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Winnebago County approves Dr. Colleen Taylor to mental-health board after debate over transparency
Summary
The county board voted 13–5 (two absent) to appoint Dr. Colleen Taylor to the Winnebago County Community Mental Health Board after commissioners raised longstanding concerns about the board's financial transparency and accounting practices.
Winnebago County Board members approved the appointment of Dr. Colleen Taylor to the county's Community Mental Health Board on March 26 after a prolonged floor debate about transparency.
Commissioner Paul Arena said he has had "concerns for a long time about the lack of transparent accounting in the administrative costs of the mental health board," and said he could not comfortably vote for a nominee he had not interviewed. Arena said community members have asked for clearer detail on administrative expenditures and who is paid for services.
Chairman and other commissioners responded that the nominee had been recommended by the mental-health board and that the board is a working body in immediate need of members; proponents said Dr. Taylor is well qualified to serve. Commissioner Neighbors noted the board has time-sensitive grant and program-review work pending and urged prompt approval.
On roll call the appointment passed, 13 yes, 5 no, with two board members absent. Board members who voted against expressed concern about perceived resistance by the mental-health board to audits or detailed accounting and said those concerns informed their opposition.
The appointment fills an open seat on the mental-health board and allows that board to proceed with its scheduled grant and program reviews. The county did not adopt any change to the mental-health board's reporting or audit requirements at the March 26 meeting.
