charlotte, NC 28211 W) 704-336-Mary C) 704-649-0568 mary.wilson@mecklenburgcountync.gov
Good Afternoon, As you are aware the Department of Social Services, Division of Youth and Family Services continues to revamp business to provide a higher level of customer service to the people that it serves. To ensure that this is accomplished the following updated version of the clothing policy has been implemented. This policy is effective immediately. Should you have any questions or feedback, please do hesitate to contact the persons stated in the attached letter. Please share with your staff Michelle B. Johnson 720 E. 4th Street, Suite 502 Charlotte, North Carolina 28202 704-432-1122 (Office) 704-336-7429 (Fax Machine) Michelle.Johnson@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This message and any attachments included are from the Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services and are for sole use by the intended recipient(s). The information contained herein may include confidential or privileged information. Unauthorized review, forwarding, printing, copying, distributing, or using such information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you received this message in error, or have reason to believe you are not authorized to receive it, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message. Thank you!
Subject: Read: YFS Clothing Policy Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:21:09 -0500 From: "Brady, Cindy" To: "Johnson, Michelle" Subject: Read: YFS Clothing Policy Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:21:09 -0500 From: "Brady, Cindy" To: "Johnson, Michelle" Subject: MCFPA Clothing Closet and Food bank Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:00:02 -0500 From: "Averi, Melissa" To: "Butler, Karen" Cc: "Brady, Cindy"
Hi Ms. Butler, The Mecklenburg County Foster Parent Association has a clothing closet and food bank which it operates for the foster parents of Mecklenburg County. Unfortunately, these services are in danger of being discontinued due to the rising costs of the storage units these items are housed in. With the moratorium on clothing vouchers, it would be a shame for these resources to be wasted when they are so desperately needed by our foster children. I was wondering if you were aware of any space that DSS/YFS could allocate for the Clothing Closet and food bank to continue its operations. Any assistance you could provide would be most appreciated. Thanks in advance. _____
From: Hinson, Beverly [mailto:Beverly.Hinson@mecklenburgcountync.gov] Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2009 1:58 PM To: Taylor-Richards, Susie Cc: Cunningham, Darrell Subject: RE: Mecklenburg county Foster Parent Association
Let me forward this to Darrell Cunningham, Division Director for the Community Resources Division. Darrell?
_____
From: Taylor-Richards, Susie [mailto:STaylor@jmdlaw.com] Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2009 1:51 PM To: Hinson, Beverly Cc: KSandTARichards@aol.com Subject: Mecklenburg county Foster Parent Association
Ms. Hinson -
The MCFPA operates a food bank and clothing closet that we open monthly for foster parents who have current placements to come and shop for non-perishable food items and gently used clothing. Our donations come for area coat/clothing drives, school drives and consignment shops and Second Harvest.
We have been renting 4 storage units to house our items. When foster parents come to shop, they pay a $25 fee and for this we give them groceries and a bag of free clothing. Additional bags are $5. Unfortunately, we do not make enough to pay the rental on the storage units and unless we can find another domicile to house our items, we will have to discontinue our services.
We would like to inquire about available space at the Freedom Drive or the Bob Walton Plaza DSS locations.
Would you be open to discussing this with us?
Sincerely,
Thomas Richards/tr
President
MCFPA
TR/sr
Subject: MCFPA Clothing Closet and Food bank Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:00:02 -0500 From: "Averi, Melissa" To: "Butler, Karen" Cc: "Brady, Cindy"
Hi Amy, I just want to be sure I am understanding your message correctly- Licensing and PP staff gave fiscal staff numbers out to foster parents, correct? If that is the case I will be sure to get with them via Cindy in the am. Typically the licensing staff manage this communication with fiscal so I am not sure what was different in this case. Regardless we will get with staff in the am. Also just want to be sure that it is still ok for our staff to contact fiscal regarding check issues. This is the instruction Awilda gave us last week. If this has changed please advise. thanks
_____
From: Risk, Paul M. Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2009 3:13 PM To: Johnson, Amy; Butler, Karen; Fayko, Donna Cc: Alexander, Stanley; Bradley, Charles; Buchanan, Richard; Levine, Bet; Mcallister, James P.; Muwwakkil, Baheerah; Renfroe, Darrell; Risk, Paul M. Subject: RE: clothing vouchers
Everyone, Please cover this in OPS next week and then create a plan for sharing the information with supervisors and line staff. This information will need to go out quickly and will need to be understood by everyone since phone calls to finance staff will not be allowed. Paul Paul M. Risk, MSW Director, Youth and Family Services 720 E. 4th Street, Suite 502 Charlotte NC 28212 704-336-5929 (Office) 704-336-7429 (Fax) PaulM.Risk@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov please note this is new office location and contact information
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From: Johnson, Amy Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2009 12:23 PM To: Risk, Paul M.; Butler, Karen; Fayko, Donna Cc: Johnson, Adrienne; Brooks, Awilda Subject: FW: clothing vouchers Importance: High
All, Please see below for email from Awilda. It appears staff are calling her directly to find out the process for the clothing vouchers. The process is made relatively clear in the guidelines we developed and the supervisors should be able to handle that instruction. However, maybe Donna Johnson should do some training. Your call, of course, but we should be able to minimize these calls with training. Thanks. Also, if you could intercede on the part of social workers giving out several fiscal staff's names and numbers if they have an issue with their checks. An Alyssa Goree (supervised by Cindy Brady) and Janice Meyers (supervised by David Fee) gave out the numbers of Adrienne Johnson and Awilda Brooks. The customer called them numerous times because a check was incorrect. The social worker should have gone to the supervisor and the supervisor should handle with the fiscal staff. Please advise staff not to give out numbers to customers. Thanks again. Amy E. Johnson Senior Fiscal Administrator Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services 301 Billingsley Road Charlotte, NC 28211 Work: (704) 336-7976 Cell: (704) 208-7063 Email: Amy.Johnson@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov This message may contain information that is confidential and/or protected by law. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, copying or communication of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please contact the sender immediately and delete the message. Please note that although we will take all commercially reasonable efforts to prevent viruses from being transmitted from our systems, it is the responsibility of the recipient to check for and prevent adverse action by viruses on its own systems.
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From: Brooks, Awilda Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2009 12:07 PM To: Johnson, Amy Subject: clothing vouchers
I just received a call from Trescha MccIlwaine and she was advised to call me to get instructions on completing the clothing voucher. Supervisors need to explain this process or there needs to be collective meeting all staff where this can be reviewed as a informal training session. Awilda Ann Brooks Fiscal Analyst Mecklenburg County Social Services 301 Billingsley Rd Charlotte NC 28211 Office : 704-336-4837 Fax: 704-409-7007
Subject: MCFPA Clothing Closet and Food bank Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:00:02 -0500 From: "Averi, Melissa" To: "Butler, Karen" Cc: "Brady, Cindy"
Hi Amy, I just want to be sure I am understanding your message correctly- Licensing and PP staff gave fiscal staff numbers out to foster parents, correct? If that is the case I will be sure to get with them via Cindy in the am. Typically the licensing staff manage this communication with fiscal so I am not sure what was different in this case. Regardless we will get with staff in the am. Also just want to be sure that it is still ok for our staff to contact fiscal regarding check issues. This is the instruction Awilda gave us last week. If this has changed please advise. thanks
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From: Risk, Paul M. Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2009 3:13 PM To: Johnson, Amy; Butler, Karen; Fayko, Donna Cc: Alexander, Stanley; Bradley, Charles; Buchanan, Richard; Levine, Bet; Mcallister, James P.; Muwwakkil, Baheerah; Renfroe, Darrell; Risk, Paul M. Subject: RE: clothing vouchers
Everyone, Please cover this in OPS next week and then create a plan for sharing the information with supervisors and line staff. This information will need to go out quickly and will need to be understood by everyone since phone calls to finance staff will not be allowed. Paul Paul M. Risk, MSW Director, Youth and Family Services 720 E. 4th Street, Suite 502 Charlotte NC 28212 704-336-5929 (Office) 704-336-7429 (Fax) PaulM.Risk@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov please note this is new office location and contact information
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From: Johnson, Amy Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2009 12:23 PM To: Risk, Paul M.; Butler, Karen; Fayko, Donna Cc: Johnson, Adrienne; Brooks, Awilda Subject: FW: clothing vouchers Importance: High
All, Please see below for email from Awilda. It appears staff are calling her directly to find out the process for the clothing vouchers. The process is made relatively clear in the guidelines we developed and the supervisors should be able to handle that instruction. However, maybe Donna Johnson should do some training. Your call, of course, but we should be able to minimize these calls with training. Thanks. Also, if you could intercede on the part of social workers giving out several fiscal staff's names and numbers if they have an issue with their checks. An Alyssa Goree (supervised by Cindy Brady) and Janice Meyers (supervised by David Fee) gave out the numbers of Adrienne Johnson and Awilda Brooks. The customer called them numerous times because a check was incorrect. The social worker should have gone to the supervisor and the supervisor should handle with the fiscal staff. Please advise staff not to give out numbers to customers. Thanks again. Amy E. Johnson Senior Fiscal Administrator Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services 301 Billingsley Road Charlotte, NC 28211 Work: (704) 336-7976 Cell: (704) 208-7063 Email: Amy.Johnson@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov This message may contain information that is confidential and/or protected by law. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, copying or communication of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please contact the sender immediately and delete the message. Please note that although we will take all commercially reasonable efforts to prevent viruses from being transmitted from our systems, it is the responsibility of the recipient to check for and prevent adverse action by viruses on its own systems.
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From: Brooks, Awilda Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2009 12:07 PM To: Johnson, Amy Subject: clothing vouchers
I just received a call from Trescha MccIlwaine and she was advised to call me to get instructions on completing the clothing voucher. Supervisors need to explain this process or there needs to be collective meeting all staff where this can be reviewed as a informal training session. Awilda Ann Brooks Fiscal Analyst Mecklenburg County Social Services 301 Billingsley Rd Charlotte NC 28211 Office : 704-336-4837 Fax: 704-409-7007
Subject: FW: Process for vouchers Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 09:47:13 -0500 From: "Levine, Bet" To: "Brady, Cindy" , "Newman, Donna" , "Nelson, Tammera" , "Wade, Debbie B." , "Houston, Christine" , "Harris, Myeisha"
fyi- keep for reference please
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From: Fayko, Donna Sent: Friday, January 23, 2009 7:01 PM To: Levine, Bet Cc: Butler, Karen Subject: FW: Process for vouchers
Here are the procedures on how to access the clothing allotment that Karen shared on Friday. Donna Fayko 704.336.3274
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From: Butler, Karen Sent: Friday, January 16, 2009 2:56 PM To: Alexander, Stanley; Bradley, Charles; Mcallister, James P.; Renfroe, Darrell; Buchanan, Richard; Fayko, Donna; Muwwakkil, Baheerah; Levine, Bet; Shepard-Smith, Rebecca; Syles-Ballard, Denise Cc: Risk, Paul M. Subject: Process for vouchers
Please see the attached outline from finance re: the process for vouchers (emergency and the $150 for foster placements). Please contact Awilda Brooks or Adrienne Johnson with any questions. Thanks! Karen Butler, Deputy Director Youth & Family Services Agency 720 E. Fourth Street, Suite 502 Charlotte, NC 28202 704.432.0292 (desk) 704.336.7429 (fax)
Subject: FW: Process for vouchers Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 09:47:13 -0500 From: "Levine, Bet" To: "Brady, Cindy" , "Newman, Donna" , "Nelson, Tammera" , "Wade, Debbie B." , "Houston, Christine" , "Harris, Myeisha"
fyi- keep for reference please
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From: Fayko, Donna Sent: Friday, January 23, 2009 7:01 PM To: Levine, Bet Cc: Butler, Karen Subject: FW: Process for vouchers
Here are the procedures on how to access the clothing allotment that Karen shared on Friday. Donna Fayko 704.336.3274
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From: Butler, Karen Sent: Friday, January 16, 2009 2:56 PM To: Alexander, Stanley; Bradley, Charles; Mcallister, James P.; Renfroe, Darrell; Buchanan, Richard; Fayko, Donna; Muwwakkil, Baheerah; Levine, Bet; Shepard-Smith, Rebecca; Syles-Ballard, Denise Cc: Risk, Paul M. Subject: Process for vouchers
Please see the attached outline from finance re: the process for vouchers (emergency and the $150 for foster placements). Please contact Awilda Brooks or Adrienne Johnson with any questions. Thanks! Karen Butler, Deputy Director Youth & Family Services Agency 720 E. Fourth Street, Suite 502 Charlotte, NC 28202 704.432.0292 (desk) 704.336.7429 (fax)
Subject: 2008 Project Joy Giving Tree Totals.doc Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:31:21 -0500 From: "Brady, Cindy" To: "Hinson, Beverly" Subject: 2008 Project Joy Giving Tree Totals.doc Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:39:07 -0500 From: "Brady, Cindy" To: "Hinson, Beverly" Subject: 2008 Project Joy Giving Tree Totals.doc Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:39:07 -0500 From: "Brady, Cindy" To: "Hinson, Beverly" Subject: Clothing voucher policy revisit Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2009 16:52:10 -0500 From: "Levine, Bet" To: "Jennings, Lisa" Cc: "Brady, Cindy"
Hi Lisa,
Donna Fayko asked if you would be a good choice to participate in a group revisiting the new clothing voucher protocol since you had had some conversation around this topic already. I told her that you would be a good choice.
