Penal Code Section 933.6 gives the Grand Jury authority to “...examine the books and records of any non-profit corporation established by or operated on behalf of a public entity.” Based on information presented to the Grand Jury indicating there were irregularities within the “Senior Meals” program, the Grand Jury considered the potential benefits of reviewing the “Senior Meals” program and other entities receiving relatively small sums of money from or through the County of Amador.
Consideration was given to reviewing entities receiving relatively small amounts of money from or through the County of Amador. The Grand Jury elected to review the following three entities:
Amador County
Senior Citizens (CITIZENS) whose articles of incorporation state purpose is
to raise money for the construction of a senior citizens’ multi-purpose
service center in the County of Amador or the leasing, rental and/or
purchase of a building for use as a multi-purpose service center for Amador
County senior citizens; to advise and consult on the design of the
construction of the building for a multi-purpose service center for Amador
County senior citizens; and to enter into contracts for the purchase of land
and/or buildings or to lease the same.
Amador Senior
Services Inc. (SERVICES) whose articles of incorporation state its purpose
is to advocate for senior citizens and to cooperate with communities and
organizations to promote the general well-being of senior citizens.
Area 12 Agency on Aging (AREA 12) promotes senior services in Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne and Mariposa Counties.
Senior programs,
including meals, legal services, transportation for medical services, and other
information and assistance services for those 60 and older have been provided in
Amador County by SERVICES, AREA 12, Mother Lode Seniors, Inc., and now by Common
Ground Senior Services (COMMON GROUND).
The Grand Jury’s
review of the “Meals” program began with a letter to CITIZENS, SERVICES, and
to AREA 12 requesting certain documents and information for the period July 1997
through June 2000. The documents
were received from AREA 12 in a timely manner.
Interviews were held with the Executive Director of AREA 12, and with
individuals who work or have worked for AREA 12 and/or with the “Meals”
program during the time it was operated by AREA 12 (July 1998 through October
2000).
Both CITIZENS and
SERVICES responded to the Grand Jury with letters stating they were “private,
non-profit” entities not subject to review by the Grand Jury.
A legal opinion was obtained from Amador County Counsel indicating the
Grand Jury had at least limited authority to review both CITIZENS and SERVICES
based on the fact both have received funds from the County of Amador (see
Appendix C for a copy of the opinion).
A second letter to
CITIZENS and to SERVICES referencing the Penal Code section giving the Grand
Jury authority to investigate them was again met with written responses that
they were not subject to review by the Grand Jury and that they were unwilling
to cooperate with the Grand Jury.
The Grand Jury then decided to seek an additional legal opinion from the Amador County District Attorney. The District Attorney formulated an opinion, with the assistance of the California Attorney General’s Office, indicating the Grand Jury had the right to review both CITIZENS and SER
VICES (see Appendix C for a copy of the opinion). The Grand Jury elected to proceed with a review of CITIZENS and SERVICES without their cooperation, but the Grand Jury found it difficult to keep straight the entities involved with the Senior Center, to determine who they are, the purposes they serve, and what functions they are playing in senior programs in Amador County.
The Grand Jury
obtained records and information from the California Department of
Justice/Office of the Attorney General (Department of Charitable Trusts), the
California Secretary of State, the County of Amador (records and minutes), the
Amador County Director of General Services, the California Franchise Tax Board,
the Internal Revenue Service, AREA 12, the Senior Center, as well as from
individuals willing to meet with the Grand Jury who have and/or are working
within the senior programs in Amador County.
