Community Action of Southeast Iowa

“Low income representatives sitting on the board of directors must be democratically elected. Potential representative names are submitted to the agency executive director who forwards the information to the appropriate county advisory committee. Members of the committee are made up of low income, community members, business members and others representing the county. The county advisory committee elects the low income representative to be seated on the agency board of directors.”

“Each committee gathers information which is then presented to the board of directors for action.”

“The 990 is reviewed by management prior to submission. The form 990 is submitted to the board prior to submission if the due date is before the next scheduled board meeting, otherwise, the 990 will be submitted to the board/governing body at the meeting following submission.”

“Employees and board or policy council members have an obligation to conduct business within guidelines that prohibit actual or potential conflicts of interest. Community action will operate within the following framework concerning conflicts of interest: an actual or potential conflict of interest occurs when an employee, board or policy council member is in a position to influence a decision that may result in a personal gain or gain for a relative as a result of community action's business dealings. For the purposes of this policy, a relative is a spouse, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, brother, sister, mother-in law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, partner, or similar member of a partner's family. Transactions with outside firms or individuals must be conducted within a framework established and controlled by the executive level of community action. No "presumption of guilt" is created by the mere existence of a relationship with outside firms. However, if an employee, board or policy council member has any influence on transactions involving purchases, contracts, or leases, or has an ownership or investment interest in any entity with which community action is doing business, he or she must disclose to the executive director as soon as possible the existence of any actual or potential conflict of interest so that safeguards can be established to protect all parties. There shall be no purchases made with an anticipated total cost over five hundred dollars ($500) within any 12 month period from any employee, board member, or policy council member or their relatives without the consent of the board of directors. An employee of the agency may not serve as a voting member of the board of directors, head start policy council, or other major policy advisory body of this agency. A member of the board of directors, policy council, or other major policy advisory body may apply for a position in the agency while serving as a board or council member, but their voting rights are temporarily suspended until an employment decision is reached. No employee or member of their immediate family may serve on the head start policy council except head start or early head start parents who occasionally substitute in the head start or early head start program. If a member of the board or policy council is a relative of an employee, they must make this relationship known to the executive director and abstain from any action concerning that employee and personnel matters. It is the responsibility of the employee or board or policy council member to be aware of actual or potential conflicts of interest. Should a conflict of interest arise that can not be eliminated, the individual is to notify the executive director and not participate in any action relating to the issue from which the conflict arose.”

“Review iowa work force development data and iowa community action agencies survey for wage comparibility in the area and for like positions. The personnel committee of the board of directors reviews and makes a recommendation to the full board of directors for final wage determinations.”

“The organization makes its governing documents, policies and financial statements available to the public upon request.”