City suspends WHISPER funding

Program for seniors comes under scrutiny by council

Willoughby Hills City Council has voted to suspend city funding to the Willoughby Hills Isolated Senior Program for Everyday Relief , or WHISPER, program.

During the Feb. 8 meeting in a 5-1 vote with one abstention, council passed an ordinance to suspend the funding temporarily to allow for the establishment of program policies and regulations to permit proper administration of the program.

Council President Nancy Fellows, Vice President John Plecnik and members David Fiebig, Janet Majka and Laura Pizmoht all voted in favor of the ordinance; while council member Laura Lenz abstained and Christopher Hallum voted against the measure.

The WHISPER program,

administered by Mayor Robert Weger’s executive assistant, Gloria Majeski, was created in 2009. WHISPER provides assistance to Willoughby Hills senior residents who are in need of temporary or permanent assistance with services, such as lawn care, house cleaning, general maintenance, meals or companionship. The program came under scrutiny after council raised concerns about its administration.

“I saw some questionable expenditures from the program, just based on what the program is supposed to be and things like that,” Pizmoht said.

She questions spending more than $100 at Lowe’s for lawn plants and spending $872 on a bus ride.

A purchase order dated Dec. 17, submitted by Majeski at council’s request, shows that eight people were transported in a van provided by New Moon Rising Inc., a transportation rental company.

“The point I wanted to make was that this was not a donation, but rather payment to provide transportation to many seniors who can take advantage of New Moon Rising’s opportunity for Art Therapy at a (Willoughby Hills) business site,” Majeski said in a Jan. 26 email to Willoughby Hills City Council, and city’s administration and law director.

“I could not imagine that anyone, young or old, would perceive this as an expenditure that would not be worthwhile,” Majeski also said in the email. “Council President Fellows previously requested voucher cards for seniors to provide transportation through Laketran. I would imagine this could be perceived in the same manner, but enables many more individuals, while promoting a (Willoughby Hills) business site.”

Pizmoht said she did a records request to find out the policies and procedures for choosing volunteers and choosing who gets helped, who gets some of the benefits of the program and who gets to participate.

“Basically, there are none,” she said. “It is totally under the discretion of the administrator of the program.”

In addition, Pizmoht said that she requested the financial documents for the program.

“The expenditures are not really in line with what the program is supposed to be,” she said.

A 2009 ordinance that allowed for the creation of a WHISPER fund provided that all money spent from the fund pay for home repair services, supplies and all other legally approved purchases as necessary for the operation of the program.

The ordinance also directed that expenditures be made at the recommendation of and approved by the mayor and finance director, or their designated alternatives.

Majeski, in a Feb. 8 post on her Facebook page, said, “They (council) have thoughts to make the program income based, rather than helping only seniors. I have no interest in this whatsoever . ... ”

In the same post, she suggested that people make financial contributions elsewhere, as she would immediately cease putting the funds into the WHISPER program.

In a Feb. 9 email to The News-Herald, Majeski said she has honestly and impartially performed her duties as WHISPER administrator.

“I regret that this law of council will no longer allow me or other volunteers to perform tasks for seniors through this program,” she

said in the email.

However, Pizmoht said if someone needs something done through the WHISPER program, “There is nothing to stop Gloria (Majeski) from sending volunteers to help, all this does is stop city funding to the program.”

However a notice on the WHISPER website states that “The W.H.I.S.P.E.R. program has been temporarily closed by city council with the passage of Ordinance 2018-11 by City Council on Thursday, February 8, 2018. No further applications will be taken. Questions and comments may be directed to city hall (either Council President Fellows or Mayor Weger) at 35405 Chardon Road, Willoughby Hills, OH 44094.

“Mayor Weger apologizes for any inconvenience.”

According to Fiebig, council is also concerned that the lack of parameters for the program could be a liability to the city.

He cited the example of if a volunteer went to help someone with gutters and was injured falling off the ladder.

Also, there are questions about background checks on volunteers and how are they selected.

“Ultimately we’ve got to protect our seniors. We’ve got to make sure they are not getting abused and nobody is taking advantage of them,” Fiebig said.

He also questions the selection process of who receives help, saying he has heard from seniors who have requested assistance and were told no.

According to Fiebig, if there is a problem with the WHISPER program, council is going to address it.

Council is waiting for a forensic auditor to review the program, according to Pizmoht. The auditor is expected within the next week or so.

“The program just needs to be reviewed, and then reinstated,” Pizmoht said.