The East Bluff Neighborhood Housing Service (EBNHS) gets its funding from taxpayers living in a special service district on the East Bluff. Because of past problems with the EBNHS, the City Council decided to approve levying the tax on an annual basis hopefully to increase their performance accountability.
The FY2011 tax levy was approved in November 2010 after the EBNHS gave an update to the Peoria City Council showing all the progress they had made. Their accomplishments included having a “full and complete EBNHS board — all 13 positions filled,” publishing the monthly minutes and agendas on their new website (http://www.ebnhs.com/), and having a “loan committee actively meeting and pursuing creating proper loan criteria and documents with object to begin loan process again in near future.”
Upon reviewing the website, it’s interesting to note that the last minutes published were December 2010, and the last agenda published was January 2011. It seems that after they received the tax money, their diligence in keeping the site up to date waned almost immediately. It kind of makes it difficult to determine if they’re following through on their commitment “to begin [the] loan process again in [the] near future.”
There are now three vacancies on the board according to the website, so the “full and complete EBNHS board” was rather short-lived as well. In fact, the EBNHS gave their report to the City Council celebrating their full board in November, then created two vacancies as of the very next meeting, according to their December 2010 minutes. It appears those vacancies have yet to be filled.
What we do know from the website is this:
- They gave $643 to Boys and Girls Clubs to sponsor an East Bluff child for a ski trip to the Ski Snowstar Winter Sports Park in Andalusia, Illinois, in January.
- They paid Williamson Blind & Drapery $3,945 to make custom window dressing for the EBNHS House at Nebraska and Wisconsin. This house acts as the EBNHS office, and also the home of the EBNHS Executive Director Peggy Shadid, who receives a $43,191 salary and stays in the house for free, courtesy of the special service district taxpayers.
Speaking of the Executive Director, as the only employee of the EBNHS, and the one who has “general direction over the operations of the Corporation” according to the bylaws (including the responsibility to “keep the permanent minutes of the meetings” and “see that all notices are duly given”), one would assume it would be her responsibility to keep their website up to date with the latest minutes and agendas. However, there is no requirement in the bylaws that the website be kept up to date.
My guess is that the website will eventually get updated — at least by November, when it’s time to ask the City Council for more tax money.
Tim will have it Rigg(ed)enbach in no time.
Board member Maleita King was booted off the board, she was not a “yes” person so she was showed the door. Ski trip and new custom window dressings sure improved my section of the Bluff. Lets start a TIF also! Then we might be able to have 2 kids go on a ski trip and custon table covers.
I thought someone looked into this in anothr article and there were not suppose to be any paid members. $4,000 for curtains I didn’t spend that much remolding a bathroom and I gutted it to the studs. If the money came out of there pocket would they have spent 4000 on curtains.
How do I get on the board they seem like they need someone who will not waste money.
EYE:
Submit a applcation. If they “like you” you might be slected by the exclusive comittee.
It is interesting that a “not for profit” organization would spend 48% of its proposed 2011 budget for one salary. Even more interesting that the original Charter for the organization (March 5, 1986) states in paragraph 6, section (b), that no Director, Manager, or other person will receive compensation or remuneration for their service. And what have they done for the East Bluff? Well, they do own 4 properties, with the stated intent of rehabbing them for sale, but instead are becoming landlords. Funny, this does not seem to be the intention of the framers of the organization.
Is Tim Riggenbach on this committee? It seems as their elected official, he ought to be an ex officio member and could then be held accountable. Maybe their Charter needs to be re-written.
Note: The East Village TIF is looking at making loans available to residents. Homeowners will pay the special assessment tax for housing services to make low interest loans to keep home owners in the area (which they don’t) and then have money taken out of their TIF funds to make low interest loans or grants to homeowners to fix up their homes to keep home owners in the area. The council will vote in the TIF and will continue to renew the funds for the housing services. Good question for a forum or two.
I was blocked by Holly, Stone, Fischer and Hansen, when they filled the last vacancies.
Fredrick, while I don’t have a dog in the hunt of EBNHS, I would point out that almost all smaller, “non-profit” churches would have at least 50% of their budget tied up in one staff member: The pastor.
Yes, I agree Sud. Pastors, if they do their job, are worthy of that support. Judging from what C. J. has written concerning the condition of the web page, the availability of documents (I had to invoke the FOIA at City Hall to get the records), and my personal observation at the last EBNHS meeting in February, there is a problem with the person drawing the salary actually earning the salary. Incidentally, I was present when Ms. Shadid told the committee at that meeting that the web page was “up to date”. Just checked. Still is not.
I looked on there web site it says in there bylaws they are NOT to be compensated. This whole thing need to be shut down. They are running some kind of scam on the taxpayers. I think its time to get a council member who is NOT in there pocket involved.