Public speakers urge county not to reappoint Serenity House director to homelessness task force

Multiple public commenters told the board they opposed reappointing Sharon Maggard, the executive director of Serenity House, to the county homelessness task force.

Jeff Tozer cited Serenity House's publicly available single audit for the year ending Dec. 31, 2023, which he said identified material deficiencies in financial controls, repeated findings on procurement and conflict-of-interest policies, and inconsistent mapping of expenditures to federal awards. "These are not small clerical issues," Tozer said. He asked the board to either withhold reappointment until a later independent audit is released or require a written explanation showing how each 2023 finding was closed.

Chair Mike French and other commissioners responded that participation by shelter operators is important for convening and coordination of regional homeless services but acknowledged public concern and said they would consider transparency measures around reappointments.

What comes next: the item was listed on the consent agenda for reappointment; public opposition requests that the board require either a subsequent single audit or written statements explaining corrective actions as a condition for reappointment.