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Council On Aging takes steps to right financial woes

By Nick Blank
Posted 10/31/18

GREEN COVE SPRINGS - The Clay Council on Aging board met Tuesday and signaled steps to right the organization’s financial woes with the help of newly-hired Interim Executive Director Renee …

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Council On Aging takes steps to right financial woes


Posted

GREEN COVE SPRINGS - The Clay Council on Aging board met Tuesday and signaled steps to right the organization’s financial woes with the help of newly-hired Interim Executive Director Renee Knight.

Knight was the council’s executive director from 2001-2007. She currently serves as the ElderSource director of community services. ElderSource is a state organization that provides funding and services to the council.

Knight gave board members a list of her tasks in her less than two weeks at the helm, such as acquainting herself with staff and senior centers, hiring a part-time employee to assist with payroll, reviewing bank statements and records and planning for administering a survey of riders along with assistance from other organizations.

“We are working to really get a clear picture of where we are financially,” Knight said.

She said council staff will meet with county, state Department of Transportation, Jacksonville Transportation Authority and state Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged officials this week. In addition to multiple meetings, ElderSource’s staff will assist the council to formulate its 2019 budget and review the contracts of routes funded with JTA and DOT money before possible cancellation.

The council also decided to free up a combined $80,000 as needed from its restricted kitchen and building funds to make payroll. Last week, county officials decided to fund the council about $45,000 for operating expenses and fuel reimbursements to buy time, while the council came up with a plan to handle more than $15,000 in monthly losses. Officials from ElderSource, the county and the council are currently meeting once a week.

The council will advertise the executive director position to find a pool of applicants and offer a salary between $75,000-$85,000 per year.

“We set a salary range, drafted the language as to who we’re looking for, and we’ll advertise,” Board President John Bowles said. “Renee can pick up the pieces and run with the ball. The clock is ticking. We only have her for that three-month period.”

A causality of the lack of cash and staff time is the council’s car show. Board members said the council will reimburse vendors shortly. This would have been the fifth car show and board members said the loss was significant because the event functioned as a community outreach, not just a fundraiser that brought in more than $10,000.