Persons interviewed:
Executive
Director, AREA 12 Agency on Aging
Executive
Director, Common Ground Senior Services
Present and
former employees and volunteers of the entities and programs reviewed
California
Department of Justice Staff
Internal Revenue
Service Staff
Various Amador
County Officials and Staff (elected and paid)
California
Franchise Tax Board Staff
Amador County
Counsel
Amador County District Attorney
Documents examined:
The CITIZENS’
Certificate of Status, Domestic Corporation showing date of incorporation as
July 10, 1981
The CITIZENS’
Statement by Domestic Nonprofit Corporation (filed 8/2/99)
The CITIZENS’
Articles of Incorporation (filed 7/10/81)
The CITIZENS’
Certificate of Amendment of Articles of Incorporation (filed 6/13/84)
CITIZENS’
Periodic Report, Form CT-2 undated for the period July 1, 1998 through June
30, 1999
CITIZENS’ 2001
Registration/Renewal Fee Report Form RRF-1 (dated 12/11/00)
CITIZENS’
Internal Revenue Form 990 for tax year 1997
CITIZENS’
Internal Revenue Form 990 for tax year 1998
CITIZENS’
contract dated August 14, 1984 with the County of Amador
Letter dated
7/27/00 from CITIZENS/Amador Senior Center
SERVICES’
Certificate of Status, Domestic Corporation showing date of incorporation as
November 18, 1974
SERVICES’
Statement by Domestic Nonprofit Corporation (filed 9/6/00)
SERVICES’
Articles of Incorporation (filed 11/18/74)
SERVICES’
Certificate of Amendment of Articles of Incorporation (filed 5/31/77)
SERVICES’
Certification of Amendment of Articles of Incorporation (filed 1/27/97)
Letter dated
11/18/74 from the Franchise Tax Board to SERVICES
SERVICES’
Registration/Renewal Fee Reports (RRF-1) (9/7/00) showing an incorrect
Federal ID number
SERVICES’
Internal Revenue Form 990 for tax year 1995
SERVICES’
Internal Revenue Form 990 for tax year 1998
SERVICES’
Internal Revenue Form 990 for tax year 1999
Letter dated
9/15/98 from SERVICES discussing personal property at the Senior Center
AREA 12 Joint
Powers Agency - Board of Directors, Advisory Council Roster, and California
Senior Legislature Representatives
List of AREA 12
employees and volunteers from July 1998 through October 2000 working within
the senior programs, including meals, in Amador County
Letter dated
2/11/99 to AREA 12 from Amador Board of Supervisors
Memo/Presentation
dated 10/8/98 to JPA (AREA 12) outlining problems within SERVICES
AREA 12 letter
dated 2/8/99 to the Board of Supervisors
AREA 12 unaudited
Profit & Loss summary for the period July 1999 through June 2000
Settlement
Agreement between AREA 12 and SERVICES (dated 5/8/00)
AREA 12 Request
for Proposal (RFP) for entities interested in furnishing programs to seniors
AREA 12 Amendment
to “Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement between the Counties of Alpine,
Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne, and Mariposa for the Purpose of Sponsoring the
Area Agency on Aging to Implement the Older Americans Act as Amended”
undated but approved as to legal form by Tuolumne County Counsel July 27,
1995
The explanatory
sheet “Amador Senior Services, Inc., Amador County Senior Citizens, Inc.,
and ...: An explanation.”
April 2001 issue
of Three Score Reporter
Letter dated
11/20/00 from “Amador Senior Center/Amador County Senior Citizens Inc.”
Letter dated
1/22/01 from Amador Senior Services, Inc./Amador Senior Center
Letter dated
12/4/00 from Amador Senior Center/Amador County Senior Citizens, Inc.
Inventory of
personal property at the Senior Center
Communications
with respect to acquisition and disposal of personal property at the Senior
Center
Correspondence
dated 8/4/00 between the County of Amador and the Amador Nutrition Program
Memorandum dated
12/27/00 to the Grand Jury from County Counsel re:
Jurisdiction over SERVICES (legal opinion:
see Appendix A)
Letter dated 3/28/01 from the Amador County Office of the District Attorney re: Does Grand Jury Have Jurisdiction to Investigate SERVICES and CITIZENS (legal opinion: see Appendix B)
1. CITIZENS received $30,000 from the County of Amador during the period July 1997 through June 2000, inclusive.
2. SERVICES received $10,000 in 1997-1998 and $10,000 in 1998-1999 from the County of Amador, but did not receive funds during 1999-2000. SERVICES requested $10,000 during 2000-2001 with a portion of that paid directly to others providing senior programs in Amador County.
3. Twice, CITIZENS and SERVICES denied the Grand Jury’s request to review their operations.
4. Under a contract dated August 14, 1984, Amador County gave $250,000 to CITIZENS to help construct the Senior Center. Under the contract CITIZENS has certain obligations including a) to provide staff and funds to operate as a senior center; b) to annually prepare a program for the operation of the Senior Center which shall be reviewed by the County’s Board of Supervisors; c) to carry public liability insurance in the amount of $3 million and to name the County of Amador as an insured, and; d) to comply with the requirements for a program for senior citizens as set forth in Government Code 26227. Further, under the contract the County has the right to take over CITIZENS’ interest in the Senior Center in the event CITIZENS breaches any of the terms or conditions of the contract.
5. The County of Amador could not produce any evidence (specifically regarding programs or evidence of liability insurance coverage) that CITIZENS has fulfilled its obligations under the contract dated August 14, 1984.
6. Interviews with the individuals who work, or have worked, in the seniors program indicated CITIZENS, SERVICES, AREA 12, and the senior services providers have a difficult time working together.
7. CITIZENS and SERVICES both list raising money for the Senior Center as one of their purposes.
8. The RRF-1 for SERVICES dated September 7, 2000 notes a fine in the amount of $190 had been paid to the California Franchise Tax Board during the reporting period for filing tax returns late.
