Moses Lake Food Bank feud

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Food Bank came into controversy when the executive director resigned in April, followed by the majority of the organization’s volunteers.

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Food Bank came into controversy when the executive director resigned in April, followed by the majority of the organization’s volunteers.

The volunteers became outspoken about their ideas as to why the food bank lost Linda Finlay as executive director after more than 29 years.

Finlay’s supporters sent letters to the editor, posted comments on the Columbia Basin Herald Web site and posted commentaries on YouTube.com.

Problems began much earlier, but a solution was sought during the summer of 2009.

Finlay and her assistant director, Peny Archer, were ordered to attend counseling by the board of directors.

The work environment was tense, according to issues detailed in a letter from Finlay’s counselor to the board, she was apparently hopeful the two women would work out their differences.

They didn’t.

Finlay abruptly resigned from her position on April 29, saying little publicly during that time.

““On April 29, after 29 years with Community Services of Moses Lake, better known as the Moses Lake Food Bank, I resigned due to circumstances beyond my control. I cherish the opportunity I had to freely help so many people for so many years,” Finlay read in a statement.

She recently spoke to Columbia Basin Herald about the events leading up to her departure.

The Columbia Basin Herald was unable to reach Archer for comment.

Finlay discussed an array of concerns during her counseling session, according to an Aug. 4, 2009, letter written to the board by Moses Lake counselor Susann Fowler.

The letter mentioned alleged problems regarding food bank donors and volunteers.

Finlay said she was unaware of any problems because she received no indications from anyone.

“The executive director expressed a lack of communication recently from the board regarding: an auditor meeting, awareness of changes for staff funding, or awareness of what is happening with staff,” the letter states.

“The executive director expressed a lack of being kept in the loop regarding: walk through (visits of the food bank), referral of staff issues back to the executive director, awareness of e-mails, phone messages and response to supplier complaint which occurred outside of the business facility,” according to the letter.

Other issues in the letter included “false statements made to the supplier, being a referee between the assistant director and volunteers, assistant director’s boundaries, continuing of tension and where it will end.”

The individual counseling sessions for Finlay and Archer were supposed to end in a joint session including the two women, but the last meeting never happened, Finlay said.

Finlay said it bothered her that money was being spent for counseling when it could be have used for the food bank.

The matter apparently came to a head in March 2010 during a verbal dispute between then-food bank president Glen Goodman and 10-year volunteer Jeff Powell.

The Columbia Basin Herald was unable to reach Goodman for comment.

The dispute started after Powell allegedly asked Goodman why the board wasn’t going to respond in writing to improvement suggestions, according to Powell’s written statement to the board.

Powell’s ideas involved making the board more accessible by having a food bank Web site include the board members’ names, titles, contact information and short biographies.

He suggested the board’s nomination and selection process be changed to an annual public appeal for board members.

Powell requested volunteers be represented on the board, like other nonprofit boards, board members held accountable for missing meetings and they observe day-to-day operations.

He also asked that the lunchtime board meetings held off-site be held at the food bank after hours at an agreed-upon time.

Goodman allegedly replied with “We don’t have to and we’re not going to respond,” according to Powell’s statement.

“At that point, I made the observation to Mr. Goodman that I thought that was arrogant of him,” Powell stated. “He immediately became agitated and said, that in his entire life, no one had ever called him arrogant. I took a moment to consider what he said, and then I calmly repeated that I thought he was arrogant.”

Goodman allegedly moved into the main area of business in the food bank and started yelling where clients and volunteers could see him.

Powell asked the board for Goodman’s resignation.

According to Finlay, Goodman apologized to her during the April 29 board meeting and stepped down as president, but he continued serving as a board member.

During that meeting, board member Tom Chaplin took Goodman’s place as president.

Finlay claims she was blamed at the meeting for the situation.

Goodman was praised for his leadership and called a “good and honorable man” by Chaplin, she said.

She refused to take the blame and resigned at the meeting.

Chaplin said he was unable to comment on personnel matters in an interview.

“The food bank is open under normal hours and running smoothly,” he said. “Food to our 10 satellites are being distributed on schedule.”

Board treasurer Stroud Kunkle said the board was working to resolve personnel matters before Finlay’s resignation.

He witnessed her departure.

Some board members reportedly tried to catch up with her before she left the meeting, but she was already gone, Kunkle recalled

“The board wanted to keep her (Finlay). We had no plans on releasing her,” Kunkle said. “When you think of the food bank, you think of Linda.”

It is the board’s intention to have others apply for Finlay’s position, but Kunkle didn’t know when that would happen.

Archer is the acting director.

He described the food bank as being “a little hectic” without Finlay, as “not having that expertise is kind of a learning experience, but seems to be going well.”

There are enough food, donations and volunteers at the food bank, Kunkle said.

Board member Bob Taylor said “the food bank didn’t miss much of a beat. The community has always been pretty good.”