She will be getting in touch with you
Bet Levine, MHDL Senior Social Services Manager Youth and Family Services 700 E. Stonewall St. Suite 600 Charlotte, NC 28202 Bet.Levine@Mecklenburgcountync.gov 704-336-3165 704-432-4132 (fax)
Donna Fayko asked if you would be a good choice to participate in a group revisiting the new clothing voucher protocol since you had had some conversation around this topic already. I told her that you would be a good choice.
She will be getting in touch with you
Bet Levine, MHDL Senior Social Services Manager Youth and Family Services 700 E. Stonewall St. Suite 600 Charlotte, NC 28202 Bet.Levine@Mecklenburgcountync.gov 704-336-3165 704-432-4132 (fax)
No problem! Lisa Jennings Resource Development Licensing & Placement Phone: 704-336-2850 Fax: 704-353-0964
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From: Levine, Bet Sent: Monday, February 16, 2009 4:52 PM To: Jennings, Lisa Cc: Brady, Cindy Subject: Clothing voucher policy revisit
Hi Lisa,
Donna Fayko asked if you would be a good choice to participate in a group revisiting the new clothing voucher protocol since you had had some conversation around this topic already. I told her that you would be a good choice.
She will be getting in touch with you
Bet Levine, MHDL Senior Social Services Manager Youth and Family Services 700 E. Stonewall St. Suite 600 Charlotte, NC 28202 Bet.Levine@Mecklenburgcountync.gov 704-336-3165 704-432-4132 (fax)
No problem! Lisa Jennings Resource Development Licensing & Placement Phone: 704-336-2850 Fax: 704-353-0964
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From: Levine, Bet Sent: Monday, February 16, 2009 4:52 PM To: Jennings, Lisa Cc: Brady, Cindy Subject: Clothing voucher policy revisit
Hi Lisa,
Donna Fayko asked if you would be a good choice to participate in a group revisiting the new clothing voucher protocol since you had had some conversation around this topic already. I told her that you would be a good choice.
She will be getting in touch with you
Bet Levine, MHDL Senior Social Services Manager Youth and Family Services 700 E. Stonewall St. Suite 600 Charlotte, NC 28202 Bet.Levine@Mecklenburgcountync.gov 704-336-3165 704-432-4132 (fax)
Subject: voucher policy Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 13:52:41 -0500 From: "Levine, Bet" To: "Brady, Cindy"
I think this is the most recent "policy" (attachment # 1)
the other is the e-maiil from Mary that the policy was derived from
Please ensure staff have the ppolicy and understand how to facilitate the $150
Bet Levine, MHDL Senior Social Services Manager Youth and Family Services 700 E. Stonewall St. Suite 600 Charlotte, NC 28202 Bet.Levine@Mecklenburgcountync.gov 704-336-3165 704-432-4132 (fax)
From: Johnson, Amy Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2009 4:09 PM To: Risk, Paul M.; Fayko, Donna; Butler, Karen Cc: Brooks, Awilda; Johnson, Adrienne Subject: Clothing Allowance Check Request Procedures
Please see attached revised clothing allowance check request process with changes requested during this morning's meeting.
Amy E. Johnson
Senior Fiscal Administrator
Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services
301 Billingsley Road
Charlotte, NC 28211
Work: (704) 336-7976
Cell: (704) 208-7063
Email: Amy.Johnson@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
This message may contain information that is confidential and/or protected by law. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, copying or communication of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please contact the sender immediately and delete the message. Please note that although we will take all commercially reasonable efforts to prevent viruses from being transmitted from our systems, it is the responsibility of the recipient to check for and prevent adverse action by viruses on its own systems.
Subject: Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:39:41 -0500 From: "Brady, Cindy" To: "Hinson, Beverly" Cindy E. Brady MSEd Licensing & Placement Supervisor Youth and Family Services 700 East Stonewall St. Charlotte, NC 28202 704-336-7348
Subject: Project Joy Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2009 09:15:46 -0500 From: "Hinson, Beverly" To: "Brady, Cindy"
Can you give me your volunteer hours?
Beverly Hinson, CAVNC Community Resources Administrator Mecklenburg County- Dept of Social Services phone 704-336-4545 fax 704-336-8046
Bet needs to know the following today: 1. Number and amount of vouchers used in RD since January 1, 2009 2. Any other client benefits that could have been used in our area. Tammera R. Nelson, MA Social Work Supervisor Youth and Family Services 700 E. Stonewall Street, 6th Floor Charlotte, NC 28202 Office: (704) 336-4972 Fax: (704) 353-0964
Good Afternoon Providers, As you know, during the last provider meeting the group discussed the new clothing policy that is being implemented by Youth and Family Services. According to this policy each agency is responsible for obtaining the initial clothing for children that come into custody of the department. and placed in a foster home that is under your supervision. To ensure that our staff understands the overall process and how each agency will address the clothing issue and communicate more effective with your staff as it relates to meeting the needs of the children within the timeframe described in the policy it is imperative that we are given the process that you will follow to achieve the desired outcome. For example, will your agency provide the foster parents with a gift card, check or alternative method of payment as well as timeframes. Please e-mail me this process as soon as possible so that we can share the information with our staff and management and reduce any barriers that may hinder the children from receiving their initial clothing in a timely manner. Should you have any questions about the request, please feel free to contact me at 704-432-1122 and don't forget to e-mail your information to Michelle.Johnson@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
Subject: FW: Process for Initial Clothing for Children in Custody - Response Needed Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2009 10:03:52 -0500 From: "Levine, Bet" To: "Jennings, Lisa" , "Brady, Cindy" , "Nelson, Tammera" Cc: "Fayko, Donna" , "Butler, Karen" , "Buchanan, Richard"
Hi Lisa, could you please pass on to the L&P staff? thx
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From: Johnson, Michelle Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 8:47 PM To: Nelson, Tammera; Mack, Gerald; Graham, Brennon; Crawford, Frank; Cooper, Rose; Hugging, Angela; Kuehn, Jennifer; Butler, Karen; Ward, Yvonne M; Clontz, Laine; Bass, Craig; White, Mazie; Rollins, Andrea; Lawing, Clarence; Johnson, James; Simpson-Crumpley, Tiffany; Pinkney, Colin; Fayko, Donna; Cleveland, Libby; Johnson, Amy; Brigitte Perry; Mack, Mary; Iseah, Valerie; Leslie Kellenberger; Knarr, Victoria; Gatlin, Marvina; Current, Jeree; Nichols, Myra; Parks, Yvette; Grosse, Fred; Laurie Whitson; Campbell, Kimm R.; Wilson, Beth; Foster, Edward; Jackson, Angie; Mele, Connie; Brady, Cindy; Crockett, Grayce; Levine, Bet; Howe, John; Daughety, Julie; Powers, Mary Jo Cc: Butler, Karen; Fayko, Donna Subject: Process for Initial Clothing for Children in Custody - Response Needed Importance: High
Good Afternoon Providers, As you know, during the last provider meeting the group discussed the new clothing policy that is being implemented by Youth and Family Services. According to this policy each agency is responsible for obtaining the initial clothing for children that come into custody of the department. and placed in a foster home that is under your supervision. To ensure that our staff understands the overall process and how each agency will address the clothing issue and communicate more effective with your staff as it relates to meeting the needs of the children within the timeframe described in the policy it is imperative that we are given the process that you will follow to achieve the desired outcome. For example, will your agency provide the foster parents with a gift card, check or alternative method of payment as well as timeframes. Please e-mail me this process as soon as possible so that we can share the information with our staff and management and reduce any barriers that may hinder the children from receiving their initial clothing in a timely manner. Should you have any questions about the request, please feel free to contact me at 704-432-1122 and don't forget to e-mail your information to Michelle.Johnson@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
Subject: FW: Process for Initial Clothing for Children in Custody - Response Needed Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2009 10:03:52 -0500 From: "Levine, Bet" To: "Jennings, Lisa" , "Brady, Cindy" , "Nelson, Tammera" Cc: "Fayko, Donna" , "Butler, Karen" , "Buchanan, Richard"
Hi Lisa, could you please pass on to the L&P staff? thx
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From: Johnson, Michelle Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 8:47 PM To: Nelson, Tammera; Mack, Gerald; Graham, Brennon; Crawford, Frank; Cooper, Rose; Hugging, Angela; Kuehn, Jennifer; Butler, Karen; Ward, Yvonne M; Clontz, Laine; Bass, Craig; White, Mazie; Rollins, Andrea; Lawing, Clarence; Johnson, James; Simpson-Crumpley, Tiffany; Pinkney, Colin; Fayko, Donna; Cleveland, Libby; Johnson, Amy; Brigitte Perry; Mack, Mary; Iseah, Valerie; Leslie Kellenberger; Knarr, Victoria; Gatlin, Marvina; Current, Jeree; Nichols, Myra; Parks, Yvette; Grosse, Fred; Laurie Whitson; Campbell, Kimm R.; Wilson, Beth; Foster, Edward; Jackson, Angie; Mele, Connie; Brady, Cindy; Crockett, Grayce; Levine, Bet; Howe, John; Daughety, Julie; Powers, Mary Jo Cc: Butler, Karen; Fayko, Donna Subject: Process for Initial Clothing for Children in Custody - Response Needed Importance: High
Good Afternoon Providers, As you know, during the last provider meeting the group discussed the new clothing policy that is being implemented by Youth and Family Services. According to this policy each agency is responsible for obtaining the initial clothing for children that come into custody of the department. and placed in a foster home that is under your supervision. To ensure that our staff understands the overall process and how each agency will address the clothing issue and communicate more effective with your staff as it relates to meeting the needs of the children within the timeframe described in the policy it is imperative that we are given the process that you will follow to achieve the desired outcome. For example, will your agency provide the foster parents with a gift card, check or alternative method of payment as well as timeframes. Please e-mail me this process as soon as possible so that we can share the information with our staff and management and reduce any barriers that may hinder the children from receiving their initial clothing in a timely manner. Should you have any questions about the request, please feel free to contact me at 704-432-1122 and don't forget to e-mail your information to Michelle.Johnson@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
Subject: Reply to Commissioner James Date: Fri, 6 Mar 2009 14:57:04 -0500 From: "Wilson, Mary" To: "James, Bill" Cc: "DSS-ALL" , "Shields, Bobbie" , "Jackson, Janice" , "McGillicuddy, John" , "Lancaster, Michelle" , "Jones, Harry L."
Dear Commissioner James, Per your e-mail: I have called Mr. LaMay and discussed his experience at DSS. I am pleased to report that DSS has already identified and resolved the issue Mr. LaMay was concerned about regarding the voter registration process. We have created an internal policy unit to review the policy changes coming from Raleigh so that we are clear on their desired outcome and do not unnecessarily complicate the process by our attempt to follow the letter of the law which may increase County expense and time for our customers. I recommend that you follow-up with John McGillicuddy regarding the County Diversity Training Workshop. However, I have attended the diversity training and it does not address sexual orientation except in the context of acknowledging it as a form of diversity. The training does not train anyone to condone nor does it pass any judgment, positive or negative, on such behavior. Attached is the letter you asked Bill Warren to forward to me which I received yesterday. The anonymous writer references three incidents which he/she describes as a lack of diversity and you have characterized as a hostile work environment for white employees. Following are facts which you and the writer may want to take into consideration: 1. I was invited to attend an Adult Medicaid Thanksgiving potluck luncheon on November 19, 2008. The program, performed by employees, included an original poem stating that change had come to the White House and that change had come to DSS. Both are factual statements. I did not count who cheered but I think it is safe to say the majority of employees are black so it may be that it appeared only black employees cheered. 2. The Thanksgiving Referral Team was an initiative to automate the holiday referral system to move thousands of telephone calls off case managers desks and into the call center for more efficiency. The team was selected by me based initially on volunteers and subsequently we added additional representation based on division leadership. The team was all black. However, please note that DSS is 68% black. Interestingly enough, the diversity on this team was the male representation which is very limited at DSS at 13% . 3. The only change in leadership has been the Senior Leadership Team (SET) which reports to me. When I arrived at DSS the SET was comprised of 4 whites 1 black and 1 Latino. Since I have re-organized the senior leadership team is comprised of 7 whites and 3 blacks. 4. The Employee Climate Survey for Fiscal Year 2008 reflected a range of 64%-80% diversity perception score. To address the myriad issues arising out of the survey and the 260+ employee note cards and e-mails I received, I requested that the Organizational Development (OD) group within the Human Resource office conduct a diversity survey within DSS. The response was an outstanding 55% (664) response rate. The results are still being tabulated. The OD group utilized an online tool, survey monkey. It is my understanding that the survey tool is anonymous and only generated the data, not the source of the information. Thanks for bringing these matters to my attention. I will share this with the DSS staff because I believe it is critical that they know the issues that are being shared with the Board of County Commissioners so that they are well informed. Mary E. Wilson Director Department of Social Services 301 Billingsley Road Charlotte, NC 28211 W) 704-336-Mary C) 704-649-0568 mary.wilson@mecklenburgcountync.gov
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From: William F. James, Jr. [mailto:wjames@carolina.rr.com] Sent: Thu 2/26/2009 3:34 PM To: Jackson, Janice; Wilson, Mary Cc: Warren, John ( Bill ); Paige, Janice Subject: FW: Voter registration forms at DSS
I am not sure what he is referring to but I would appreciate it if someone could call and determine what is DSS concern is about Voter Registration forms.
