INDIAN RIVER COUNTY – The County Commission today unanimously approved suspending regular county funding for the Mental Health Association Walk-in Center.
Recent problems at the MHA, having to do with quality of patient care and some staff members’ lack of professional qualifications, led to the resignation of the CEO and most board members late in 2012.
Due to the operational problems and the turnover in leadership, county Budget Director Jason Brown sent the MHA a letter on Dec. 20, 2012 informing the organization the county was suspending its funding until “new leadership is in place” and the county has a chance to reevaluate the reorganized agency.
Since the final 2012 meeting of the Board of County Commissioners was on Dec. 18, today was the board’s first opportunity to weigh in on the staff action taken by Brown at the instruction of County Administrator Joe Baird.
The staff recommendation was part of the consent agenda, a series of items deemed non-controversial usually voted on in a block by a single motion, but Board Chairman Joe Flescher pulled the item from the consent agenda for discussion.
Flescher noted that MHA’s problems seem to have been addressed in the interim between Dec. 18 and today and that new leadership is now in place, and suggested tabling approval of funding suspension until the board gets an update from MHA.
“I am concerned about an interruption in services for those in need,” Flescher said.
Commissioner Bob Solari disagreed, noting the suspension of funding is already in place and that the board would do best by approving the actions taken by staff. He said MHA’s new leadership can then come before the board to explain what has happened and request funding be reinstated.
“I very much appreciate staff stopping the funding [during the period between board meetings],” Solari said.
Commissioner Peter O’Bryan agreed with Flescher that, according to press reports, the MHA “has made progress” in resolving its problems, but also noted there is an ongoing state investigation into the association’s financial practices.
He suggested a compromise, approving suspension of regular funding but giving county staff the option of paying individual MHA invoices on a case-by-case basis that might be incurred by emergency services provided to mentally ill patients.
Joe Baird agreed that was a viable option and the board voted 5-0 to approve suspension of $26,125.00 in regular funding pending a meeting with MHA, while giving staff authority to pay critical invoices.
