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NEON leaders gain backing of oversight agency
The ADVOCATE
By Brian Lockhart
Staff Writer
October 8, 2007
NORWALK - The state organization charged with oversight of Norwalk Economic Opportunity Now has
dismissed charges levied at Executive Director Joseph Mann and Chairman Carvin Hilliard by a group that
includes former NEON officials.
"I know Joe Mann has been doing some incredible work in getting the agency turned around and is doing a very
good job," said Edith Karsky, executive director for the Connecticut Association of Community Action.
But the state Department of Social Services still must close the matter.
Mann and Hilliard have been accused of mismanaging the South Norwalk nonprofit agency, including financial
improprieties and nepotism, by the ad hoc Save Our Social Services group.
Members of the bipartisan group include Mary "Bea" Brown, a former NEON board chairwoman; longtime
community activists Mary Burgess, a Second Taxing District commissioner, and her husband, retired NEON
executive director Robert Burgess; Richard Fuller, retired executive director of the George Washington Carver
Center; and Second Taxing District Commissioner Jorge Martell.
In August, Save Our Social Services filed a complaint with the Department of Social Services about NEON
leadership.
Spokesman Matthew Barrett said the department included the group's concerns in a review of NEON by the
Connecticut Association of Community Action, which represents 11 similar nonprofits statewide.
The review, which took place Sept. 10 to 12, was written by representatives of Northeast Institute for Quality
Community Action in Boston and led by its executive director, William Hunter.
Founded in 2005, the institute describes itself as "promoting excellence in the management policies and
practices of community action agencies serving low-income consumers" in Massachusetts, Connecticut and
Rhode Island, according to its Web site.
In his summary, Hunter wrote that NEON must revise outdated bylaws, develop ethics policies for the board and
staff, address deficiencies from a 2006 audit, balance its budget before next year and adopt a strategic plan.
"The team's conclusion is that important progress has been made in addressing the myriad of challenges
facing NEON Inc. relating both to governance and financial management," Hunter wrote.
NEON's past five years were marked by "considerable change and turmoil," Hunter wrote.
Soon after Burgess retired in 2003 after 30 years heading NEON, the federal government raised concerns about
the agency's Head Start program and fiscal management.
Michael Callis, a former U.S. Department of Health and Human Services employee who evaluated NEON's
Head Start program, was hired in 2004 to address the troubles.
He left early last year, nine months before the end of his contract, after staving off a federal threat to end the
Head Start program.
But Callis' tenure was marked by controversy. In 2004, Burgess questioned Callis' handling of the Head Start
program.
In the midst of changing executive directors, NEON lost managers in its finance, human resources, information
technology and planning departments.
"This climate of change, transition and turmoil resulted inevitably in breakdowns of communication and
management systems infrastructure," Hunter wrote.
Hilliard, a Democrat representing South Norwalk on the Common Council, was elected last year as NEON
board chairman.
Mann, a longtime NEON employee and former Democratic state representative, was hired last year. Almost
immediately board members criticized him and Hilliard for Mann's starting salary - $115,000 plus a maximum
$15,000 per year performance incentive. Burgess departed after 30 years with a $130,000 annual salary. Callis
earned $90,000.
But Hunter said it is not unusual for new executives to negotiate higher salaries, and Mann's salary was in line
with those of other agency directors in the area.
Save Our Social Services also questioned a proposal to change Mann's title to chief executive officer and
president because it would give him too much power. But Hunter said other community agencies in the state
have done that and it "does not affect the balance of power."
Save Our Social Services attacked efforts by Mann and Hilliard to cut the size of NEON's 33-member board by
half.
The move would "get rid of some . . . board members who have continually challenged the administrative staff's
daily operating procedures," the group wrote.
But Hunter said the review found that, on average, only 15 to 16 board members attended meetings in the past
year.
Karsky said NEON has "the exact type of unmanageable board" that the Connecticut Association of Community
Action has been encouraging its agencies to avoid.
In 2004, when Callis attempted to decrease the size of the board, The Advocate reported that it was the largest
of all 12 of Connecticut's community action agencies.
"The motivation for this change is clearly more substantive than simply removing one or more existing"
members, Hunter wrote in the review.
The review team disproved other allegations that Mann and Hilliard ignored by-laws and allowed financial
improprieties and nepotism.
One complaint was that Mann's staff included his sister and sister-in-law, but the review concluded both were
hired before Mann became executive director.
"While this situation perceptually may be awkward, the only remedy would be the termination of these
employees, both of whom have exceptional performance ratings," the report read. "This action could potentially
raise more problems than it would resolve."
Hunter's team looked into allegations that NEON rented and renovated space in property owned by Mount Zion
Baptist Church, where Hilliard has an apartment.
Save Our Social Services said they were concerned Hilliard had something to do with the arrangement and
used NEON money to do work on the apartment.
The review concluded Hilliard was not involved in the arrangements and NEON did not pay for the
improvements.
The Department of Social Services will review Hunter's report, spokesman David Dearborn said.
"It's still a matter that we're looking at," Dearborn said. "The commissioner hasn't made any final determinations
yet."
Burgess said he had not seen the review but was disappointed when briefed on the findings.
"This is not a clean report," Burgess said, alleging that Hunter and the review team covered up some of the
problems and drew wrong conclusions.
He does not intend to let the matter rest, Burgess said.
"Depending on when this report comes out, I'll come out with my other information," he said.
Burgess said he remains involved in NEON because residents and NEON employees talk to him about their
concerns.
Karsky said she would like Burgess to allow his successors to do their jobs.
"It's so ironic the people who are bringing these complaints are the people who had created some of the
problems," Karsky said.