Also - I received a complaint (a long one) about some sort of 'diversity' training that was mandatory involving 'sexual orientation'. If someone in County government believes that behavior is a sin and unlawful then there should not be any 'training' to force them to reach another conclusion. It is one thing to treat someone professionally but quite another to force them to accept behavior that the law and major religions codify as wrong.
Since I don't know what is being taught I don't know what specifically they are talking about.
There was also a reference to some racial commentary at DSS that involved (according to this letter) a hostile work environment for white DSS employees.
I gave the letter to Janice Paige to have Bill Warren follow up on. It had a copy of an e-mail from Mary Wilson about the issue. They did not believe that the anonymous questionnaire for this exercise was really hidden from management view.
Regards,
Commissioner Bill James (R, District 6)
Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners
600 East Fourth Street, 11th Floor
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
HTTP://billjames.org
untitled
Confidentiality Notice: E-mail correspondence to and from this address regarding public matters pertaining to Mecklenburg County business may be subject to the North Carolina Public Records law "NCGS Ch 132" and may be disclosed to third parties. This electronic mail transmission may contain information that is confidential, priviledged, or proprietary. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you are not authorized to read, print, retain, copy or disseminate this message, any part of it, or any attachments. If you have received this message in error, please delete the message and any attachments from your system without reading the content and notify me immediately of the inadvertent transmission. There is no intent on the part of the sender (me) to waive any priviledge that may attach to this communication. Thank you for your cooperation.
From: Bill LaMay [mailto:billlamay@windstream.net] Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2009 3:27 PM To: bill james Subject: Voter registration forms at DSS
I wanted to follow-up on a telephone message I left with you the other day regarding my experience at DSS. When I called I got a bit longwinded and you may not have got my telephone numbers. In case you did not, here are my contact numbers:
Home - (704) 846-0261
Cell - (704) 995-0002
Thank you for any of the time you spent on this inquiry and should or a staff member wish to call me regarding this situation please feel free to do so at anytime.
Good Morning, During the provider meeting held on last Friday, Donna Fayko mentioned that we are still missing agency processes on how the purchase of initial clothing will be handled for those children coming into custody with no personal items. Below are the agencies that we have received information from. If your agency is not listed here, please take a few moments to send me the process in which you will use to ensure that the needs of the child(ren) are met within a 24-hour timeframe.
* Alexander Youth Network * Elon Homes * Omni visions * Youth Homes, Inc * Thompson Family Focus * Carolina Family Connections
As always, thanks for all that you do to to strengthen the children and families of Mecklenburg County. Michelle B. Johnson 720 E. 4th Street, Suite 502 Charlotte, North Carolina 28202 704-432-1122 (Office) 704-336-7429 (Fax Machine) Michelle.Johnson@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This message and any attachments included are from the Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services and are for sole use by the intended recipient(s). The information contained herein may include confidential or privileged information. Unauthorized review, forwarding, printing, copying, distributing, or using such information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you received this message in error, or have reason to believe you are not authorized to receive it, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message. Thank you!
As you may know, the County has engaged Cherry, Bekaert & Holland to perform an audit of the internal controls in place related to financial transactions at the Department of Social Services. While the scope of the audit is fairly comprehensive, a portion of the work includes a review of DSS's voucher program. As we understand it, the voucher program is used to purchase items for clients in emergency situations. The first step in auditing the program is to identify all of the retail outlets used by DSS staff to purchase these items. While we have identified some, we believe there may be some we have missed. As individuals that have access to voucher requests or approve these requests for your staff, I need you to generate a list of all of the stores you or your staff use to purchase items with these vouchers. To keep the project moving, I am requesting that you send your list to me no later than the close of business tomorrow, April 15th. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Thank you. Dena R. Diorio Director of Finance Mecklenburg County 600 East Fourth Street Charlotte, North Carolina 28202 Dena.Diorio@mecklenburgcountync.gov 704-336-2228 (p) 704-336-2380 (f)
Please take the time to complete the Finance DepartmentÃs Customer Service Survey here.
As you may know, the County has engaged Cherry, Bekaert & Holland to perform an audit of the internal controls in place related to financial transactions at the Department of Social Services. While the scope of the audit is fairly comprehensive, a portion of the work includes a review of DSS's voucher program. As we understand it, the voucher program is used to purchase items for clients in emergency situations. The first step in auditing the program is to identify all of the retail outlets used by DSS staff to purchase these items. While we have identified some, we believe there may be some we have missed. As individuals that have access to voucher requests or approve these requests for your staff, I need you to generate a list of all of the stores you or your staff use to purchase items with these vouchers. To keep the project moving, I am requesting that you send your list to me no later than the close of business tomorrow, April 15th. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Thank you. Dena R. Diorio Director of Finance Mecklenburg County 600 East Fourth Street Charlotte, North Carolina 28202 Dena.Diorio@mecklenburgcountync.gov 704-336-2228 (p) 704-336-2380 (f)
Please take the time to complete the Finance DepartmentÃs Customer Service Survey here.
I want to thank all of you for your help identifying the stores were DSS vouchers are used. I now need your assistance identifying any DSS staff that have County credit cards for stores. I do not need the names of those staff with Purchasing Cards (P-cards), just for store credit cards. I appreciate your forwarding this information to me by Tuesday at 5:00 PM. Thanks for your help. Dena Diorio
As you may know, the County has engaged Cherry, Bekaert & Holland to perform an audit of the internal controls in place related to financial transactions at the Department of Social Services. While the scope of the audit is fairly comprehensive, a portion of the work includes a review of DSS's voucher program. As we understand it, the voucher program is used to purchase items for clients in emergency situations. The first step in auditing the program is to identify all of the retail outlets used by DSS staff to purchase these items. While we have identified some, we believe there may be some we have missed. As individuals that have access to voucher requests or approve these requests for your staff, I need you to generate a list of all of the stores you or your staff use to purchase items with these vouchers. To keep the project moving, I am requesting that you send your list to me no later than the close of business tomorrow, April 15th. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Thank you. Dena R. Diorio Director of Finance Mecklenburg County 600 East Fourth Street Charlotte, North Carolina 28202 Dena.Diorio@mecklenburgcountync.gov 704-336-2228 (p) 704-336-2380 (f)
Please take the time to complete the Finance DepartmentÃs Customer Service Survey here.
I want to thank all of you for your help identifying the stores were DSS vouchers are used. I now need your assistance identifying any DSS staff that have County credit cards for stores. I do not need the names of those staff with Purchasing Cards (P-cards), just for store credit cards. I appreciate your forwarding this information to me by Tuesday at 5:00 PM. Thanks for your help. Dena Diorio
As you may know, the County has engaged Cherry, Bekaert & Holland to perform an audit of the internal controls in place related to financial transactions at the Department of Social Services. While the scope of the audit is fairly comprehensive, a portion of the work includes a review of DSS's voucher program.
As we understand it, the voucher program is used to purchase items for clients in emergency situations. The first step in auditing the program is to identify all of the retail outlets used by DSS staff to purchase these items. While we have identified some, we believe there may be some we have missed. As individuals that have access to voucher requests or approve these requests for your staff, I need you to generate a list of all of the stores you or your staff use to purchase items with these vouchers.
To keep the project moving, I am requesting that you send your list to me no later than the close of business tomorrow, April 15th. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Thank you. Dena R. Diorio Director of Finance Mecklenburg County 600 East Fourth Street Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
As news spread about possible missing money from the Department of Social Services Christmas charity, Harry Lomax and other donors contacted Mecklenburg County leaders to complain.
"I feel duped," Lomax wrote in an e-mail to county commissioners and top administrators.
But Lomax likely did not anticipate County Manager Harry Jones' response.
Jones forwarded the e-mail to Lomax's employer, Bank of America, and wrote, "Do you know Harry Lomax."
A Bank of America vice president replied to Jones about one hour later, writing that she was "embarrassed" by Lomax's e-mail.
"I am tracking it down. I don't know him - I have alerted charles. Will be back to you," she wrote.
Some commissioners and ethics experts now say the actions by Jones and the bank official were improper because they could stifle free speech and blur the lines between employment and citizenship.
It's unclear how Jones knew Lomax worked at Bank of America. Lomax sent his message from a personal account and did not mention the bank by name.
"It is not appropriate," said Diane Swanson, a professor of business ethics at Kansas State University. "If this happened all the time, what kind of world would we have?"
The Observer obtained the e-mails from the county through an open records request. They provide a glimpse into how top Mecklenburg administrators reacted to reports of misspending and accounting lapses at the Department of Social Services.
Worried donors wrote to commissioners and county executives after auditors disclosed that they could not account for tens of thousands of dollars from a charity designed to buy Christmas presents for needy children.
Some county commissioners said they do not understand why Jones forwarded the e-mail from Lomax to his employer when he was speaking as a citizen and not on behalf of the company. They said they would question Jones about it.
Public officials publish their phone numbers and e-mail addresses to allow constituents to voice concerns and ask questions. They also set aside time during public meetings to listen to comments from constituents.
"Citizens are able to vent frustrations without thinking that (county) management will get their employer to engage in some retribution," Commissioner Bill James said. "This makes the county look bad. It makes Harry look vindictive. It makes Bank of America look like the county's hatchet man."
Jones did not respond to interview requests from the Observer. A county spokesman referred a reporter to a statement the county released, but it does not directly address questions about Lomax's e-mail.
Nicole Nastacie, a spokeswoman for Bank of America, said "on their personal time, employees are free to express personal opinions" to government officials about any issue that is not related to the company.
Betty Turner, the bank's government liaison who responded to Jones, suspected that Lomax's e-mail involved issues related to the bank and appropriately looked into the situation, Nastacie said. When she determined Lomax was speaking as a private citizen, there were no further discussions, Nastacie said.
Lomax declined to comment.
The e-mail:
On July 7, Lomax sent his e-mail to commissioners, Jones, DSS Director Mary Wilson and County Finance Director Dena Diorio. He wrote that he had planned to speak during a commissioners meeting the same day at the urging of Commissioner Neil Cooksey.
Lomax wrote that he left before speaking and decided to e-mail his comments.
The e-mail criticizes county management for failing to prevent accounting failures and accuses some commissioners of a "flippant, hands-off response" to the issue. "There seems to be a need for a wholesale cleanup of many county agencies, and I think that starts from the top down," Lomax wrote.
A week after receiving the e-mail, Jones forwarded it to Turner.
Commissioners respond
Commissioner Karen Bentley said Jones should not have sent the e-mail to Bank of America.
"It should have no bearing on his job," Bentley said. "That's his right."
Commissioner Dumont Clarke called the move "unusual."
Clarke and some other commissioners said they would need more information to judge whether Jones acted appropriately.
"It's not a good practice for the manager to do," Clarke said.
Commissioner Chairman Jennifer Roberts said she would try to contact Lomax to speak with him. "I don't read anything into this," Roberts said. "Maybe Harry was trying to make sure Bank of America didn't feel duped."
Four business and government professors reviewed the e-mails for the Observer. Three said Jones did not have a valid reason to forward Lomax's e-mail since he did not mention his employer by name or present himself as a representative of the company.
"Given these circumstances, one would expect a public official to respond directly to Mr. Lomax and not contact his employer," said Denis Arnold, a professor of business ethics at UNC Charlotte.
Winthrop professor Marilyn Smith disagreed.
Considering public outcry over alleged misspending in DSS, Smith said it understandable that Jones would contact Bank of America. The bank also reacted appropriately, she said.
"To a certain extent, we represent our employers 24/7," said Smith, a professor of management. "We like to think it's my own personal opinion. Companies are judged by how their employees behave, fair or not."
Mecklenburg County Manager Harry Jones will receive a $38,400 performance bonus, but his total compensation remains the same as last year, under a deal unanimously approved Wednesday by county commissioners. Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Commissioners praised Jones for, among other things, leading the county during a difficult economic time.
The "pay-at-risk" money - which commissioners have in previous years called a performance bonus - is part of an overall $302,854 compensation package. It also includes $215,655 in base salary.
The pay plan keeps Jones' compensation the same as in 2008-09, though a board committee determined he actually would have been due more money this year, said commissioner Dumont Clarke.
Jones, however, asked that his pay be kept level. "That was his request," said commissioners' Chairman Jennifer Roberts. He "wants to be treated like all the other county employees." The county didn't award any merit raises this year.
Jones' evaluation has been in the works for weeks, with talks largely being kept private initially as allowed by state law.
But some commissioners acknowledged last month that paying the money could raise questions in light of steep budget cuts across the county. Two other local public officials - Charlotte City Manager Curt Walton and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Peter Gorman - declined merit raises or bonuses for themselves and staff to help save money.
Jones is eligible for a higher bonus than Gorman or Walton, up to 30 percent of his base salary.
Commissioners Chair Jennifer Roberts said the board had a "difficult conversation" about the pay plan because of the economic conditions.
Still, commissioners also have said they wanted to reward Jones for meeting goals previously outlined by the board.
Clarke said Jones told commissioners earlier Tuesday evening that 2008-09 was both his most challenging and best year as manager.
