Senior center changes prompts town hall

BONNERS FERRY — Tension and accusations flowed in equal measure at a Tuesday town hall on the community’s senior center and its sudden change in administration.

Misha Naumann-Davis, who was appointed April 1 as the Senior Hospitality Center’s interim CEO, ran the town hall meeting. 

“There has been a lot of confusion as far as what my role is here at the senior center. I initially came on as the executive director, and while volunteering things started to unfold,” she said. 

In the volunteer, interim role, Davis said she is accountable for results. 

Davis said her interaction with the center began when she saw a job posting for the executive director/bookkeeper positions, was interviewed, and was offered the position Feb. 21. In the meantime, former executive director Brooke Blagrove finalized her resignation and set a March 29 departure date. At the same time, bookkeeper Kristi Turner announced her resignation, effective April 15. 

“March 18-26 is what I call phase one of a forensic review,” she said. “March 26, Brooke Blagrove was terminated, Kristi Turner was also terminated and I was appointed and declined the executive director role. [I] proposed I come in as a volunteer Interim CEO.” 

On March 12, due to the resistance in providing adequate training and “refusal to be transparent about items,” Davis said she emailed Boundary County Sheriff Dave Kramer, seeking a meeting about her concerns. She added that her “source, who will remain anonymous” has mentioned concerns as well.

“I want to make sure I'm not walking into a trap where I will be blamed for unethical business practices of others,” she said, adding she met with Kramer March 13. 

Davis said she has sought information regarding accounts, vendors, controls and processes, all standard procedures during an administrative transition. 

“This step is critical especially when an organization fails to have implemented the proper systems in place to secure and have full control and access to its own data and financials,” Davis said. 

Davis set up a group text with board members to set up an emergency offsite meeting that excluded Blagrove and Turner and requested board members not inform the pair of the March 13 meeting. The meeting’s agenda included Turner’s immediate termination and discussion of Blagrove’s exit interview. 

However, Blagrove and Turner were informed of the meeting by a now-former board member, Davis said. 

She claimed a former employee, by name, disengaged the center’s server and deleted files. 

After detailing interactions leading up to the present, Davis presented examples of what she said were noncompliance by the former administration, such as not reconciling bank statements or having proper financial controls in place. Other documents indicated possible conflicts of interests and misconduct. 

“This is just my opinion, and again, I represent myself and the center,” Davis said. “It is clear based on these findings alone that the center was nearing its collapse as early as October 2021, if not sooner. The question is why didn’t Barbara [Kovacs] tell the board. And if she did, why didn’t the chairman of the board, Ben Apo ensure qualified candidates were retained and adequately trained.”

She questioned past actions and why action wasn’t taken given the potential problems at the senior center.

Davis said now is the time to come together as a community and for the senior center to comply with appropriate guidelines. She said the center needs to gain access to the programs it needs to operate and to prepare for a potential audit.

“Our records must be scanned, per the attorney, and filed and secured,” she said. “I need volunteers to assist with organizing. Right now critical documents are scattered throughout, thrown in boxes without any thought or care.” 

She also invited the community to step in to help the community’s older citizens who may be confused or scared by what is going on at the center.

“If you have or know of an elderly dependent on the Senior Center for food, fellowship, personal touch and cognitive stimuli, please be proactive and fill in the void during this time,” she said. “I encourage everyone to do house calls. Get to know the elders in your community. For all we know this very well may be God rallying the community together for what might be coming down the road. We may have lockdowns, we don’t know. Get a plan in place now.” 

During the question-and-answer session, resident Gerald Higgs was kicked out of the meeting after claiming Davis was not telling the truth and noting an early conversation indicating Jeffery Boiler was providing legal advice to the center. 

Davis responded by kicking Higgs from the meeting, saying he had been asked to leave. She told the crowd that the meeting would not become an “library incident” and she was tired of Higgs harassing the community’s elders.

When one woman spoke up not wanting to be referred to as “my elder,” Davis said she could leave, too. 

“I am a resident and I will not leave,” the woman responded. 

When asked what the center’s financial status was, Davis said she did not know because she didn’t have access to the banking information or balance sheets. Those no longer with either the VFW or the center are still signatories on many accounts.

When asked what are the Senior Center’s bylaws, Davis said she did not have a copy and board members had different versions. She said there was an active law enforcement investigation, but did not know the status. 

Davis said since the center’s server was disengaged and all files may have been deleted, she is learning on the “fly” and is asking the community to show some grace as she works to restore services and put the center on the right path.

The Senior Hospitality Board consists of Art Morin, Grace Leidt, Tom Allinger. 

Davis posted to the center’s Facebook account that, starting Friday, April 12, the center will be open every Friday to all seniors for our regular hot lunch services. Volunteers are encouraged to help from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In addition, starting Monday, April 15, all seniors are encouraged to call in by 10 a.m. to request a “grab-n-go” meal Monday through Thursday.

Info: info@BoundaryCountySHC.org

This story has been edited to correct the names of the senior center board.