Turmoil hits antipoverty group as report questions contracts
Sharon Myles was fired after a report alleged financial inconsistencies in contracts with five people. Myles denies wrongdoing.
A poverty-fighting agency in Alabama’s most populous county has lost its contract to run the county’s Head Start program for disadvantaged preschoolers and is telling local officials that it needs a $3 million cash infusion to avoid going broke after temporarily missing payroll.
The Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity fired Executive Director Sharon Myles on Nov. 1 after a report alleged financial inconsistencies in contracts with five people and that Myles was in a personal relationship with one of the contractors.
Myles denies wrongdoing.
“I know the truth, and I tried to correct difficulties but never had the full support of the board,” she told WBRC-TV.
Jefferson County Committee For Economic Opportunity,Facebook
Taken during the Jefferson County Committee For Economic Opportunity’s 2019 Christmas gala.
However, Board Chairman Gary Richardson, also the mayor of Midfield, tells local news outlets the board has authorized him to file a state ethics complaint against Myles, alleging the misuse of state and federal money.
The federal Head Start program last week told the committee that it’s giving control of the preschool program to another agency. That triggered layoffs for more than 250 Head Start workers in Jefferson County. They can reapply for their new jobs, but there’s no guarantee they will be hired.
The agency’s other main functions are administering utility and rental assistance, and home weatherization projects.
Richardson said Myles was dismissed after unsatisfactorily responding to the allegations. It’s unclear if any outside agency is investigating.
“She maintained total control of this organization,” Richardson said. “She was the Head Start director, the executive director, and the quasi-chief financial officer because she fired two financial officers within a span of a year, and then brought in her own financial consultants.”
The committee wants Birmingham and Jefferson County to give it $3 million to cover its deficit, but local officials are skeptical.
“The county is more concerned about the services it renders for the citizens,” said Jefferson County Commission President Jimmie Stephens. “We would be very reluctant to add any money to the JCCEO coffers.”
The agency shuffled funds after it missed payroll, but Richardson said future paychecks remain uncertain.
The report that triggered Myles’ firing was prepared for the board by attorney Thomas W. Scroggins.
AL.com reports Scroggins told the board that a man named Thompson “Tommy” Nsuk was hired by the committee a month after Myles became executive director. Facilities Director Charlie Vargas, who resigned July 30, said Myles told him that she and Nsuk were in a relationship and planned to get married. Vargas said he was made to report to Nsuk and directed to pick Nsuk up for work at a Gardendale house where Myles lived. Nsuk was paid at least $1,800 a week and sometimes substantially more.
Minutes show Myles told the board that Nsuk and others were hired with federal coronavirus relief money and said Nsuk “is a long-time family friend who she let use her address to receive mail from time to time.”
Another questioned contract was with the Rev. Lawrence Jackson to serve as a behavioral specialist for $5,000 a month. The committee also leased space at Jackson’s church for $10,000 a month. Directors of two Head Start centers said Jackson had done no work, but Jackson said he has done the work, and said that the committee leased spare space from his church.
“I ain’t perfect but, man, but I love my community and if I didn’t think I was qualified for this job, [Myles] couldn’t have made me take it,” Jackson said.
The report also criticized a temporary chief financial officer who was paid nearly $80,000 in a month, a bilingual education specialist who was provided an agency car, and the irregular hiring of Nsuk’ son as a custodian, who was also getting paid $1,859.34 over two weeks, which would translate into 62 hours of work a week.
All five independent contractors were fired on Nov. 1.
Memory loss: As AI gobbles up chips, prices for devices may rise
Demand for memory chips currently exceeds supply and there's very little chance of that changing any time soon. More chips for AI means less available for other products such as computers and phones and that could drive up those prices too.
Brigitte Bardot, sex goddess of cinema, has died
Legendary screen siren and animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot has died at age 91. The alluring former model starred in numerous movies, often playing the highly sexualized love interest.
For Ukrainians, a nuclear missile museum is a bitter reminder of what the country gave up
The Museum of Strategic Missile Forces tells the story of how Ukraine dismantled its nuclear weapons arsenal after independence in 1991. Today many Ukrainians believe that decision to give up nukes was a mistake.
Jeffrey R. Holland, next in line to lead Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, dies at 85
Jeffrey R. Holland led the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, a key governing body. He was next in line to become the church's president.
Winter storm brings heavy snow and ice to busy holiday travel weekend
A powerful winter storm is impacting parts of the U.S. with major snowfall, ice, and below zero wind chills. The conditions are disrupting holiday travel and could last through next week.
Disability rights advocate Bob Kafka dead at 79
Bob Kafka was an organizer with ADAPT (American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today), a group which advocates for policy change to support people with disabilities.