Roberts said Jones "has done a very, very good job, an excellent job as manager in a very difficult year." She cited Jones' work addressing budget cuts because of falling tax revenues and his work on the Critical Needs Task Force to help address social services needs in the community.
But the county also faced questions about inadequate accounting at the Department of Social Services, including an investigation into possible misused money in a charity program for Foster Children. The county announced steps to help shore up practices within DSS, including putting its finances under control of the main county finance department.
Mecklenburg has offered bonuses to the manager for years, but decided five years ago to restructure the pay system to reflect a CEO-style package of a base salary with another piece of pay tied to performance.
Under the plan, Jones is eligible for a bonus of up to 30 percent of his annual salary based on a series of criteria, including how well the county performs on annual goals and a management plan approved by commissioners. Based on his current salary, he could have received a bonus up to about $65,000 this year.
Jones has not received the full bonus since commissioners approved the new pay structure in 2004.
Clarke said Jones' performance in the past year earned him more money. He said he's being paid about 10 percent less than what his performance score called for.
Cuts in mental health
Also on Tuesday, commissioners approved about $2.76million worth of service cuts to the county's Area Mental Health department because of reduced money from the state. The state cuts were actually larger, but county staff has promised $3.7 million to help make up the gap.
Jones said he hasn't yet identified where the money would come from.
While Mecklenburg County is cutting some jobs, the county's Department of Social Services has been hiring.
The NewsChannel 36 I-Team discovered DSS has hired 30-40 positions, many of them managers and several filled with candidates who have political connections.
The DSS hiring freeze was in effect when Mary E. Wilson joined the department as director last July. But in the name of reorganizing the department, DSS has hired dozens of new employees, including the daughter of Charlotte's police chief, the daughter of a Superior Court judge and the wife of a city councilman who is running for mayor.
DSS hired Samara Foxx, the wife of at-large councilman and mayoral candidate Anthony Foxx, last July.
Her salary as Division Director II was $100,000 a year.
Foxx's hiring raised questions among some DSS staffers since the position was posted on July 17 and taken down the very next day.
For months, the I-Team has asked DSS in writing for public records showing when the job was posted. At first a department spokeswoman told us that legal counsel had advised her the records were confidential personnel records. After our repeated requests for only the public portion of the records, DSS sent us a two-page letter detailing the job posting.
The letter says in part, "The creation of Ms. Foxx's position was an initial step in the re-organization of DSS, which was approved by the county's executive team."
Charlotte-Meck. County Commissioners Chair Jennifer Roberts told us by phone from Washington, "I did not realize that opening was posted for such a short period of time. It's concerning. We pride ourselves on being open, transparent, equal and fair. I can't imagine why the posting period would not be available to reporters."
After DSS Director Mary E. Wilson gave Samara Foxx the job, Wilson's husband Cornell donated $4,000 -- the legal maximum -- to Anthony Foxx's mayoral campaign.
Foxx Campaign Manager Bruce Clark said Wilson and Foxx had worked together in the past but declined comment on the hiring, saying it was a county decision.
Foxx is not the only person with political connections to be hired by DSS since the "hiring freeze" went into effect.
Public records show DSS hired Hollye Monroe, the daughter of CMPD Police Chief Rodney Monroe, on Jan. 14 as a Management Analyst. Her salary: $46,613.60 per year. Our phone messages to Monroe's public information officer and chief of staff were not returned.
DSS also hired Tracey Evans, the daughter of Superior Court Judge Yvonne Mims-Evans, on Feb. 11 as a Social Services Manager at a salary of $57,380.95 per year. Judge Mims-Evans told us in a brief telephone interview that she had nothing to do with the hire.
County Manager Harry Jones e-mailed us a two-line response saying, "These individuals were hired within our policies and without regard to who their parents or spouses are."
Neither Jones nor DSS Director Mary E. Wilson responded to our requests for an on-camera interview.
But County Commissioner Bill James says the hiring smacks of political patronage and in his words "just smells bad." Commissioner James says the hiring should be investigated.
Tiffany Wright stood alone in the dark, waiting for her school bus.
It was just before 6 a.m., and her foster grandmother had walked back home to get Tiffany's water bottle.
Tiffany, 15, was eight months pregnant but determined to stay on track in school. She wanted to be a lawyer. And after just a few weeks at Hawthorne High, she had impressed teachers as smart and ambitious, despite a difficult childhood.
At 5:51, Tiffany sent a text.
"Wheres the bus?"
One stop away, replied her friend, already on the bus.
At 5:55, as the bus lumbered toward Tiffany's stop, people began calling police to report gunshots.
A school bus dispatcher radioed Tiffany's bus driver: Change course - something's happening ahead.
Tiffany lay dead in the road, shot in the head, that morning, Monday, Sept. 14. Her baby girl was delivered at the hospital and lived a week, but died Sunday.
Nobody's charged in the killings, but police call Tiffany's adoptive brother, Royce Mitchell, a "person of interest."
In the months before she died, local agencies took steps aimed at stabilizing her home life and keeping her safe. But her story exposes failures in the system that was supposed to protect her.
Among the missteps:
•In February, a Mecklenburg court clerk appointed Mitchell as Tiffany's temporary guardian — even though he was a felon who served time in federal prison. He was also tried in 2006 for murder, but found not guilty. And last year, he was accused of domestic violence, though the case was dismissed.
•In July, social workers told police that Mitchell, 36, might have committed statutory rape with Tiffany, but police didn't question him about it for seven weeks, and didn't charge him with the rape until after Tiffany was killed.
•This month, Mecklenburg social services failed to cut off communication between Tiffany, who was in foster care, and Mitchell, said a source close to the investigation.
On the day of Tiffany's killing, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police jailed Mitchell for statutory rape and indecent liberties with a child, naming Tiffany as the victim.
Police defend their work, saying they followed the industry's best practices - which takes time. Police didn't feel a need to rush, they say, because they believed Tiffany was secure, hidden in a foster home with no threat to her safety.
Police say it's hard to prove statutory rape: Of the 262 reports of statutory rape police received over three years, only 16 percent - 42 cases - were accepted by prosecutors.
Experts say statutory rape cases are complicated because they involve victims ages 13, 14 or 15 who often consider themselves voluntary participants in sex with someone at least six years older. So victims can be reluctant to help police.
But child advocates say in cases like Tiffany's, police should act more aggressively. An immediate arrest sends a signal to a suspect and can persuade them to stay away from victims.
"The cases may be difficult to win, but they're not difficult to charge," says Brett Loftis of Charlotte's Council for Children's Rights.
UNCC criminologist Paul Friday says: "Often, nothing is done in these kinds of cases because they're based on improper assumptions about the rationality of someone that age. But the minors are often unaware of disease, birth control and they can be exploited by someone."
Adopted by foster mother
Tiffany first entered the child welfare system as a toddler in Buffalo, N.Y., when her mother lost custody.
She was adopted at 4 by her foster mother, Alma Wright, an older woman with eight grown children, who was excited about raising another child.
One of Wright's grown sons was Royce Mitchell, a star quarterback in high school who'd gone on to play for a semi-pro team in Buffalo. But Mitchell also was indicted in 1999 as part of a drug trafficking ring and went to federal prison.
While he was in prison, authorities also charged Mitchell with an earlier murder, but a jury found him not guilty.
In 2004, Alma and Tiffany left Buffalo for North Carolina, settling near Kings Mountain. Tiffany made friends easily at school and church. She ran track at Bessemer City High School.
In 2007, Mitchell was released from prison and followed his mother to North Carolina.
But last fall, Alma Wright got sick. Friends at church helped out with Tiffany, inviting her for dinners and weekends. Tiffany spent time with Mitchell and his wife, too.
Alma Wright died Jan. 25, and Tiffany moved in with the Mitchells in Charlotte.
On Jan. 30, Royce Mitchell asked a Mecklenburg court to appoint him and his wife as Tiffany's guardians.
On his application, he wrote: "We are seeking guardianship because we were requested to do so by Mrs. Alma Wright before she died."
He wanted to transfer Tiffany to West Mecklenburg High School.
The court set a hearing for Feb. 5 and appointed a child advocate to study the situation and look after Tiffany's best interests in court.
There's no transcript of what happened in court, and the clerk who handled Tiffany's case declined to discuss his decision.
Frederick Benson, a Mecklenburg assistant clerk of superior court, appointed Mitchell the temporary guardian of Tiffany's welfare.
It's unclear if Benson, a lawyer, knew about Mitchell's criminal background. Court clerks are not required to perform background checks in guardianship cases, says Clerk of Superior Court Martha Curran. It's up to each clerk to decide what checks are necessary, and they often rely on court-appointed child advocates to advise them in such cases.
Tiffany's advocate, lawyer Martha Efird, declined to discuss her actions in the case.
It was in the weeks surrounding the Feb. 5 court hearing that Tiffany got pregnant, if hospital estimates are accurate.
But friends say Tiffany, who started at West Mecklenburg High in February, wouldn't realize for four or five months that she was pregnant.
On Feb. 27, clerk of court Benson ordered DSS to conduct a "home study" of the Mitchell household. Officials won't release their findings.
But Mitchell didn't keep custody long, according to several of Tiffany's friends in King's Mountain.
In late March, Mitchell left Tiffany at a group home called With Friends in Gastonia, according to Marlene Jefferies and Cruceta Jeffeirs, two adult family friends who watched Tiffany grow up.
The group home wouldn't confirm that. But the friends say the home reported to social services that Tiffany was abandoned. And she was soon back in foster care.
On March 31, Jeffeirs, a Shelby pastor, wrote a letter to Benson seeking custody of Tiffany: "My desire is to see Tiffany accomplish all the goals that she has set for herself and I believe she can do that in a stable environment with lots of guidance and love."
DSS officials in Gaston and Mecklenburg won't discuss Tiffany's case or answer questions about what steps they took to protect her.
But friends and family say Tiffany was eventually placed in the care of foster parent Susan Barber, in a townhome off Mallard Creek Road in Derita.
By July, it was clear Tiffany was pregnant, friends say.
Barber tried to shield Tiffany from talking to those she believed might be bad influences, according to Tiffany's cousin Brittany Page. But a source close to the investigation said Tiffany and Mitchell continued communicating.
Despite repeated attempts, Barber could not be reached.
As the school year approached, Tiffany prepared to change schools again, this time to Hawthorne High in Charlotte, which offers a special program for pregnant students.
Delayed Investigation
On July 27, social workers reported to police that Royce Mitchell might have committed statutory rape with Tiffany.
It took eight days for a detective to look at the case, and three days more for it to be officially assigned to Teresa Johnson, a detective with CMPD's youth crime and domestic violence unit.
Another 12 days passed before Johnson interviewed Tiffany.
It's unclear when detective Johnson discovered Mitchell's background, but it wasn't enough to ramp up the investigation. Investigators say they believed Tiffany was safe in a foster home and faced no threats from Mitchell.
Police say their performance in the case followed procedure and met standards.
Police interview alleged victims immediately if the crime has occurred within the previous 72 hours, so they can gather evidence that may remain. But in cases like Tiffany's - where months had elapsed since the alleged offense - police try to arrange just one interview when children and teen victims of abuse are involved.
Police acknowledge that strategy takes time but minimizes trauma and reduces the chances that young victims might be led into inaccurate testimony by repeated questioning.
Police also let such victims decide when they want to be interviewed at the county's child-victim center called Pat's Place. There, specially trained interviewers talk to victims, while social workers, psychologists, police and others watch from another room.
Tiffany chose an Aug. 19 interview. She didn't say much during the formal interview. But later that day, Johnson won her trust and obtained enough information to move forward with the investigation.
The next day, Aug. 20, the detective made her first call to Mitchell to ask him about the charge, she says. Johnson left a message and gave him a few days to call back.
When Mitchell didn't respond, she made calls over the next two weeks to social workers and a federal probation officer to ask Mitchell to come talk to police.
Police say they didn't immediately arrest him because they believed they could get better information if he talked voluntarily.
On Sept. 9, a federal probation official told Johnson that Mitchell was not coming in.
On Sept. 10, a team of social workers, police and other agencies held a standard follow-up meeting to discuss how to proceed in Tiffany's case.
On Friday, Sept. 11, detective Johnson phoned Mitchell's wife and left a message. She asked her to call back to discuss Tiffany, Johnson says, but didn't give details of the rape allegation.
That Monday, Tiffany was shot and killed.
As emergency vehicles rolled to the scene, Tiffany's school bus was diverted from its normal route. But the students could see flashing lights. Tiffany's friends on the bus, Cimone Black and Tamia Corpening, began to worry.
"I kept texting her phone...," Cimone said. Then she started calling, but all she got was voice mail.
The bus continued on to Hawthorne. For Tamia, the hourlong ride was excruciating.
The House of Representatives passed a sweeping health care bill Saturday night with a tight vote of 220-215, making it the biggest expansion of health care coverage since Medicare was created more than 40 years ago.
The Affordable Health Care for America Act, or H.R. 3962, restricts insurance companies from denying coverage to anyone with a pre-existing condition or charging higher premiums based on gender or medical history. It also provides federal subsidies to those who cannot afford it and guarantees coverage for 96 percent of Americans, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.
However, turning the bill into law remains uncertain.
The bill barely squeaked by in the Democrat-controlled House, with just one Republican voting for it -- first-time lawmaker Joseph Cao who holds a seat in predominantly Democratic New Orleans.
