[Perform-talk] State Questions Spending by Oregon's Commission for the Blind

[Donna Hill]

Hi Friends,
Just came across this article in the Argus Observer, Portland OR. The 
comment form requires CAPTCHA solving and Web Visum got it wrong four 
times. If you wish to comment, here is the e-mail address for the news 
editor, Jessica K.
jessicak at argusobserver.com
The article is copied below my name after the link to it.
Donna Hill
http://www.argusobserver.com/articles/2009/05/10/news/doc4a0689c424288161521307.txt

Block quote
State questions Commission for the Blind spending

Sunday, May 10, 2009 1:23 AM PDT
PORTLAND (AP) — A state audit has found $61,000 in spending by the 
Oregon Commission for the Blind went for items such as a leather jacket, 
men’s cologne,
football jerseys, a bike trip to San Juan Islands and other expenditures.

Funding for the commission is meant to help Oregonians who are blind and 
visually impaired live and work independently.

The report released Friday by the Oregon Secretary of State said the 
football jerseys decorated a client’s coffee cart and the San Juan 
Islands trip was
primarily for non-clients. A trip to Chicago was taken for nutrition 
education.

Auditors also questioned whether an additional $1.4 million was spent 
prudently.

‘‘The Commission has done some outstanding work over the years,’’ 
Secretary of State Kate Brown said in a statement. ‘‘It’s best work is 
when it serves
the specific needs of the individual clients.’’
But some spending has not met those needs, she said, and her auditors 
have listed a slew of recommendations for the commission, including 
making sure funds
are clearly tied to business needs.

The audit began in March 2007 after the state received reports saying 
the commission had mismanaged operations and misused funds meant to help 
clients.
Linda Mock, administrator for the Commission for the Blind, said staff 
has already begun to improve documentation of its spending.

‘‘We found the audit helpful in helping us strengthen documentation 
around client services,’’ said Linda Mock, administrator for the 
Commission for the
Blind. But she also defended the commission’s expenditures. In a written 
response to the audit, Mock said much of the money went toward 
recreational activities
meant to help client’s adjust to blindness.

‘‘We have seen a direct correlation over the years with an individual 
being willing to believe in their own capabilities on the job or living 
independently
with being able to successfully participate in recreational activities 
such as tandem bike trips,’’ she said.

The commission organized a September 2006 trip to the San Juan Islands 
with funds from a deceased staff member who donated money for 
specifically for the
outing, she said, and half of the participants on the San Juan Island 
trip were legally blind.

The audit said the commission spent $12,000 for the seven-day trip to 
the San Juan Islands, and expenses included salary for four employees, 
bicycle rentals,
camping fees, food and supplies and transportation. Two clients were on 
the trip, the audit said, and their case files did not discuss how the 
trip helped
them meet their goals. Also noted in the audit was $1,300 for home 
Internet services for six employees who had no documented reason for 
working from home,
and $1.3 million paid over a span of seven years to 14 vendors without 
obtaining competitive pricing.
Block quote end

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