The ADVOCATE
By Brian Lockhart
Staff Writer
October 8, 2007
NORWALK - The state organization charged with oversight of Norwalk Economic Opportunity Now has
dismissed charges levied at Executive Director Joseph Mann and Chairman Carvin Hilliard by a group that
includes former NEON officials.
"I know Joe Mann has been doing some incredible work in getting the agency turned around and is doing a very
good job," said Edith Karsky, executive director for the Connecticut Association of Community Action.
But the state Department of Social Services still must close the matter.
Mann and Hilliard have been accused of mismanaging the South Norwalk nonprofit agency, including financial
improprieties and nepotism, by the ad hoc Save Our Social Services group.
Members of the bipartisan group include Mary "Bea" Brown, a former NEON board chairwoman; longtime
community activists Mary Burgess, a Second Taxing District commissioner, and her husband, retired NEON
executive director Robert Burgess; Richard Fuller, retired executive director of the George Washington Carver
Center; and Second Taxing District Commissioner Jorge Martell.
In August, Save Our Social Services filed a complaint with the Department of Social Services about NEON
leadership.
Spokesman Matthew Barrett said the department included the group's concerns in a review of NEON by the
Connecticut Association of Community Action, which represents 11 similar nonprofits statewide.
The review, which took place Sept. 10 to 12, was written by representatives of Northeast Institute for Quality
Community Action in Boston and led by its executive director, William Hunter.
Founded in 2005, the institute describes itself as "promoting excellence in the management policies and
practices of community action agencies serving low-income consumers" in Massachusetts, Connecticut and
Rhode Island, according to its Web site.
In his summary, Hunter wrote that NEON must revise outdated bylaws, develop ethics policies for the board and
staff, address deficiencies from a 2006 audit, balance its budget before next year and adopt a strategic plan.
"The team's conclusion is that important progress has been made in addressing the myriad of challenges
facing NEON Inc. relating both to governance and financial management," Hunter wrote.
NEON's past five years were marked by "considerable change and turmoil," Hunter wrote.
Soon after Burgess retired in 2003 after 30 years heading NEON, the federal government raised concerns about
the agency's Head Start program and fiscal management.
Michael Callis, a former U.S. Department of Health and Human Services employee who evaluated NEON's
Head Start program, was hired in 2004 to address the troubles.
He left early last year, nine months before the end of his contract, after staving off a federal threat to end the
Head Start program.
But Callis' tenure was marked by controversy. In 2004, Burgess questioned Callis' handling of the Head Start
program.
In the midst of changing executive directors, NEON lost managers in its finance, human resources, information
technology and planning departments.
"This climate of change, transition and turmoil resulted inevitably in breakdowns of communication and
management systems infrastructure," Hunter wrote.
Hilliard, a Democrat representing South Norwalk on the Common Council, was elected last year as NEON
board chairman.
Mann, a longtime NEON employee and former Democratic state representative, was hired last year. Almost
immediately board members criticized him and Hilliard for Mann's starting salary - $115,000 plus a maximum
$15,000 per year performance incentive. Burgess departed after 30 years with a $130,000 annual salary. Callis
earned $90,000.
But Hunter said it is not unusual for new executives to negotiate higher salaries, and Mann's salary was in line
with those of other agency directors in the area.
Save Our Social Services also questioned a proposal to change Mann's title to chief executive officer and
president because it would give him too much power. But Hunter said other community agencies in the state
have done that and it "does not affect the balance of power."
Save Our Social Services attacked efforts by Mann and Hilliard to cut the size of NEON's 33-member board by
half.
The move would "get rid of some . . . board members who have continually challenged the administrative staff's
daily operating procedures," the group wrote.
But Hunter said the review found that, on average, only 15 to 16 board members attended meetings in the past
year.
Karsky said NEON has "the exact type of unmanageable board" that the Connecticut Association of Community
Action has been encouraging its agencies to avoid.
In 2004, when Callis attempted to decrease the size of the board, The Advocate reported that it was the largest
of all 12 of Connecticut's community action agencies.
"The motivation for this change is clearly more substantive than simply removing one or more existing"
members, Hunter wrote in the review.
The review team disproved other allegations that Mann and Hilliard ignored by-laws and allowed financial
improprieties and nepotism.
One complaint was that Mann's staff included his sister and sister-in-law, but the review concluded both were
hired before Mann became executive director.
"While this situation perceptually may be awkward, the only remedy would be the termination of these
employees, both of whom have exceptional performance ratings," the report read. "This action could potentially
raise more problems than it would resolve."
Hunter's team looked into allegations that NEON rented and renovated space in property owned by Mount Zion
Baptist Church, where Hilliard has an apartment.
Save Our Social Services said they were concerned Hilliard had something to do with the arrangement and
used NEON money to do work on the apartment.
The review concluded Hilliard was not involved in the arrangements and NEON did not pay for the
improvements.
The Department of Social Services will review Hunter's report, spokesman David Dearborn said.
"It's still a matter that we're looking at," Dearborn said. "The commissioner hasn't made any final determinations
yet."
Burgess said he had not seen the review but was disappointed when briefed on the findings.
"This is not a clean report," Burgess said, alleging that Hunter and the review team covered up some of the
problems and drew wrong conclusions.
He does not intend to let the matter rest, Burgess said.
"Depending on when this report comes out, I'll come out with my other information," he said.
Burgess said he remains involved in NEON because residents and NEON employees talk to him about their
concerns.
Karsky said she would like Burgess to allow his successors to do their jobs.
"It's so ironic the people who are bringing these complaints are the people who had created some of the
problems," Karsky said.
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