One hundred and seventy-six Republicans opposed it, as did 39 Democrats.
The Senate must now pass its own version of the health care legislation.
Senate lawmakers are also having a hard time winning over Republicans and conservative Democrats. It is unclear when the Senate will vote on its version.
Even if it passes, lawmakers in the House and Senate will have to reconcile their respective versions into one document and vote again.
President Obama said he was "absolutely confident" the Senate will follow suit in passing its version of the bill.
"I look forward to signing comprehensive health insurance reform into law by the end of the year," he said.
With eight seconds left in the voting period, Democrats began counting down, erupting in roars when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi declared, "The bill is passed."
Democrat Sheila Jackson-Lee from Texas waved a copy of the bill while her colleagues pumped their fists.
"Democrats voted for the bill and a Republican voted for the bill. That equals bipartisan," Pelosi said later.
Republican lawmakers stood silently across the floor, some with their arms folded across their chest.
"Well, it was about what I thought it would be," said House Republican Leader John Boehner of Ohio as he quickly exited.
Later, he issued a statement where he said the $1.2 trillion legislation would add to the country's "skyrocketing" debt. Democrats have said the bill will cut the deficit by $104 billion over 10 years.
"I came here to renew the American Dream, so my kids and their kids have the same opportunities I had," Boehner said. "I came here to fight big-government monstrosities like this bill that dim the light of freedom and diminish opportunity for future generations."
Michael Steele, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, released an equally tersely-worded statement.
"Nancy Pelosi and her liberal lieutenants made a lot of promises today to get the votes they desperately needed," he said. "Make no mistake -- the Democrat leadership's assurances were based on political expediency, not principle. Anyone receiving a promise from Pelosi is guaranteed to be disappointed in the end when their votes are no longer needed."
Earlier in the day, Obama met behind closed doors with Democrats to shore up support for the bill, calling it a chance of a generation.
In the run-up to the vote, Republicans and conservative Democrats joined forces to pass an amendment to the bill to prohibit federal funds for abortion services.
Its consideration was considered a big win for them and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which used its power, especially with conservative Democrats in swing congressional districts, to help force other Democratic leaders to permit a vote that most of them oppose.
The prohibition, introduced by Democratic members, including Rep. Brad Ellsworth of Indiana and Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan, would exclude cases of rape, incest or if the mother's life is in danger.
The GOP accounted for 174 of the votes in favor of the amendment, with one Republican voting "present."
On the Democrat's side, 64 voted for the measure, and 194 voted against.
A second amendment, introduced by Boehner, would have substituted several sections of the health care bill dealing with insurance. Legislators voted against the amendment 258-176.
Rep. John Dingell of Michigan, the longest-serving member of the House, presided over the debate. Since joining the House in 1955 to replace his father, Dingell, 83, has introduced his father's health insurance bill every year since.
"The nation will be grateful to us all," he said, urging the House to pass the bill.
It did, after a lengthy contentious session. Later, the Democrats made it clear they are braced for a fight if one awaits them in the Senate.
"Today, Congressional Democrats put opponents of reform on notice: the status quo is unsustainable and inaction is not an option," said Tim Kaine, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee. "This vote doesn't mark the end of this process -- we still have a ways to go -- but it is a critical milestone on the road to passing health insurance reform.
"The American people want reform -- they need reform -- and Democrats will not rest until we pass comprehensive health reform legislation."
The House just passed a polarizing anti-abortion measure that would prevent insurance plans that receive federal subsidies from covering abortion.
The amendment, which will now be attached to broader healthcare legislation, passed 240-194. Sixty-four Democrats voted "yes" along with all but one Republican.
Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) voted present in an effort to help kill the amendment and thus harm the chances of passing the entire bill. National Right to Life has announced they'll hold Shadegg's "present" vote against him in their annual legislative scorecard.
Democrats saw the amendment, offered by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), as a necessary concession to round up the 218 votes they need to pass the larger healthcare bill.
Stupak had threatened to muster enough pro-life Democrats to defeat the whole reform bill if he didn't get a vote on his amendment.
When Pat McCrory first ran for mayor of Charlotte in 1995, the Republican Party enjoyed a home-field advantage: 73 percent of the city voters were white, many of whom reliably chose the GOP on election day.
But the electorate that Republican John Lassiter faced against Democrat Anthony Foxx last week was different.
Whites are down to 57 percent of voters, a result of more minorities moving to Charlotte and white families moving to outlying counties. The percent of registered Republicans has also declined, from 36 percent to 26 percent.
In the wake of Foxx's 3,239-vote victory over Lassiter on Tuesday in the Charlotte mayoral race, both political parties are asking whether the city's demographic shift will give Democrats a significant advantage in future local elections.
Besides capturing the mayor's office, Democrats now have eight of 11 seats on the Charlotte City Council for the first time.
"This is a blue city in a blue county now," said Democratic political consultant Dan McCorkle.
Some of Charlotte's changes, such as a drop in registered Republicans, mirror the nation. But there are other unique forces that are transforming the city.
One is that Charlotte has become an attractive destination for African-Americans from across the country. A Brookings Institution study earlier this decade found that from 1995 to 2000, the Charlotte metropolitan area had the third-highest numbers of black migration in the nation, trailing only Atlanta and Dallas.
The result: The percent of black Charlotte voters has increased from 26 percent in 1995 to 35 percent. African-Americans historically vote for Democratic candidates, and they supported Barack Obama nationwide by 96 percent, according to CNN.
In 1995, a little more than 1 percent of voters classified themselves with the Mecklenburg Board of Elections as other than black or white. Today, 8 percent of city voters are Asian, two or more races, or refuse to identify their race or ethnicity.
Another factor is that Charlotte is running out of room to grow.
The strength of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Republican Party is the so-called "Wedge" - a pie-shaped area of the city, between Independence Boulevard and South Boulevard. Those south Charlotte precincts are filled with affluent subdivisions that historically gave Republican candidates margins of hundreds of voters.
Over the last 30 years, that Republican wedge has grown southward - from Pineville-Matthews Road to Ballantyne - as the city annexed formerly rural areas. But there is little undeveloped land in which to build new subdivisions that's not in Union County or South Carolina.
"There are still new red (precincts) down there, but they aren't in Charlotte," said Robert Bryan, the chairman of the Mecklenburg County Republican Party.
Charlotte City Attorney Mac McCarley, who handles annexations, said he doesn't expect the city to annex areas outside Mecklenburg County unless it's a sliver of a subdivision straddling a county line. He said there aren't many areas of undeveloped land in the city, except for areas of west and south of Charlotte/Douglas International Airport.
Precincts near those areas showed almost a 50-50 split for Foxx and Lassiter.
Ruy Teixeira, a senior fellow at the Democratic-leaning Center for American Progress, said Charlotte is "hitting a wall" in how much it can expand with new single-family homes.
The people who choose to live in a more urban city - often young and single - tend to be Democrats, he said.
"Density (in housing) equals Democrats," Teixeira said.
Teixeira said few metro areas in the nation have seen a larger swing from Republican to Democratic as Charlotte in the last 30 years.
Democratic registration in Charlotte has been consistent. It was 51.5 percent of voters in 1995 and is 49.5 percent today. But today's Democrats are more likely to vote with the party than Democrats 15 years ago, some of whom were white "Dixiecrats" who regularly voted for Republicans, McCorkle said. Unaffiliated voters jumped from 12 percent to 25 percent over the same period.
The editor of the Web site Qcitymetro, which covers the city's African-American community, wrote an article last week that asked whether McCrory was the city's "last white mayor." The article, written by Glenn Burkins, a former Observer deputy managing editor, argued that a future mayor could still be white but would have to "recognize and embrace" the city's diversity.
McCorkle said such bold pronouncements are premature.
He said Foxx benefited from the party's voter registration efforts leading to the 2008 presidential election, and that Foxx was an excellent, well-funded candidate.
"I think the Democrats had the right candidates and raised tremendous money," McCorkle said. "Had Lassiter run against some of our candidates from the past, he would have won with tremendous margins."
Bryan said local Republicans may have gotten "fat and happy" after so many McCrory landslides in mayoral elections. Turnout in a number of Republican strongholds was lower than expected.
"If we had gotten outstanding turnout in our bigger precincts, it could have made more of a difference," Bryan said. "We have to have a better, stronger party infrastructure."
He also said future Charlotte candidates must be able to reach out to minority voters, who are growing in the city. But at the same time, he acknowledged, Lassiter did that, campaigning in all parts of the city.
He still lost badly in predominantly African-American precincts, losing one by 1,037 to 3.
Bryan said some Republicans said Lassiter shouldn't have campaigned in African-American areas and instead focused on exciting his base.
"But I sent him an e-mail and said he did the right thing," Bryan said. "It's good from a long-term sense of the party."
One of the most prominent local Republicans in office is now Charlotte City Council member Edwin Peacock, who was re-elected to his second term Tuesday.
"The party hasn't been ahead of the curve on early voting, and No. 2, we haven't had real strong candidate recruitment," Peacock said. "My role, as a party leader, is to find other good candidates."
Tom Jensen of Public Policy Polling in Raleigh said Republicans could struggle no matter which candidates run.
"If Charlotte's growth in the future is in infill rather than sprawl, and in uptown condos," he said, "then Charlotte might not elect a Republican mayor again."
Internal e-mails reveal new allegations of misspending at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services, raising more unanswered questions about what happened to money intended to help needy children.
Some of the more than 1,000 e-mails the Charlotte Observer obtained through a Public Records Request provide the most detailed account to date about the agency's accounting fiasco.
E-mails show:
Officials suspected an employee wrote $80,000 in checks to herself from donations.
An administrator questioned why other donations were used to buy $340 diamond earrings, leather coats and a $300 DVD player.
A top executive complained that a senior fiscal administrator frustrated co-workers with her "inability to explain the simplest concepts of revenue and expenses."
After nearly a year, officials have never said who was at fault for $162,000 that disappeared or whether anyone was disciplined.
No one has been charged in an ongoing police investigation and a county report says officials cannot be certain where the money went.
Meanwhile, donors are left to wonder whether their generosity ever helped buy Christmas gifts for those in need.
In one e-mail, a woman describes calling the county in 2007 to give $900 for single mothers at Christmas. The person who answered the phone told her to make a check payable to the worker's sister.
The donor said she grew suspicious and made the check out to the county, but the idea that it may still have been misused is "like a kick in the stomach."
In another e-mail, a founder of Second String Santa said he was concerned whether kids received the more than 50,000 toys his group had donated since 1989.
Will Miller said he believes some of the toys reached children, but he's not sure about the rest.
"Will we ever know? Probably not," he said.
Two Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Commissioners said they have asked County Administrators for a full accounting of what went wrong at DSS but have yet to receive answers. County officials have never explained who was responsible, they said.
"To fix it, you have to admit all the stuff that is messed up," Commissioner Bill James said. "They don't want to do too much digging."
County administrators declined interview requests. Instead, a county spokesman released a prepared statement saying appropriate fiscal controls have been installed in response to an outside audit and an internal investigation.
"Our review of the e-mails we provided and your follow up questions did not reveal any new information that would suggest any change in the audit findings or in management's response to those findings," the statement said.
Some commissioners said they have been told that the employees involved have either left county government or been placed in new positions. Unusual spending patterns
DSS spends $176 million annually and employs 1,200 workers to assist Mecklenburg's poor and neglected. The agency administers everything from food stamps to foster care and child protection services.
Last spring, DSS Director Mary Wilson ordered financial audits following reports of suspicious spending.
Auditors looked at multiple spending programs and financial practices in the agency. They found a $10,000 check made out to an employee, missing and altered receipts and money for kids spent on office supplies.
County leaders responded by suspending the programs, putting DSS finance under direct county control, training workers on accounting procedures and ordering a review of financial procedures in each county agency.
The Observer reviewed e-mails dating from December 2008 to July 2009 for seven current and former county administrators, including Wilson, County Manager Harry Jones, County Finance Director Dena Diorio and Internal Auditor Cornita Spears.
E-mails show county officials noticed unusual spending patterns as early as last December but did not disclose problems to the public until March.
On New Year's Eve, Wilson told staff she had suspended a voucher program the agency used to purchase clothes and other items for clients at local stores. She wrote that officials were worried about a lack of oversight and a spike in spending.
One monthly retail bill leapt from between $5,000 and $6,000 to more than $20,000 in October 2008, the e-mail says. Employees turned in receipts only 30 to 35 percent of the time, she wrote.
At one time or another, workers possessed or had access to numerous credit cards and gift cards, including some to Bath & Body Works, Bass Pro Shops, Macy's, the Cheesecake Factory and Outback Steakhouse.
Outside auditors verified for county administrators that DSS workers possessed county-issued credit cards, including 10 credit cards for Sam's Club, three for Harris Teeter and an online charge account with amazon.com.
In February, county officials asked internal auditors to look into questionable spending, including purchases of diamond earrings, leather coats and a DVD player.
An e-mail to one of the auditors from a human resources consultant said the purchases raise "many questions and concerns."
According to the county's statement, most gifts were typical children's items such as toys, clothes and books. More expensive items such as diamond earrings and leather coats were approved purchases for foster children who reached special milestones like high school graduation, the statement says.
"Receiving a gift of some significant value was viewed as an incentive for other children who were in foster care to set goals and accomplish them," the statement said.
