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Executive board member raises concerns about Alabama Council on Human Relations governance
Summary
An executive-board member of the Alabama Council on Human Relations informed the council about quorum problems, alleged departures from ACHR policy and possible conflicts of interest in recent ACHR board nominations.
A member of the executive board of the Alabama Council on Human Relations (ACHR) addressed the Opelika City Council during agenda-related comments to raise governance concerns about the ACHR board.
The speaker identified herself as an executive board member of ACHR CAP LC and described organizational activity at the Darden Head Start Center, which falls under the ACHR umbrella. She said ACHR is a 501(c)(3) organized for charitable and educational purposes and summarized ACHR programs such as Head Start, weatherization and emergency services, and listed job vacancies and contact information for services.
The speaker then reported concerns from two recent ACHR meetings (Jan. 22 and Jan. 27, 2025) that lacked a quorum. She said decisions had been made by leadership that did not follow ACHR policy and protocol and alleged that a leadership member signed a document as president when that person was not president at the time. She also said several recently nominated ACHR board members were already serving in organizations connected to the city and that a single ACHR leader who serves three connected organizations had three individuals seeking ACHR board seats; the speaker described that as a perceived attempt to pack the board and called it a serious concern.
Nut graf: The comments amount to an internal-governance alert from a board member, asking the city council to be aware of possible conflicts of interest and procedural irregularities at a nonprofit that administers locally funded services.
The speaker suggested ACHR is considering a new organizational standard and noted that the ACHR board was slated to vote on it at an upcoming meeting. She asked the council to be aware of the concerns and provided a phone number for ACHR services and job inquiries: (334) 821-8336 (number as presented in the meeting transcript).
Ending: The speaker closed by thanking the council; there was no council action recorded in response to the comments during the meeting.