9. CITIZENS and SERVICES both use the name Amador Senior Center or The Senior Center.
10. Neither Amador Senior Center or The Senior Center is a fictitious firm name filed with the Amador County Recorder’s Office.
11. Tax returns for SERVICES disclose it is related through common membership, governing bodies, trustees, officers, etc., to CITIZENS. However, the tax return for CITIZENS states it is not similarly related to SERVICES.
12. The current provider of Senior programs, including meals, legal services, transportation for medical service and seniors information in Amador County is COMMON GROUND.
13. The Settlement Agreement between AREA 12 and SERVICES dated May 8, 2000 notes proper documentation was not available from SERVICES for $130,960 in expenditures.
14. Under the settlement agreement with AREA 12, SERVICES agreed not to apply to be the provider of senior services through AREA 12 for five years (through May 1, 2005). After that time, if SERVICES is selected to provide services it will be considered a high-risk provider for the initial term of the contract.
15. Audits are performed on the senior service providers to verify compliance with conditions set for the receipt and use of State and/or Federal funds.
16. Each County member of the Joint Powers Agreement (AREA 12) is responsible for any audit exceptions identified within its county.
17. The furniture, fixtures and equipment at the Senior Center are owned by multiple entities, and a portion is subject to Federal or State Government restrictions, regulations and control and require proper accounting for compliance.
18. The JPA (AREA 12) selects the senior service providers for the County.
19. AREA 12’s purpose is to plan and administer home and community-based, long-term care service systems within Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne and Mariposa Counties, and its Board of Directors is made up of one Supervisor from each of the counties.
20. The senior service provider purchases fuel for the delivery of senior meals from the County of Amador at the County’s cost.
21. The Amador County Office of General Services monitors the use of fuel by the senior service provider.
22. During the time Area 12 was acting as the provider for Amador County, there were abuses of the fuel privileges at the Amador County Corporate Yard.
23. The County has no procedure in place to assure the funds provided for senior services are used for their intended purpose.
24. Amador County elected or appointed officials and/or staff serve, or have served, on the Board of Directors of one or more of the non-profit entities reviewed in this report .
1. The County of Amador has not enforced the terms and conditions of the contract with CITIZENS dated August 14, 1984.
2. It is unclear what roles CITIZENS and SERVICES play in the providing of services to seniors.
3. CITIZENS and SERVICES both representing themselves as The Senior Center creates confusion as to who is receiving the County’s funds, and serves no apparent purpose relative to the operation of the Senior Center.
4. It would be more efficient and easier to account for County funds if the approved senior service provider is funded directly rather than through third-party intermediaries, such as CITIZENS or SERVICES.
5. The lack of a mechanism to ensure that County funds provided to private entities are used on behalf of the County means that there is no accountability to the taxpayers or County administration.
6. If the Amador County provider of senior programs is subject to audit exception(s), the County of Amador is responsible to the State and/or the Federal Government for the amount of said exception(s).
7. Furniture, fixtures and equipment owned by multiple entities and/or subject to government restrictions at the Senior Center causes Amador County to be at risk if the items are not properly used and accounted for.
8. The County has one fifth of the control over or within AREA 12 yet assumes all the risk associated with the Amador County service provider selected by AREA 12 if that provider fails to meet and follow government regulations.
9. There is a perception of or potential for conflict of interest when elected or appointed County officials serve on the Boards of private entities receiving County funds.
1. Amador County should enforce all of the terms and conditions of the contract dated August 14, 1984 with CITIZENS including CITIZENS’ obligation to provide the staff and funds to operate the Senior Center.
2. If CITIZENS does not immediately cure the defaults under the contract dated August 14, 1984, the County should pursue its remedies under the contract, including taking possession of the Senior Center, and either operating it or contracting with a single entity for its operation.
3. The County should fund the provider of senior services directly, not through CITIZENS, SERVICES, or any other intermediary.
4. Funds received from the County by any entity should be disbursed with the stipulation that the funds will be used on behalf of the County and that the County, including the Grand Jury, has the right to inspect the books and operation of the entity receiving the funds.
5. The Amendment to the JPA agreement making the counties financially responsible for senior service providers selected by AREA 12 should be reviewed and the County of Amador should attempt to get the amendment rescinded.
6. The County should direct County Counsel to determine if it is possible to withdraw from AREA 12 and to fulfill the County’s senior needs in other ways.
7. The Office of General Services should continue to monitor fuel used by the senior program provider.
As required in Section 933.05 of the Penal Code, the Amador County Board of Supervisors must respond to the findings and recommendations in the manner indicated on page one of this report.