Commissioner Harold Cogdell said he spent part of his early childhood in foster care and believes the gifts are a good idea.
"It makes sense to me to show the kids some love," Cogdell said.
A new Accountant
DSS has endured multiple management shakeups in recent years. The latest came when Wilson reorganized the agency after she was hired in July 2008.
She laid out the reasons to hire a new finance director in a February e-mail.
Wilson wrote that the senior fiscal administrator who managed DSS finances failed to provide reports about oversight, alienated staff and lacked the ability to conduct productive discussions with senior county executives. The e-mail does not name the senior fiscal administrator.
DSS later hired accountant Angela Hurlburt to oversee its finances.
James, the commissioner, said he has asked for the names and background information on Hurlburt's predecessors. He wants them to answer questions from the Board of Commissioners' Audit Review Committee, which investigated accounting lapses at DSS.
He said administrators have failed to respond to his requests and complained that officials "keep us in the dark."
Other Charlotte-Mecklenburg Commissioners disagreed.
Chairman Jennifer Roberts and Commissioner Dumont Clarke said county leaders have already put in place reforms that will protect taxpayer and donor money.
"The highest priority" is implementing new financial controls, Clarke said.
Shifting the Finances
Auditors from Cherry, Bekaert & Holland reviewed DSS and found that Mecklenburg officials responded appropriately. The county's Audit Review Committee came to the same conclusion.
But DSS Director Wilson bristled at one of the major reforms.
Leaders put DSS finance under the direct control of the county's main finance department after allegations of misspending surfaced.
In April, Wilson sent an e-mail to County General Manager Michelle Lancaster to complain. Calling the decision "premature" and "shortsighted," Wilson said there are emergencies when DSS workers must write checks immediately, including occasions when the agency takes children in custody who need clothes, toiletries and school supplies.
"I understand the urgency at the time, but there was a reason DSS had check writing capability and I think we threw the baby out with the bathwater instead of fixing the underlying issue, which is documentation and accountability," Wilson wrote.
Donors left with questions
Past supporters of the DSS Christmas charity include Young Lawyers, employees of Wachovia and Bank of America, and Project Joy, the holiday fund drive initiated by Observer columnist Tommy Tomlinson. The Christmas charity, known as the Giving Tree, is now run by the Salvation Army.
The donor who gave $900 e-mailed the county in July after learning about accounting failures from news accounts. She attached a picture of the check copy she made around Christmas in 2007.
She wrote that she did not remember the name of the woman she spoke with on the phone.
The donor said she and her family all pitched in to raise the money so she could assist women like her who had struggled as single mothers.
When she heard there were allegations of misspending in a DSS charity program, "It's like your stomach just drops." Staff reporter April Bethea contributed.
As news spread about possible missing money from the Department of Social Services Christmas charity, Harry Lomax and other donors contacted Mecklenburg County leaders to complain.
"I feel duped," Lomax wrote in an e-mail to county commissioners and top administrators.
But Lomax likely did not anticipate County Manager Harry Jones' response.
Jones forwarded the e-mail to Lomax's employer, Bank of America, and wrote, "Do you know Harry Lomax."
A Bank of America vice president replied to Jones about one hour later, writing that she was "embarrassed" by Lomax's e-mail.
"I am tracking it down. I don't know him - I have alerted charles. Will be back to you," she wrote.
Some commissioners and ethics experts now say the actions by Jones and the bank official were improper because they could stifle free speech and blur the lines between employment and citizenship.
It's unclear how Jones knew Lomax worked at Bank of America. Lomax sent his message from a personal account and did not mention the bank by name.
"It is not appropriate," said Diane Swanson, a professor of business ethics at Kansas State University. "If this happened all the time, what kind of world would we have?"
The Observer obtained the e-mails from the county through an open records request. They provide a glimpse into how top Mecklenburg administrators reacted to reports of misspending and accounting lapses at the Department of Social Services.
Worried donors wrote to commissioners and county executives after auditors disclosed that they could not account for tens of thousands of dollars from a charity designed to buy Christmas presents for needy children.
Some county commissioners said they do not understand why Jones forwarded the e-mail from Lomax to his employer when he was speaking as a citizen and not on behalf of the company. They said they would question Jones about it.
Public officials publish their phone numbers and e-mail addresses to allow constituents to voice concerns and ask questions. They also set aside time during public meetings to listen to comments from constituents.
"Citizens are able to vent frustrations without thinking that (county) management will get their employer to engage in some retribution," Commissioner Bill James said. "This makes the county look bad. It makes Harry look vindictive. It makes Bank of America look like the county's hatchet man."
Jones did not respond to interview requests from the Observer. A county spokesman referred a reporter to a statement the county released, but it does not directly address questions about Lomax's e-mail.
Nicole Nastacie, a spokeswoman for Bank of America, said "on their personal time, employees are free to express personal opinions" to government officials about any issue that is not related to the company.
Betty Turner, the bank's government liaison who responded to Jones, suspected that Lomax's e-mail involved issues related to the bank and appropriately looked into the situation, Nastacie said. When she determined Lomax was speaking as a private citizen, there were no further discussions, Nastacie said.
Lomax declined to comment.
The e-mail:
On July 7, Lomax sent his e-mail to commissioners, Jones, DSS Director Mary Wilson and County Finance Director Dena Diorio. He wrote that he had planned to speak during a commissioners meeting the same day at the urging of Commissioner Neil Cooksey.
Lomax wrote that he left before speaking and decided to e-mail his comments.
The e-mail criticizes county management for failing to prevent accounting failures and accuses some commissioners of a "flippant, hands-off response" to the issue. "There seems to be a need for a wholesale cleanup of many county agencies, and I think that starts from the top down," Lomax wrote.
A week after receiving the e-mail, Jones forwarded it to Turner.
Commissioners respond
Commissioner Karen Bentley said Jones should not have sent the e-mail to Bank of America.
"It should have no bearing on his job," Bentley said. "That's his right."
Commissioner Dumont Clarke called the move "unusual."
Clarke and some other commissioners said they would need more information to judge whether Jones acted appropriately.
"It's not a good practice for the manager to do," Clarke said.
Commissioner Chairman Jennifer Roberts said she would try to contact Lomax to speak with him. "I don't read anything into this," Roberts said. "Maybe Harry was trying to make sure Bank of America didn't feel duped."
Four business and government professors reviewed the e-mails for the Observer. Three said Jones did not have a valid reason to forward Lomax's e-mail since he did not mention his employer by name or present himself as a representative of the company.
"Given these circumstances, one would expect a public official to respond directly to Mr. Lomax and not contact his employer," said Denis Arnold, a professor of business ethics at UNC Charlotte.
Winthrop professor Marilyn Smith disagreed.
Considering public outcry over alleged misspending in DSS, Smith said it understandable that Jones would contact Bank of America. The bank also reacted appropriately, she said.
"To a certain extent, we represent our employers 24/7," said Smith, a professor of management. "We like to think it's my own personal opinion. Companies are judged by how their employees behave, fair or not."
Mecklenburg County Manager Harry Jones will receive a $38,400 performance bonus, but his total compensation remains the same as last year, under a deal unanimously approved Wednesday by county commissioners. Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Commissioners praised Jones for, among other things, leading the county during a difficult economic time.
The "pay-at-risk" money - which commissioners have in previous years called a performance bonus - is part of an overall $302,854 compensation package. It also includes $215,655 in base salary.
The pay plan keeps Jones' compensation the same as in 2008-09, though a board committee determined he actually would have been due more money this year, said commissioner Dumont Clarke.
Jones, however, asked that his pay be kept level. "That was his request," said commissioners' Chairman Jennifer Roberts. He "wants to be treated like all the other county employees." The county didn't award any merit raises this year.
Jones' evaluation has been in the works for weeks, with talks largely being kept private initially as allowed by state law.
But some commissioners acknowledged last month that paying the money could raise questions in light of steep budget cuts across the county. Two other local public officials - Charlotte City Manager Curt Walton and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Peter Gorman - declined merit raises or bonuses for themselves and staff to help save money.
Jones is eligible for a higher bonus than Gorman or Walton, up to 30 percent of his base salary.
Commissioners Chair Jennifer Roberts said the board had a "difficult conversation" about the pay plan because of the economic conditions.
Still, commissioners also have said they wanted to reward Jones for meeting goals previously outlined by the board.
Clarke said Jones told commissioners earlier Tuesday evening that 2008-09 was both his most challenging and best year as manager.
Roberts said Jones "has done a very, very good job, an excellent job as manager in a very difficult year." She cited Jones' work addressing budget cuts because of falling tax revenues and his work on the Critical Needs Task Force to help address social services needs in the community.
But the county also faced questions about inadequate accounting at the Department of Social Services, including an investigation into possible misused money in a charity program for Foster Children. The county announced steps to help shore up practices within DSS, including putting its finances under control of the main county finance department.
Mecklenburg has offered bonuses to the manager for years, but decided five years ago to restructure the pay system to reflect a CEO-style package of a base salary with another piece of pay tied to performance.
Under the plan, Jones is eligible for a bonus of up to 30 percent of his annual salary based on a series of criteria, including how well the county performs on annual goals and a management plan approved by commissioners. Based on his current salary, he could have received a bonus up to about $65,000 this year.
Jones has not received the full bonus since commissioners approved the new pay structure in 2004.
Clarke said Jones' performance in the past year earned him more money. He said he's being paid about 10 percent less than what his performance score called for.
Cuts in mental health
Also on Tuesday, commissioners approved about $2.76million worth of service cuts to the county's Area Mental Health department because of reduced money from the state. The state cuts were actually larger, but county staff has promised $3.7 million to help make up the gap.
Jones said he hasn't yet identified where the money would come from.
As a candidate and president, Barack Obama has had one core message for the middle class: I won't raise your taxes. The White House has pledged that only the wealthy — families earning more than $250,000 — would face a boost in income, capital gains, or other taxes. For the 97 percent of Americans below that level, no increases are in store.
But as Congress inches closer to forging a massive package of health-care reforms, it's increasingly clear how difficult it will be to keep that pledge. To pay for the near trillion-dollar health-care system overhaul — not to mention reining in the deficit and funding other ambitious plans Obama has laid out for the years ahead — many outside the White House believe the middle class will not be spared. Republican critics contend that the White House is misleading the public about who will ultimately shoulder much of the cost of extending coverage to tens of millions of uninsured Americans.
True, most won't see direct tax hikes, per se. Few believe Obama will go back on his vow to keep income tax rates the same for all but the top brackets when the Bush tax cuts expire at the end of 2010. And top White House economic adviser Lawrence H. Summers says Obama can keep his pledge while finding more than enough cost cuts and revenue elsewhere. "There is substantial scope for expenditure reductions in health care and for raising enough revenues from people with incomes over $250,000 and from companies," he says.
A key question, though, is whether over the next couple of years, middle-income families will face a host of surcharges, fees, reduced tax breaks, or other increased costs. Daniel Clifton, a Washington-based policy analyst for Strategas Research Partners, argues that Congress has purposely loaded onto the corporate sector the increased taxes needed to pay for the reforms to avoid politically unpopular individual tax hikes. But the added costs will eventually be shifted to customers. "It all depends on what your definition of 'tax' is. Everyone is mincing words here," says Clifton. "There isn't enough money available in just extracting more from corporate taxes or rich Americans."
Consider the Senate's proposal to impose a 40 percent excise tax on so-called Cadillac health insurance plans valued at more than $21,000. The idea, say backers, is to discourage the excessive health-care spending said to result from such generous plans. The proposed tax on the plans would raise $202 billion, more than half the new funds needed to help pay for extending insurance coverage. Rather than tax policyholders directly, the hit would be on insurers who offer those plans.
Worried unions
The insurers, though, likely will cut benefits or raise premiums as a result. That point hasn't escaped union leaders, who oppose the proposal because it would target many of their members, who have negotiated generous health benefits. Richard L. Trumka, the head of the AFL-CIO, argues that roughly 15 percent of insured families and 19 percent of individuals—most solidly middle-class—have plans that would fall under the new tax. For many members, he says, the result would be higher medical costs. "What [they are] actually saying is that cost of covering the uninsured should be borne by the middle class," Trumka says.
Summers counters that the tax is intended to curb wasteful health-care spending; the goal, he says, is to get employers to offer less pricey insurance policies and raise wages instead. But labor leaders remain unconvinced, and they're lobbying to kill the measure.
GOP opponents of the reforms have also intensified their attacks. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, argues the pending bills would leave many worse off. "The vast majority of middle-class Americans would pay higher taxes and premiums," he says. He, too, cites the Cadillac tax increase, along with other changes such as a rise in the threshold on deductions for medical expenses from 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income to 10 percent. Quoting figures compiled by the bipartisan Joint Committee on Taxation, he says that by 2019, when the bill would be fully in effect, families earning over $75,000 would see a net hike in taxes.
On another front, the Senate is counting on hefty excise taxes assessed on the different players in the medical industry for a big chunk of funding. Altogether, insurers, drug companies, and device makers could be on tap for roughly $120 billion in fees over the next decade. Problem is, a big portion of those taxes are likely to be recouped in the form of higher prices or increased premiums. "It's a fiction," says Roberton Williams, a former Congressional Budget Office official now with the nonpartisan Urban Institute's Tax Policy Center. "The excise taxes won't be paid by the companies; they'll be passed right back to their customers."
