County disabilities board postpones meeting, but chairwoman still concerned

A county disabilities board meeting that was set to take place Thursday morning has been rescheduled for next week after questions were raised about whether it complied with Missouri's Sunshine Law.

But Dory Johnson, the chairwoman of the Cape County Board for Developmental Disabilities, still has concerns about the meeting based on her belief that it is part of concerted effort within the board to fire Bob Dale, the man who has been the organization's executive director since January.

"Beyond a doubt" that is happening, Johnson said Thursday. "If you want to go a step further, I think there is an effort to remove me as chairman."

Johnson and two other board members -- Arlysse Popp and Dolores Watson -- showed up for the meeting Thursday morning along with five members of the public, but the doors were locked and the rest of the board never showed.

Debbie Campbell of Jackson was there, interested because Dale is her family's caseworker. Campbell's 12-year-old daughter, Linda, is blind and was born with a cognitive delay. Dale has helped Campbell find funding for a personal aide to watch Linda while Debbie goes to work.

"I'm angry and disappointed that they're thinking about firing Bob," Campbell said. "Bob's been a wonderful resource to me. I don't think anybody really knows what's going on."

The meeting had been called earlier in the week by board treasurer Jeff Baer. But Johnson had told the board in a series of emails that since it was only posted Tuesday night, it did not comply with open-meeting laws.

The meeting notice was posted Tuesday night at the board's targeted case management office in Jackson after it was closed. Johnson argued that meant the public didn't have a full 24 hours' notice because the office doesn't open until 8 a.m.

Baer said Thursday that the meeting was moved to make sure the board was not violating state law.

"If there was any chance we were not in compliance, we decided it would be best to move the meeting so that we were," Baer said. "There was never an intent to have a secret meeting."

Baer did not contact Johnson, Popp and Watson because he understood that Popp and Watson would not be attending anyway and thought Johnson's objection to the meeting meant she wouldn't show either, he said. Now, the meeting has been scheduled for 7 a.m. Tuesday at VIP's Fruitland facility, and Baer said notices have gone up, giving the public ample time to know it will take place.

The spectacle this week is just the latest in a series of problems that have made for a contentious year for the board, Johnson said. Last year, the board began questioning how VIP Industries spends taxpayer dollars on the sheltered workshop it runs. The disabilities board, created by a 1969 state law, collects about $870,000 annually in property taxes and had been spending it through contracts with VIP and its two other not-for-profit organizations.

But the board decided to stop making payments to VIP, which has caused VIP to file a $200,000 breach-of-contract lawsuit in circuit court demanding back payments and that payments resume. The case, filed in February, is still in the courts awaiting action.

"Ever since then, there is this underlying controversy," Johnson said. "I hate that everybody thinks it's easier to fight than to help this population."

As for Dale, who was hired six months ago, Johnson believes he has been a target for a while now. A special meeting was called a month ago about Dale that was based on what Johnson called "vicious rumors." But it was canceled when it was learned they were false. She declined to say what those rumors were.

In an email to the board obtained by the Southeast Missourian, Baer wrote that he had learned information about Dale and that a special meeting needed to be called.

"I think we need to have a gathering of the board so that I can pass this information on to our board members," Baer wrote in the email. "... Once we meet, you will be able to understand my concerns for keeping the meeting to just the board."

Baer reiterated Thursday that he would not comment about what the meeting was about, saying the law allows governmental boards to go into closed session to discuss personnel matters. He also would not offer an evaluation of Dale's performance.

"If I had something good to say about Bob, I'd go to Bob. If I had anything bad to say about Bob, I'd go to Bob," Baer said.

As for Johnson, she said she supports Dale until someone produces credible evidence of actions that are "very incriminating."

Dale, who lost a daughter to a disability and has worked in the field for 21 years, said Thursday he is watching all of this play out without any knowledge of what information Baer may have about him. He is concerned, but he said he doesn't know there's much he can do about it until he knows what he's accused of.

In the meantime, he said, he will continue to operate the case management office that opened earlier this year the helps connect 158 Cape Girardeau County residents with services. Requirements for the service call for a person to meet the state's definition of being developmentally delayed. That means they must have been diagnosed before age 17 with anything that interferes with walking, learning, talking, vision or various other forms of self-care.

smoyers@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

902 E. Jackson Boulevard, Jackson, MO