Girls Inc. Garrard Recreation Center
Background: Recently during the July 22nd 2014 Council session I was asked to
look into the Girls Inc. Garrard Center closing and how our Office may be able
to help. This report is in response to a referral and covers those
conversations and what was discovered.
Date/time of visit: Monday 7-28-14 10:00-11:30 A.M.
Location of meeting: Girls Inc. Garrard 3007 Clover Lane
Parties present: Director of Crime Prevention Seth Brown, Lyndon Burch,
Reverend Willie Phillips and Councilman Bruce Huff
Discussion: I was given the timeline of recent events and the eventual
announcement of the closure by Mr. Burch. I asked Mr. Burch about the building
maintenance issues and he stated he had a contractor come out and evaluate the
foundation and what would need to be done. I was also told the A/C may need
replacing. Rev. Phillips, Mr. Burch and Councilman Huff all discussed with me
their concerns of the closure due to the girls that attend from MLK
elementary. Participants walk across the street right after school and parents
pick them up in the afternoon. They were also concerned about the impact the
vacancy would have on the neighborhood. One of the parties present stated that
they felt as if the facility was closing in order to make room for apartments.
I told those present that I would address that concern with Mrs. Hyatt to see
if there was any truth to the apartments. I told all in attendance that our
grant did not cover capital expenditures and we only covered program cost. I
also stated that if a grant was applied for it would have to come from the main
office since they are the ?holders? of the 501c-3 status. Many options were
discussed but I stressed to them that in all options they would have to have
the support of the current Board of Directors. My suggestion to the group was
to try to convince the current Board or management to give them more time to
come up with a solution. I stated though that I thought that may be a stretch
considering school would start in two short weeks.
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Date/time of visit: Monday 7-28-14 3:00 P.M.
Location of meeting: Phone conversation in my office
Parties present: Director of Crime Prevention Seth Brown and Dorothy Hyatt
Discussion: I called Dorothy Hyatt, the Executive Director of Girls, Inc. on
Monday. I told her I had met with the group from the Garrard location and told
her of their concerns. She stated to me that Superintendant Lewis had agreed
to transport the girls from MLK to the Baker Center for after school care.
Director Hyatt also stated that for those few in need they were willing to
transport them back to their neighborhoods at the end of the day.
Director Hyatt informed me that the Board had made the decision to close the
Garrard center because of the many repairs needing to be made and the limited
amount of resources they had in place to fulfill the needs of the community.
The Board felt it was best to focus on the other two existing centers in
meeting those needs. She stated to me that the center would need to raise the
$100,000 needed each year to keep the center open and felt that wasn?t a good
way to direct fundraising resources. She also stated that the Baker Center
could accommodate all the needs of the girls currently attending the Garrard
Center and was a newer better equipped location. I told Director Hyatt of the
concern that the facility was closing to make room for apartments and she
assured me there was no truth to that rumor.
Conclusions: First I want to lay out the current format for the grant process.
1) Organization calls or visits the Director and they receive a packet or
download from our website.
2) Organization returns application by the current deadline of March 31.
3) Director reviews application to see if it?s complete.
4) If complete Director takes application to next board meeting.
5) Board reviews application for the next 30days then they vote for approval or
denial.
6) If approved by the Board the recommendation is then taken to Council for
final approval..
7) If approved by Council for funding the organization is called and funding
arrangements are made.
Director Hyatt assured me that they would make all accommodations to continue
to supply the needs of the girls within the Center. The Girls, Inc.
organization will be applying with The Office of Crime Prevention for the next
cycle but as I told all parties involved, monies cannot be used for capital
expenditures. Unfortunately, this would make many of the needs of the Garrard
Center ineligible for application. No doubt that the work being done at this
location is needed and very important and the Office of Crime Prevention will
continue to work in this neighborhood as well as others. I look forward to
Girls Inc. applying with our Office and bringing those requests to Council in
the future.
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