Summers disputes that notion and argues that the excise taxes "are designed so they will likely be difficult to pass on." And he points out that the estimates Grassley cites do not take into account expected cost savings and other benefits of reform. "Many of those same firms will no longer have the burdens associated with paying for uncompensated care," he argues.
However the numbers are sliced, they add up. All told, by imposing new taxes on health-care providers, the Senate Finance Committee is counting on raising some $340 billion to help pay for reforms. An additional $42 billion would come from trimming tax breaks for such things as health savings accounts and medical expenses, according to fiscal watchdog US Budget Watch. It remains to be seen how much of that tab average Americans will end up shouldering.
Steele: Victory in New Jersey "HUGE". RNC chairman Michael Steele discusses the GOP's triumphs in Virginia and New Jersey, and responds to a grilling from Lawrence O'Donnell.
One year after hitting bottom in the aftermath of President Obama's election, Republicans have taken their first concrete steps toward recovery. But they remain an embattled and divided force, facing an electorate still skeptical about their capacity to govern and embroiled in a struggle between party regulars and populist conservative forces over how to return to power.
With gubernatorial victories by Robert F. McDonnell in Virginia and Chris Christie in New Jersey, Republicans today are more energized than at any time since the early months of 2005, when there was talk of a durable GOP majority in the wake of President George W. Bush's reelection. A slew of factors -- the war in Iraq, the botched response to Hurricane Katrina, scandals in Congress and soaring federal spending -- quickly ended that discussion and led voters to punish Republicans at the polls in 2006 and 2008.
This year, the GOP has recorded historic lows in party identification, according to a string of national surveys. And despite concerns about Obama's agenda, the public still trusts him and the Democrats over the Republicans to deal with many national problems.
The question for Republicans now is whether Tuesday's victories will prove to be aberrations or be seen as the first real signs of a party revival.
Republicans have coalesced in opposition to Obama's economic and domestic agenda, almost unanimous in their opposition to Democrats' health-care reform efforts and hammering the president relentlessly for upward spirals in spending and unemployment. The result has been a needed morale boost to the beleaguered party. "We have seen a sea change in attitude," Republican National Committee Chairman Michael S. Steele said. "People's spirits are higher. They see a cause worth fighting for."
Democrats have used that lock-step opposition to brand the GOP as "the party of no," and predict that the conservative grass-roots base of the GOP, fueled by radio and cable talk show hosts, will drive candidates further to the right, reducing their appeal to swing voters who once again appear up for grabs.
The tension between the party's establishment and conservative insurgents is growing, and there is concern among moderates that setting litmus tests for candidates is pushing the party too far to the right. Prominent Republicans are now split in their assessment of how to move forward.
Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin has staked her identity with the grass roots against the establishment. "The cause goes on," she posted on her Facebook page after Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate she backed in a House special election in New York's 23rd District lost to Democrat Bill Owens on Tuesday night. That defeat in a seat long-held by Republicans, and the divisions it exposed, was the only blemish on the party's performance Tuesday.
Former House Republican leader Richard K. Armey said the party's future lies with the populist coalition of small government and libertarian conservatives, evangelicals and others who have joined tea party protests and challenged the Republican establishment to shun compromise with Obama and the Democrats. After New York 23, they are threatening to topple Republicans in other states who do not toe the conservative line.
"You don't attract people with pragmatism but with commitment to principles and purpose," Armey said. Republicans, he argued, "will continue to be a small, losing tent" unless the party establishment heeds the voices from the grass roots and fields candidates who fit that mold.
But Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) cited the inherent risks to the party if it appears too narrow, rigid and intolerant. "We have to decide whether we want to be a debating society or a broad-based, center-right governing coalition," he said.
Over the next several months, The Washington Post will examine the Republicans from multiple perspectives -- the party's strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and obstacles -- as a prelude to the 2010 midterm elections.
Hitting bottom
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said the thrashing in 2008 finally forced Republicans to accept the reality that they were now the minority party. "I don't think reality had fully sunk in after the '06 midterm cycle," when Democrats recaptured the House and Senate, he said.
The 2006 and 2008 debacles laid bare the depth of the party's weaknesses. Republicans have lost the popular vote in four of the past five presidential elections. In that span, they have averaged just 211 electoral votes and a GOP nominee never won more than 286 electoral votes (270 is the minimum necessary to win the White House) -- a sharp contrast to the era when they held a virtual lock on the Electoral College. Democrats topped 350 three times in that period.
The gap between the party's strength in the South and its weakness elsewhere has become a major problem. In last year's presidential campaign, Sen. John McCain carried the South by seven percentage points. But Obama won the Northeast by 21 points, the West by 14 points and the Midwest by nine points, according to calculations by Rhodes Cook, a political analyst. McCain got 65 percent of his electoral votes in the South.
After the Republican landslide in 1994, Republicans held a majority of House seats in the South and beyond. After the 2008 elections, Republicans still hold a majority of House seats in the South, but Democrats control about two-thirds of non-Southern seats.
Republicans also face stiff demographic obstacles as they try to come back. They ran poorly among young voters in the past two elections and have seen their strength in the suburbs erode significantly. Their biggest demographic challenge is the changing face of the nation. Last year's electorate was one-quarter minority and is becoming less white with each election.
There is little prospect of real improvement among African Americans as long as Obama is in office. Even among Latinos, Republicans have lost ground. Latinos backed Obama by better than 2 to 1, reversing gains by Bush in 2004. "The surge in young people was an anomaly, and we can get white suburban women back with the right message," Republican pollster Whit Ayres said. "If we lose Latinos en masse, it'll be really hard to get them back."
"Don't Panic"
In the months after the shellacking Obama and the Democrats administered to the Republicans last year, Gov. Mitchell E. Daniels Jr. (R-Ind.) used to tell audiences that he found the most useful advice for his party from the opening pages of Douglas Adams's book "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy": "Don't panic."
"That was sort of my starting point," Daniels said recently, "that the system seeks an equilibrium. . . . Shoot, it has only been four years and people were writing obituaries for the Democratic Party. That was foolish then. . . . I felt that this thing would come around."
Daniels is no Pollyanna. Last year he saw Indiana go for a Democratic presidential nominee for the first time since 1964 -- even as he was rolling up a record vote count en route to reelection. But he argued that many of those who voted for Obama a year ago did not vote for the agenda he has pursued as president, which Daniels dubbed "shock and awe statism."
"Those folks are available to Republicans," he added. "We're going to have to go out and earn them the way President Obama did, and it would take a different Republican Party to do it. But I wouldn't understate the significance of the way that the overreach, the attempt to aggrandize Washington even more, has cut those people loose."
Republicans are quick to count the ways in which, despite their problems, they are better off today than they were a year ago. First, Bush is no longer the lightning rod for voters' anger that he was in 2006 and 2008. "The country had Bush fatigue and the GOP paid the price," said Republican strategist Steve Lombardo. "But voters have moved on, and the Republican Party is benefiting from this."
Democrats now have taken ownership of several intractable issues including the economy and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. GOP fundraising is up, along with the energy of rank-and-file Republicans. The economy, which hurt Republicans in 2008, turned into a plus for GOP gubernatorial candidates last week.
"I think the GOP is, by almost every metric, in better shape than the night Barack Obama won the election," said Pete Wehner, a Bush White House official.
Vin Weber, a former Republican congressman from Minnesota, recalled that Ronald Reagan managed to divide and intimidate his Democratic opposition early in 1981. Changes in the composition of the parties and a decade or more of polarized politics have made that more difficult for any president today, but even with the party on the ropes, Obama has failed to drive a wedge into the Republican coalition.
"That didn't happen," Weber said. "The Republicans united themselves very quickly. They were handed a gift by the [Democrats'] handling of the stimulus package, emanating as it did out of the House of Representatives. Basically it was just too much too fast. And you see it now across -- it's not just unity in Congress. It's unity of the Republican electorate."
Many Republicans, however, acknowledge that their comeback-in-the-making is almost entirely the result of public concern about the size, scope and pace of the changes Obama has proposed, fears that government is becoming too intrusive and that the mushrooming federal budget deficit represents a threat to the long-term stability of the economy.
As one GOP strategist, speaking on the condition of anonymity to be candid, said, "We are in better shape than in December '08, but not because of anything we did. If there is anything we could have done, we haven't done it."
The road back
Last week's elections, for all they did to raise the spirits of Republicans, offer an uncertain guide to the party's future hopes. What they showed was that Republicans are more energized than Democrats, that the coalition that brought Obama to power last year may not be there for Democratic candidates next November and that independents can be won over by Republicans running smart campaigns.
But New Jersey and Virginia both voted against the party holding the White House in the past six gubernatorial elections, and therefore are unreliable harbingers of the 2010 campaign. Whatever boosts Republicans got from Tuesday, their leaders know they have much more work to do.
As one Republican strategist from the Northeast put it, "We lack a central individual or set of individuals who can inspire the country and make them want to say yes to us, not just no to the Democrats. We have serious structural problems in reaching key parts of the electorate. We are too white, too male, too old, too out of touch."
Said RNC Chairman Steele: "The Republican Party, in order to get those folks to identify as Republicans, has to exhibit the leadership that people trusted in '94 and trusted in subsequent elections and then moved away from in '06 when they stopped trusting in that leadership."
It is difficult for the party to gain the trust of voters without a recognizable set of new faces or a more positive agenda, neither of which the public sees at this point. "We're not entitled to the majority, and we're not going to get it just because the other side stumbles -- and we shouldn't want the other side to stumble," Jindal said. "We need to earn our way back to the majority, and the way you do that is by being relevant and offering solutions that will work. But they have to address the problems the American people care about."
Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, who as chairman of the Republican National Committee helped lead Republicans back in 1993-94, now hopes to do the same again as chairman of the Republican Governors Association. He believes the GOP is poised for success next year, but worries that some of his fellow conservatives will drive voters away by insisting on ideological purity within the party.
"Every time a party loses, there are some people who say now's the time to get pure. Let's purify the party," he said on the day Republicans won Virginia and New Jersey. "That's 180 degrees backwards. In the American two-party system, both parties necessarily are coalitions. And when you lose, you need to go to special efforts to make everybody in your coalition feel welcome."
Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, who ran for president in 2008 and faced criticism that he was not conservative enough on fiscal issues, spoke more critically of those attempting to enforce orthodoxy. "How pure is pure? Who gets to make that decision?" he said. "Who is the great one who establishes for us the 10 Commandments [that say] you can't deviate from these positions or you're a RINO [Republican In Name Only]?"
To Democrats, the Republican Party leadership appears to have become followers. "The Republican Party tail is wagging the dog," Democratic strategist Bill Carrick said. "Republican Party leaders are following the lead of [Rush] Limbaugh and the wannabe Limbaughs, the grass-roots activists such as the [tea party protesters] and all the forces in their party who want a monolithically pure, hard-line conservative party. This will prevent the Republican leaders from tacking to the middle in policy, recruiting and message."
Two weeks before Tuesday's elections, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich compared conditions today with those during the 1994 cycle. Americans, he said, are more frightened now by what they see happening in Washington, but also less open to Republicans than they were in 1993. "The aftereffect of '06 and '08 is that there's not a rush to Republicans."
What could change that? The economy, for one. Voters in Virginia and New Jersey most worried about the economy voted Republican last Tuesday. If voters are as concerned about the economy next October as they were this year, Gingrich said, "You may well have [House Republican Leader John] Boehner [as] speaker."
Gingrich also pointed to McDonnell, who played down his conservative views on social issues and focused on the economy, as a model. "When Republicans like McDonnell develop a positive message and campaign intensely among minorities, that creates an acceptable Republicanism," he said.
Republican strategists say even a successful midterm elections in 2010 will not guarantee longer-term success. They point to 1982 and 1994, when the party holding the White House suffered major losses, only to rebound two years later.
Indiana's Daniels said it is appropriate that voters put the Republicans in the penalty box and that the party must prove itself before those voters will entrust them with power again. "People are going to want to know -- first of all, that you paid the price for the things you did wrong; secondly, that you learned some lessons," he said. "Then they're going to want to look and see [and ask], 'Got something new for me?' "
When that question comes, will Republicans have the right answers?
In a victory for President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled House narrowly passed landmark health care legislation to expand coverage to tens of millions who lack it and place tough new restrictions on the insurance industry.
The final vote was 220-215. Only one Republican — Rep. Joseph Cao of Louisiana — voted for the measure; 39 Democrats voted against it.
Obama praised the House in a statement and said he is "absolutely confident" that the Senate will pass its version of the legislation. "I look forward to signing it into law by the end of the year," he said.
Passage was an exhilarating triumph for Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who earlier likened the bill to passage of the government's Social Security pension program in 1935 and Medicare health insurance for the elderly 30 years later.
But the Senate has yet to begin floor debate on its own version of insurance reform. That debate may be weeks away, with Senate Democratic leaders still negotiating over the details of their legislation.
If the Senate enacts its bill, conferees from House and Senate would then meet to negotiate a final compromise measure.
That compromise would then need to be voted on by the House and Senate.
So Democratic members from Republican-leaning districts who cast a difficult vote Saturday night for the House bill will face yet another tough vote in several weeks.
The legislation would require most Americans to carry insurance and provide federal subsidies to those who otherwise could not afford it. Large companies would have to offer coverage to their employees. Both consumers and companies would be slapped with penalties if they defied the government's mandates.
