[nfbmi-talk] conflicts of interests apparent in bsbp contracting new horizons

Tue Oct 1 21:44:01 UTC 2013

October 1 2013 to Rodgers vis a vis Conflicts of Interest State Actor Gwen McNeal New Horizons Rehab. Svs. Inc.

(Can’t serve two masters)

Paul Joseph Harcz, jr.

Mt. Morris, MI 48458

joeharcz at comcast.net810-516-5262

To: ed Rodgers

BSBP, Director

Steve Arwood, LARA Director

Michael Zimmer, LARA Deputy director (also head of DSA)

Via E-mail

All,

I wish to point out a clear and obvious conflict of interest of one Gwen McNeal who is the area supervisor of Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP).  (Note conflicts of interest in these regards have been brought before and in the public record and were denoted in the “reversion to vendor” references in the last RSA monitoring report in case you all didn’t actually read it.)  Regardless Ms. McNeal, again the area supervisor of BSBP is in and has been on the Board of Trustees of this, federally funded Community Rehabilitation Organization (CRO) while at the same time authorizing various payments in her official capacity as area supervisor of the federally funded BSBP (and before that MCB for that matter to this self same CRO, New Horizons). The conflicts of interests are clear upon there face whether or not she, Ms. McNeal ever received any compensation for these referrals. Moreover, New Horizons holds a Section 14 C certificate and does employ blind folks at less than minimum wages in many instances and in a segregated environment. The former along with many national organizations has been noted to be on its very face discriminatory, but nonetheless the former Michigan for the Blind Board voted unanimously while it had power enacted in law at the time (PA 260) to have this agency not to engage in any activity that practices such acts of discrimination as New Horizons does., funded by MCB or its offspring so to speak.

Yet, to this day McNeal serves two masters; with a salary approaching $100,000 per annum plus benefits from the State of Michigan as again Area Supervisor for BSBP,  and simultaniously and in the past, as a trustee on New Horizons’ Board and as a public employee of a federally funded VR entity also authorizes expenses to this same entity with impunity?

Now, see just this years blanket expenditures after my signature line to document the payment from BSBP/LARA and simply denote McNeal’s continued membership upon the board of New Horizons to see what I not only allege to be true but which is documented to be true.

I do not allege here a quid pro quo with Ms. McNeal or with BSBP for that matter, but neither do I dismiss the possibility. Purely upon this face this is a clear cut conflict of interest on behalf of BSBP and Ms. McNeal whether she personally stands to profit or not.

Mr. Zimmer and Mr. Rodgers should know of the laws violated in these regards being prominent lawyers they are and working in supervision and oversight as heads of the Designated State Agency and Designated State Unit respectfully.

Now, I am not a lawyer and personally with the exception of a few personal friends can’t stand the practice and do not think it is of any real value. But that is an aside. Frankly, one not be a lawyer to understand the real  inherent conflicts of interests here as a representative of the  (McNeal) state   actor acting in official capacity) is also a board member of the very institution she  authorizes contracts to a private non-profit on which she is a representative of the Board of Trustees. Now that was redundant and was made intentionally for in clear cut language she, McNeal as a state employee again on its face engages in conflicting practices. For whom can she represent clearly? Is it the citizen or taxpayerr? Is it the client, or consumer of BSBP? Is it New Horizons?

 in her official capacity as an area Supervisor clearly authorizing if not outright steering “business” at the public trough to a private non-profit; or is it the interests of New Horizons she represents whether benign or malevolent? Are there no safe guards I ask myself against such totally transparent conflicts in this state?

I await your responses to this inquiry which all must be made pursuant to the ADA and Section 504 in accessible format of which you all are acquainted as you’ve violated those provisions of civil rights laws now long enough.

Sincerely,

Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

Cc: bsbp commissioners

Cc: mcrs

Cc: rsa

Cc: misilc

Cc: mpas/cap

Cc: mi ethics board

Cc: several media

Cc: oig, ed

Cc: ocr, ed

Cc: several mi state legislators

I thus request timely action on this matter and actually wish for New Horizons to remit the federal funds expended back to the United States Department of Ed. But, also wish for Ms. McNeal to be sanctioned for this innappropriate abuse of state and federal law.

Moreover, I wish for all documents related to similar claims and all documents sent in this and prior regards on the same issue made to the Michigan Ethics Board by BSBP or its predacessor MCB to be remitted forethwith in accessible format and in accordance with the ADA and 504.

(Again re: public expenditures after signature line from LARA/BSBP to New Horizions.)

Sincerely,

Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

Cc: rsa

Cc: nfb mi

Cc: cap/mcrs

Cc: mpas

Cc: misilc

Cc: several organizations of pwd

Cc: several media

Attachment as enclosure:

http://media.state.mi.us/MiTransparency/Vendor/Warrants?y=2013&v=NEW%20HORIZONS%20REHABILITATION%20SERVICES&a=641&g=Contractual%20Services%20Supplies%20and%20Materials&Column=WarrantDate&Direction=Descending.

Source:

http://media.state.mi.us/MiTransparency/Vendor/Warrants?y=2013&v=NEW%20HORIZONS%20REHABILITATION%20SERVICES&a=641&g=Contractual%20Services%20Supplies%20and%20Materials&Column=WarrantDate&Direction=Descending

Mi Transparency - Payments to a Vendor by Agency and Category

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State Expenditures by Category

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Payments to a Vendor by Agency and Category

Payments to NEW HORIZONS REHABILITATION SERVICES by LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS for fiscal year 2013

Table with 4 columns and 27 rows

Agency Name

Category Description

Warrant Date

Payments Total

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

9/23/2013

$1,732.00

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

8/20/2013

$5,775.60

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

8/16/2013

$16,300.30

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

8/9/2013

$1,925.20

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

7/23/2013

$2,875.00

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

7/17/2013

$1,574.30

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

6/24/2013

$2,875.00

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

6/21/2013

$3,850.40

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

5/28/2013

$3,850.40

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

5/21/2013

$1,437.50

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

5/17/2013

$1,437.50

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

5/7/2013

$2,598.00

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

4/23/2013

$4,999.98

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

4/18/2013

$7,183.72

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

3/26/2013

$3,850.40

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

3/21/2013

$4,999.98

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

2/27/2013

$6,666.64

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

2/25/2013

$4,999.98

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

2/22/2013

$3,850.20

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

2/21/2013

$1,666.66

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

1/30/2013

$3,850.40

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

1/25/2013

$3,464.00

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

1/18/2013

$3,692.31

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

12/21/2012

$7,700.80

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

11/2/2012

$2,250.00

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

10/16/2012

$2,250.00

table end

Showing 1 - 26 of 26

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