Kent County Community Action advisory board holds informational meeting; approval of Feb. 5 minutes postponed

Kent County Community Action’s Advisory Governing Board held an informational meeting on March 19, 2026, but did not have a quorum, so no formal votes were taken and the board postponed approval of minutes from the Feb. 5 special meeting until May.

Ashley Huey, Office Administrator, led the board through the first part of the organization’s orientation and Organizational Standard 5.8 training, reminding members they had received copies of the bylaws and Whistleblower Policy and that a Conflict of Interest form will be sent via DocuSign from the Board of Commissioners office. Huey said Part 2 of the orientation will take place at the May meeting.

Huey, speaking on behalf of Director Gustavo Perez (who was at a conference in Washington, D.C.), summarized staff and program developments. She said this year’s Walk for Warmth was the largest in recent years, “raising nearly $18,000,” and announced that a consultant and a partnership with the Health Department have been selected for an upcoming Community Needs Assessment. Huey said the Annual Report will be presented to the board in May and that the director and board chair have discussed forming subcommittees on events and fund development, policy and action, and volunteer recruitment; the subcommittee proposal will be brought to the board for approval in May.

Carrie Irwin delivered the fiscal overview. She said that as of March 9, 2026, most grants were roughly halfway through the budget year and expenditures were tracking near expected midpoints; she noted increases in Diaper Bank funds and LIHEAP-related funding and said that the Consumer’s Energy Gift Fund will appear on the next fiscal report. Irwin reiterated that funds received must be appropriated first by the Finance Committee.

Programmatic reports covered community development, senior services and emergency assistance. A written community development report from Chad Coffman was included in the meeting packet. Senior Services reported a $2,000 grant to support Congregate Meals field trips, roughly $3,000 expended in direct assistance year-to-date, and a new $10,000 Flex Fund intended for housing-related and other emergency needs; staff also noted continued low participation in Home Delivered Meals and distribution of new outreach flyers in English and Spanish. Transportation updates included discussion of a pilot to expand cross-county medical transport for vulnerable seniors and veterans and a Western Michigan University study on driver turnover.

Sherrie Gillespie described the March 1 launch of a new Client Inquiry online application on KCCA’s website using the EmpowOR platform, and said clerks and intake workers will assist clients by phone or in person to address digital-literacy barriers. Staff also announced an iPad at KCCA’s front desk loaded with the Language Line interpretation app to help walk-in clients access the online application and interpretation services.

There were no public comments. Chairperson Daniel VanderMolen adjourned the meeting at 1:16 p.m.; the board’s next scheduled meeting is May 21, 2026, at 12:00 p.m.