New Haven Independent

Smith became CEO of the Community Action Agency at a time when the agency was mired in foggy finance records, strapped with a $600,000 deficit, and bogged down by low morale. CAA is the region’s largest provider of services like home heating oil for the poor and “meals on wheels” for the elderly.

Smith and Michael Smart (pictured above at right), an alderman and the new chairman of the CAA board, aim to steer the agency out of a history of favor-giving, inefficiency, and corruption.

Walking into the CAA’s brick building at Whalley Avenue and Fitch Street, one smells change afoot: The scent of new paint lingers in the halls. Smith, who came to the CAA from the Community Foundation, listed substantive changes, too, that he hopes will bring him success at a job at which many have failed.

Earlier this week, he and Smart led this reporter through the bustling agency halls. His proudest change: People who file in through the door for energy assistance now don’t have to wait 3 and a half weeks to get approved for help. Those who bring all necessary documents can now sign up instantly. “We’re serving people at a faster clip.”

Smith said he’s also found ways to slim down a daunting $600,000 deficit. He eliminated five positions from the agency’s finance department, where accounting was so shoddy that the agency was spending far more money than it had, and even ran a $150,000 youth program without any funding in place. Smith hired two new accountants and brought in a new accounting firm.

Peering through financial records, Smith realized the agency’s Meals on Wheels program, which serves 1,000 meals per day to those who are homebound by illness or old age, had overextended itself. The program had served 38,000 more meals than it had funding for, sinking $118,000 in the hole.

“It was an honest mistake from people who know how to serve,” said Smith. “This organization has always wanted to do more than it has the capacity to.”

Smith negotiated with its Meals on Wheels partner, Area Agency on Aging, for help. “We said, look, this is a partnership. We have executed on our end very well.” AAA agreed to foot the $118,000.

Through these changes, the deficit has been whittled down from $600,000 to $94,000, said Smith. And he’s still whittling away: “I fully expect that we’ll wipe that out before the end of the next fiscal year.”

On the wall of the room housing for energy assistance — the agency’s biggest service — sits a chart tracking employee productivity. Smith says it’s part of a greater scheme to make the agency more efficient and to raise morale.

Staff described chaotic working situation: “There were people who said they didn’t know if the doors would be open” when they showed up for work. Now, the doors open regularly, said Smith.

Even the mysterious joyrider who had been running up miles on the company SUV has stopped the behavior, said Smith. “Once I came on, it disappeared — poof!”

A New Board
Looking ahead, Smith said the biggest challenge will be rebuilding the CAA’s board of directors. After the state took charge of the agency last year, ordering members to resign and to redraft bylaws, the board was imploded on June 29. Three board members remain: Wooster Square Alderman Michael Smart, Dave Eliscu, and Latrice James.

Smart and company have redrafted bylaws and are now ready to transform the board from a structure of neighborhood seats (which invited favor-giving, and infighting about who got money for their neighborhood Christmas party) to a mix of representatives from the public and private sector.

Smart has interviewed 15 people so far, and hopes to start appointing directors soon. Smart said the board is seeking “people who will use their skills to move the agency forward — and not themselves.” (Funds have been embezzled for personal use over the years).

Those interested in being part of the board of directors can contact the CAA at: 387-7700 x208, or write to this e-mail address or c/o Chairman Michael Smart, CAA, 781 Whalley Ave, New Haven, CT.

The agency hopes to seat 15 to 18 board members. Smith hopes the new board will serve as active fundraisers, as well as “ambassadors” spreading the word of the CAA’s revived mission.

How will he succeed where his predecessors failed? Smith said part of the test will be to avoid the temptation of giving out favors, or delivering services without the funds to do so. The question is, “Can we say no in times we’ve said yes in the past?”