HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0193.018 1996-1998 t d ~~'n v " ~ ~ To: John Ray r..'. [ ia' , Page ~ ~
~~I • '.`~18. ~ ~~b7 A;TuesEay ~Mii1~DS ~59T}~P934 pin'~~~
i;:
I`,~ M ~
Joe A..Tully
~~+'i P.O. Box 1810, Kadua-Kona, Hawaii 96745 ~ I '
w r ff~~} a s a ~ 8Q8 82g 9 f a f
~Y ~:xba1S+~'~i 1''^€ ~r t?,~ j n +~a lip .~Lr-,~~ w ~y,, uyy'~'y r r t ~ C ek+r ro r ,~63a Y » t ,~w,?~
r ~ r s.: a ~ t" 3~ fa~~a rt ~E,rrtail h ,~n9}~ ~ ~~a ~ I p ~
~ ~ i I'ki,. qtr ei" ~ iai ~ ~ k~ ~i.
. j ,t ~ ,dt S ~ ,
i ~ - 7
A ril 1 1997
P
Mr. John Ray
Councilman
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, HI 96720 CO
n ~
RE: Hawaii County Funding of Non-profit Agencies ~ ~
~ it
Dear Mr. Ray: rv
1
I am writing to express concern regarding County funding of certain non-profit orga~i¢ation~-, I
know you are on the verge of making a decision on this funding, so I think it is imp~t~{ent that you
consider some points that probably have not yet been addressed. D ~ j
cn
Several of these non-profit organizations have been involved in very inappropriate or even itl~gal
activities. I do not think the County should be committing tax-payers money to such
organizations.
Child & Family Services has been involved in transporting minors from the Konawaena campus to
health care providers for gynecological exams, counseling, and birth control materials without the
knowledge or permission of the childrens' parents. This is an unconscionable violation of the
parents' trust in our public schools. It is also a violation of the Department of Education's (DOE)
' own regulations. (Haw. Admin. Rules § 8-29-1 prohibits student travel unless "Written parental
consent shall be obtained for each student participating in any form of travel" prior to the travel). It
also would appear to be "custodial interference" per Haw. Rev. Stat § 707-727.
One mother and daughter who have had this horrible experience are currently preparing to bring
action for this awful abuse. I am confident that when they do, many such other cases will emerge
from the woodwork. I am also confident that the community will be horrified when it finds out that
this has been happening to their children (and the information regarding this issue is going to be
put on local cable in Kona, in Hilo, and on the other islands). I cannot imagine what people will do
when they find out that such groups are being funded by their Councilmen and Councilwomen.
Family Support Services has also been involved in the transporting minors from the Konawaena
campus to health care providers for gynecological exams, counseling, and birth control materials
without the knowledge or permission of the childrens' parents. The videotape of their van (with
license number) twice (in one day) picking up Konawaena students in front of the principal's office
and then delivering them to the offices of Kona Perinatal (another non-profit organization) for
' services will also be shown on public access cable. The ttivo trips recorded on that videotape were
each made without prior written permission from the childrens' parents. (After-the-fact permission
was obtained after the videotape mentioned above was shown to DOE officials and the deputy
Attorney General dealing with DOE matters.
Family Crisis Shelter, Inc. (FCSI) was one of the civil lawsuit defendants which recently
apologized for race and sex orientation bias policies and practices. The State Attorney General
also determined that there had been use of organization funds for private purposes, such as free
loans to employees, subsidized health club memberships, large luncheons, and automobile
insurance, all in violation of state law (see Report of Investigation: Family Crisis Shy
l~ir~ln~a 1 C13~'~. -
Pile IQo. ~~1~1~4.11~~__
Ref. 'Po: __.L~S[sL`! -
Rxf. t~.~ tAPR 0 2 1997,:.;:_-,.::
_ a,,. Y.-. w._J'Ir "dhf~,pif.. ~ ,,,~,y - '-~J~~ tf "rS v .,.-,r ~ r.
i ~ ~ • , f To: John Ray ` - Page 2 af~3 Tuesday AprAo1. 1991 1:o9:3Y pm
prepared by the~State Attorney General).! According recent to public newspaper accoynt, three
officers of this organization have pled no/~' oontendere to embezzlemeht charges " '
While the previous Executive Director of FCSI has resigned, the County Council would do well to
read the entire Attorney General's report mentioned above and then look very carefully at what real
changes have been made to guarantee n'ew leadership and safeguards against such abuse in the
future before the County Council supports FCSI's operations with taxpayer funds. As the
investigation and civil suit against FCSI were both urged by former State Representative Virginia
Isbell, the Council might do well to ask h¢r input, not only on FCSI, but regarding taxpayer funds,
private organizations, and the issue of safeguards.
I understand that Child & Family Services has recently hired some of the defendants of the Burke
et al v FCSI et al civil case as program managers. This should be looked into very carefully before
County funds are committed.
There are already rumors that the racial bias policies and practices which were condemned in the
Burke case may have been adopted at Child and Family Services.
It seems that at the very least the County Council should have a clear and absolute policy against
funding any organizations that have recent histories of violations of law. It would seem that the
Council should also require that audited financial statements covering all public funds (state,
county, judiciary, etc.) be required of each organization seeking funding before funding is granted.
The council would also do well to ask for reports on each organization from such sources as the
State Civil Rights Commission, the EEOC, and the State Labor Board, and also review each
organization's internal grievance files prior to funding. It should also consider publishing a list of
organizations seeking funding and ask for Big Island community input. Without steps like these, I
am afraid that the Council will be involved in funding activities that are totally improper.
If you would like to view the videotapes mentioned above or speak to the mother or daughter
mentioned above, please feel free to call.
Thank you.
Since
Ily