Insurance industry practices such as denying coverage on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions would be banned, and insurers would no longer be able to charge higher premiums on the basis of gender or medical history. In a further slap, the industry would lose its exemption from federal antitrust restrictions on price fixing and market allocation.
Federally regulated marketplace
At its core, the measure would create a federally regulated marketplace where consumers could shop for coverage. In the bill's most controversial provision, the government would sell insurance, although the Congressional Budget Office forecasts that premiums for it would be more expensive than for policies sold by private firms.
"It provides coverage for 96 percent of Americans. It offers everyone, regardless of health or income, the peace of mind that comes from knowing they will have access to affordable health care when they need it," said Rep. John Dingell, the 83-year-old Michigan lawmaker who has introduced national health insurance in every Congress since succeeding his father in 1955.
In the runup to a final vote, conservatives from the two political parties joined forces to impose tough new restrictions on abortion coverage in insurance policies to be sold to many individuals and small groups. They prevailed on a roll call of 240-194.
The vote added to the Democratic bill an amendment sponsored by Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., and others, that prohibits individuals who receive insurance subsidies from purchasing any plan that pays for elective abortions.
House Democratic leaders agreed Friday night to allow a floor vote on the Stupak amendment to the bill in order to win the support of about three dozen Democrats who feared that the original bill would have subsidized abortions.
Ironically, the abortion vote only solidified support for the legislation, clearing the way for the conservative Democrats to vote for it.
A cheer
A cheer went up from the Democratic side of the House when the bill gained 218 votes, a majority. Moments later, Democrats counted down the final seconds of the voting period in unison, and and let loose an even louder roar when Pelosi grabbed the gavel and declared, "the bill is passed".
From the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada issued a statement saying, "We realize the strong will for reform that exists, and we are energized that we stand closer than ever to reforming our broken health insurance system."
Nearly united in opposition to the health care bill, minority Republicans cataloged their objections across hours of debate on the 1,990-page, $1.2 trillion legislation.
"We are going to have a complete government takeover of our health care system faster than you can say, `this is making me sick,'" jabbed Rep. Candice Miller, R-Mich., adding that Democrats were intent on passing "a jobs-killing, tax-hiking, deficit-exploding" bill.
But with little or no doubt about the outcome, the rhetoric lacked the fire of last summer's town hall meetings, when some critics accused Democrats of plotting "death panels" to hasten the demise of senior citizens.
The bill is projected to expand coverage to 36 million uninsured, resulting in 96 percent of the nation's eligible population having insurance.
To pay for the expansion of coverage, the bill cuts Medicare's projected spending by more than $400 billion over a decade. It also imposes a tax surcharge of 5.4 percent on income over $500,000 in the case of individuals and $1 million for families.
The bill was estimated to reduce federal deficits by about $104 billion over a decade, although it lacked two of the key cost-cutting provisions under consideration in the Senate, and its longer-term impact on government red ink was far from clear.
Democrats lined up a range of outside groups behind their legislation, none more important than the AARP, whose support promises political cover against the cuts to Medicare in next year's congressional elections.
The nation's drug companies generally support health care overhaul. And while the powerful insurance industry opposed the legislation, it did so quietly, and the result was that Republicans could not count on the type of advertising campaign that might have peeled away skittish Democrats in swing districts.
Campaign Harry Truman began
Overall, the bill envisioned the most sweeping set of changes to the health care system in more than a generation, and Democrats said it marked the culmination of a campaign that Harry Truman began when he sat in the White House 60 years ago.
The compromise brokered Friday night on the volatile issue of abortion finally secured the votes needed to pass the legislation.
As drafted, the measure denied the use of federal subsidies to purchase abortion coverage in policies sold by private insurers in the new insurance exchange, except in cases of incest, rape or when the life of the mother was in danger.
But abortion foes won far stronger restrictions that would rule out abortion coverage except in those three categories in any government-sold plan. It would also ban abortion coverage in any private plan purchased by consumers receiving federal subsidies.
Disappointed Democratic abortion rights supporters grumbled about the turn of events, but appeared to pull back quickly from any thought of opposing the health care bill in protest.
One, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., detailed numerous other benefits for women in the bill, including free medical preventive services and better prescription drug coverage under Medicare. "Women need health care reform," she concluded in remarks on the House floor.
Does Pelosi have enough votes? Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., and Brian Bilbray, R-Calif., join msnbc’s Chris Matthews to discuss the impending House vote on health care legislation
House Democratic leaders will allow an up-or-down vote on an amendment blocking any money in its healthcare overhaul from funding abortions, risking the votes of members who support abortion rights.
Anti-abortion Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) had told a bleary-eyed Rules committee panel that a deal struck earlier in the day to move forward on the issue was off.
“There was some compromise language from different proposals that we thought would be satisfactory, our understanding was that we had an agreement. Two hours later it was not an agreement,” Stupak said as the clock neared 1 a.m. Saturday.
Stupak, flanked by a bipartisan coterie of abortion opponents, argued for consideration of their amendment that explicitiy prohibits federal funding of abortions under the Democrats' healthcare bill before the Speaker's select committee.
Liberals on the committee threatened to vote against the final healthcare bill if it included Stupak’s language, warning that it would be a return to the days of back-alley abortions.
“I forsee a return to the dark ages,” said Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.). “I’m 73, I’ve seen these dark things, they use these coat hangers and die.”
Committee Vice-Chairman Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) presided over the panel while Chairwoman Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) hunkered down with Democratic leadership.
The three women committee members refrained from voting on the rule that was approved 6-4.
Slaughter, Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) and Chellie Pingree (Maine) were not present for the debate on Stupak's amendment.
“I used to think that life was black or white, but the older I get the most gray it becomes,” liberal Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) told the panelists.
“I find this amendment very, very uncomfortable.”
Freshman Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper (D-Pa.) responded that their amendment would not change the law on abortion.
“This doesn’t change the law at all, it’s not outlawing abortion today; a majority of abortions are paid for with cash,” she said.
But abortion-rights advocates, including the Speaker and a majority of the Democratic caucus, support a provision in the healthcare bill that would subsidize abortions for poor women who can’t afford them.
The agreement was quickly condemned by Planned Parenthood Federation of America, which called the amendment by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) a "de facto abortion ban."
"A vote for Rep. Stupak’s amendment is a vote to weaken women’s access to comprehensive reproductive care and to take away private benefits that women currently have," said Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards.
On Friday, House Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) said passing Stupak's legislation could jeopardize passage of the bill, because abortion-rights supporters were likely to vote against a bill that includes it.
The President condemns the "despicable" attacks at Fort Hood, honoring those who were killed and injured. He also commends those who stood up to help and console those affected: "even as we saw the worst of human nature on full display, we also saw the best of America."
Democratic leaders trying to preserve a high-stakes Saturday vote on a House health reform bill battled a swift current of rank-and-file defections Friday as the White House swung into action to help corral the final votes.
But progress was slower than expected – as a bad jobs number Friday with unemployment eclipsing 10 percent, and Tuesday’s election losses making that job harder.
President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and a number of top aides – including chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Education Secretary Arne Duncan — called wavering members. But abortion and immigration remained stubborn obstacles to a final deal.
Democratic officials said their count of hard “nos” was in the range of about 25. While House Speaker Nancy Pelosi can afford to lose up to 40 votes and still win passage, there are dozens of other lawmakers who remain on the fence publicly.
In the last-minute frenzy, the landscape seemed to change from hour-to-hour. Majority Leader Steny Hoyer kicked off the day by suggesting the final vote may drift until Sunday afternoon – or even Monday or Tuesday – if they need more time to find the votes they need.
“There are still many people who are looking to get a comfort level that this is the right thing to do,” Hoyer said. “We’re talking to members, trying to answer any concerns they might have.”
But Hoyer closed by saying, “My understanding is that we will complete this tomorrow night.” And Pelosi also told reporters that she planned to go ahead with Saturday’s vote on a sweeping $1.2 trillion bill that seeks to expand health coverage to 36 million Americans.
Emanuel peppered his former House colleagues with phone calls, according to a number of lawmakers with whom he spoke. The list included at least one liberal lawmaker who was upset that leaders abandoned plans to tie a government insurance option to Medicare.
Cabinet secretaries, like Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Labor Secretary Hilda Solis – another former House member – are expected stick around on Capitol Hill Saturday after Obama himself pays a morning visit to House Democrats in the Cannon House Office Building.
But few administration officials roamed the halls Friday, a contrast to the some of the vote-wrangling done in person by the Bush administration on key votes.
The White House worked a pair of New York Democrats – Mike McMahon and Scott Murphy – on Friday, but McMahon told local reporters that afternoon that he wasn’t backing the bill.
First-year Democrats who came to Congress on Obama’s coattails last November, like New Jersey Rep. John Adler and Maryland Rep. Frank Kratovil, announced their opposition to the central plank of his White House campaign.
“A number of the real underlying problems that we’re trying to address haven’t been resolved,” Kratovil said.
Pelosi spent the day on the phone with wavering Democrats and even a few who were leaning against the bill, like Virginia Rep. Rick Boucher, who voted against it on the Energy and Commerce Committee.
Pelosi and her leadership team also cut last-minute deals to reassure those Democrats on the fence. In just one example, party leaders agreed to work with Indiana Rep. Baron Hill to lower a 2.5 percent on medical device manufacturers once the bill passes the House – a fact that remains up in the air.
Abortion remained one of the thorniest political issues for the caucus.
Pelosi and her leadership team huddled with Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman and a group of Democrats who support reproductive rights to review language proposed by Indiana Rep. Brad Ellsworth on behalf of the Conference of Catholic Bishops, but it didn’t go over well.
“It’s a question of how you can keep everybody together and that’s the challenge before us,” Waxman said. “What’s being called the Ellsworth language is also the bishop’s language which is the Stupak proposal. It’s basically to stop any services for abortion coverage in both the public plan and all private insurance. Not just for those who get subsidies but for everybody who goes to private insurance policies.”
Asked if the negotiators were any closer to a deal, Whip James Clyburn let loose an amused guffaw.
“I would like the bishops, who I understand want to see passage of the legislation, to help us work out a way so we don’t have winners and losers,” Waxman said. “Because the losers will make us lose the bill and the winners then wont have won anything.”
The universe of no voters represents a broad cross-section of geography and seniority in the Democratic Caucus, from veterans like Agriculture Committee Chairman Colin Peterson of Minnesota and Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton of Missouri to Blue Dog Coalition leader Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin, a fourth-term Democrat from South Dakota, and freshmen Parker Griffith of Alabama and Walt Minnick of Idaho.
Opposition has been particularly intense in the South, where an expansion of the government’s role in health care and the offering of insurance plans that cover abortion services in a new health care exchange are unpopular.
Southern Democrats such as Alabamans Griffith, Artur Davis and Bobby Bright, Tennessean Bart Gordon, Georgia’s Jim Marshall, Mike Ross of Arkansas and Mississippians Gene Taylor and Travis Childers are against the bill.
Abortion got a lot of attention in the region on Friday.
“Christian radio was aflame,” said a lawmaker from a Southern district who plans to vote against the bill.
Oklahoma Rep. Dan Boren has told local media that he plans to vote against the bill, and several additional moderate Democrats -- Georgia Rep. John Barrow, Virginia Rep. Rick Boucher, Utah Rep. Jim Matheson and Michigan Rep. Bart Stupak – voted against earlier versions of the measure in committee.
But Adler and McMahon’s defection illustrate the regional diversity of unease about the Democrats’ bill.
Platts has interviewed for the office of comptroller general of the United States, the top GAO post, The Hill first reported earlier this week. Platts’ bid for the watchdog job has attracted the support of 111 of his House colleagues, including 38 Democrats.
“Our support is based upon our personal observations of Mr. Platts’ character, his work ethic, and the thoroughly professional manner in which he has met his responsibilities as a United States Representative,” the members wrote in a letter to the commission that selects candidates.
In the letter, his colleagues tout Platts’s credentials, calling him an “active and diligent” member of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee who has “repeatedly demonstrated a genuine commitment to enhancing the performance of federal government operations, maximizing government accountability and transparency, and ensuring the responsible expenditure of federal funds.”
The Democrats who signed the letter include such senior members as Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (Mass.), Intelligence Committee Chairman Silvestre Reyes (Texas) and Rep. John Murtha (Pa.), chairman of the Defense Appropriations subcommittee.
He also received strong support from the Pennsylvania Democratic delegation -- Reps. Paul Kanjorksi, Mike Doyle, Tim Holden, Jason Altmire and Christoper Carney -- and Democrats who sit on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Stephen Lynch (Mass.), Dennis Kucinich (Ohio) and Brian Higgins (N.Y.).
Platts is one of 18 candidates seeking the comptroller general position. A congressional commission made up of five Republicans and five Democrats in the House and Senate winnows the candidates to at least three names and forwards them to President Barack Obama, who will make the final choice. It then must be approved by the Senate. Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.) also leads the comptroller general selection commission. In his application letter, Platts noted his close work with Towns on the panel’s government management, organization and procurement subcommittee.
For now, Platts has said he plans to run for re-election unless he is selected for the post. If that occurs, there would be a special election to fill his seat, which is considered safe Republican territory.
It is not clear when the commission will make its selections and forward them to the president. The commission began considering candidates in April but the process usually takes months to complete.
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