Elk Grove City Council Urged To Cut Embattled Youth Coordinator Position

By Linda Ford

In late August of last year I was made aware of information regarding the Teen Center and then Executive Director Jim Miller. I was extremely troubled by what I had learned. I immediately stopped attending the Youth Master Plan Committee meetings and worked to corroborate what I had learned.

At the 9/10/2008 Elk Grove City Council Meeting, Council member Sophia Scherman made a statement during public comment requesting an audit of the Teen Center. The video is available online on the city’s website and I have attached the minutes from that meeting here.(Attachment: City council minutes 9/10/08)

Once I was able to corroborate much of the information, I attended the Teen Center Advisory Board Meeting. At that meeting, I read a statement into the record, which is attached. (Attachment: Teen Center.doc) In that statement, I asked specific questions and requested specific information that I have yet to receive.

Also, at that meeting I received a packet with three different documents from Youth for Christ, the faith-based parent company for the Teen Center. In those documents is Jim Miller’s admission of culpability of “misappropriation” of Teen Center Funds, at least $10,000. Recall, this admission was for one incident during one year.

On 10/1/2008, the Elk Grove City Council held a Special Council Meeting. As this meeting was a “special” meeting, there is no video recording, but there is an audio-tape. At that meeting, I read a statement into the record (Attachment: 10-01-2008 Council Comment.doc) and provided a copy of my 9/18/2008 Teen Center Advisory Board Meeting statement, as well as the three documents I received at that meeting. I have attached the agenda for the 10/1/2008 Special Council Meeting and the minutes of that meeting. (Attachment: ag 10-01-08 and min 10-01-08) The minutes of the 10/1/2008 Special Council Meeting reflect that the information I provided was attached to the file and is, therefore, available from the City of Elk Grove under the Freedom of Information Act. I encourage everyone copied here to request those documents.

I cannot and will not support Jim Miller. It is my opinion and belief that we only know the tip of the iceberg relative to his actions as Executive Director of the Elk Grove Teen Center. In my opinion, this taints anything he may have achieved while employed by the City of Elk Grove. I feel his actions regarding the Youth Commission proposal further validates my opinion.

Also, I have to question his employment by the city. At the 9/18/2008 Teen Center Advisory Board Meeting I had requested a copy of the minutes and agendas of all Teen Center Board meetings for the past 18 months. It is my belief, based on conversations with those with first-hand knowledge, that those minutes will reflect that a great deal of time was spent during those board meetings crafting a job description for the position Mr. Miller currently holds with the City of Elk Grove.

I will be urging the Elk Grove City Council to eliminate this position and the duties be absorbed by one of the current assistant or deputy city managers, one of whom I am confident is more than qualified.

Another option, because of the financial crisis, is to divide the job description between a current member of the city staff, mentioned above, and an administrative employee of the Elk Grove Police Department.

We are all aware that positions are being cut in every municipal government in this county and the City of Elk Grove is not immune.

Note: we are attempting to establish links for the minutes mentioned in this story.