Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation sue their own board; all local judges recuse themselves
The Board of Directors for the Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation is facing a lawsuit by a group of OCAF members who want to examine records maintained by the board of directors. They have been denied access to many of the documents.
However, the suit cannot proceed until a judge is found to hear the matter.
The four Superior Court judges for the Western Circuit have all recused themselves for unspecified conflicts of interests. A judge will have to be appointed to hear the case filed in Oconee County Superior Court.
OCAF is a nonprofit organization that has operated in the community since it was organized in 1994. Volunteers play a key role in the events sponsored by OCAF. The complex of art galleries and studios is located near the heart of downtown Watkinsville.
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The flap between the board and some members of the arts organization emerged in September, when the board fired its executive director, Wendy Cooper, and Administrative Assistant Sherry Woodruff.
In November, Athens attorney Glover Housman sent a letter requesting certain documents from the board. He represents a group called Concerned members of OCAF with three members specifically identified as Gail Karwoski, Rob Farley and Ray Watson.
A few weeks later, board Chairperson Brock Toole replied in a letter that some of the documents sought by Housman’s clients will not be released, including any e-mails between Cooper and board members.
Housman said the abrupt firing of Cooper and the firing about a week later of Woodruff sparked the current conflict.
“They fired the only two fulltime employees they had without notice and really without cause,” Housman said. “That stunned the membership."
Apparently at the core of the dispute that led to the dismissals was work done on the Yukiko Memorial Garden
Housman asked for all documents, including communications on the project, but Toole replied that these records “will not be provided for feasibility purposes.”
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“They had a $50,000 contract on (the work project) and there was a $17,000 overrun,” Housman said.
A bill was sent to OCAF for the overrun fee, according to Housman.
"Miss Cooper didn’t sign the check, but she had to approve the invoice. There was no itemization on what the $17,000 was,” he said.
Cooper wanted more information about the overrun before she would approve the invoice, but Housman said Cyndee Moore, who was chairperson at the time, “told her you have to approve this.”
Moore resigned from the board after the firings and Toole, a local businessman, took the lead position.
The board has not said if this issue between Cooper and Moore was the reason for Cooper’s firing or if it played a role.
Housman believes the documents he is seeking might afford an answer.
“We want to look at the records of a nonprofit and there is a statute that says we can do it,” Housman said.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Oconee County arts organization members want answers from its board
