Audit

Pacifica National Audit Committee meeting (by phone)

8:30 pm, EST, November 18, 2008 [Streaming]

MINUTES – drafted November 18, 2008 by Committee Secretary Susan Young

Committee Members attending:            Also attending:
        Bediako (WBAI) Chair;            Corporation Counsel Dan Siegel
        Carolyn Birden (WBAI);           joined for a portion of the call.
        Lisa Davis (WBAI);
        Seth Goldberg (WBAI);
        Evelyn Bethune (KPFT);
        Staci Davis (KPFT);
        Susan Young (KPFT) Secretary;       
        Tracy Rosenberg (KPFA);
        Andrea Turner (KPFA);
        Joe Wanzala (KPFA);
        Shawn Casey O’Brien (KPFK);
        Jack Van Aken (KPFK).

Absent:   Ambrose Lane (WPFW); Donna Warren (KPFK).
       
Meeting called to order 8:41 pm (EST).  Chair convened the meeting.  The Secretary called the roll and confirmed that the quorum requirement of 7 was met.

Agenda:  Andrea Turner moved [to approve]; Seth moved to extend the discussion re Policy to 20 minutes; Carolyn moved to extend the Whistleblower Protection Policy by 20 minutes; vote was 7 to 4 in support of the amendments.   Andrea moved to approve the agenda as amended.  No objection.
        I    Call to order (5 minutes)
        II    Approve agenda (5 minutes)
        III    Discuss with Dan Siegel (5 minutes)
            -  Pacifica Foundation Whistleblower Policy (20 minutes)
            -  Whistleblower Employee Protection Policy (20 minutes)
            -  Whistleblower Policy Tracking Form (5 minutes)
        IV    Approve three docs (5 minutes)
        V    Discuss prior meeting minutes (5 minutes)
        VI    Set next meeting date (5 minutes)
        VII    Adjournment

Discussion regarding the Whistleblower Employee Protection Policy:  

In response to numerous questions and extensive conversation, Corporation Counsel Dan Siegel emphasized that the Whistleblower Employee Protection Policy and Pacifica Foundation Whistleblower Policy are intended to support and expand upon employee protections provided in law.  In fact, the goal of these policy statements is to extend whistleblower protection to financial matters such as accounting standards beyond the protections provided for law, regulation and government policy.  Dan Siegel stated that this policy does not inhibit an employees rights to complain to the Attorney General, SEC or any other body as provided by law.  This policy is to be fully consistent with and supportive of protections under law.  He has struck “only” from both places in paragraph 2.

Jack Van Aken called a point of order that the Chair name a member for being out of order and repeated disruptions of the proceedings, and the chair so named Shawn Casey O’Brien.

(1) Carolyn made a motion to postpone consideration of the Whistleblower Employee Protection Policy to the next meeting (6/6–motion failed).

(2) Susan motion to amend (7 yes, 4 no – motion passed):  Amend the document to include:  “In signing this Policy, the Employee does not waive any rights under law.”

(3) Seth motion to amend (5 no, 3 yes – motion failed):

     “1.  that the only restriction of employees or Pacifica associated people is that of
     confidentiality for those investigation confidential matters.

     2.  That Dan Siegel, Seth Goldberg and others rework the proposed policy and
     return an amended policy within 72 hours in order to make clearer the permissive,
     non restrictive and expanded character of Pacifica’s policy.”

(4) Chair called for a vote on the Whistleblower Employee Protection Policy as amended [as amended per Young’s amendment and deletion of “only” per Siegel] (6 yes, 4 no – motion carried).

(5) Chair called for a vote on the Pacifica Foundation Whistleblower Policy [with changes consistent with amendments per (4)] (5 yes, 3 no – motion carried).

(6) Chair called for a vote on the Whistleblower Policy Tracking Form (7 yes, 2 no – motion carried).

Minutes:  Prior meeting minutes will be taken up at the next meeting (September 10, October 14, October 30, November 6, November 18, 2008).

Set Next Meeting Date:  8:00 pm EST, Tuesday, December 2, 2008.

Additional point:  Shawn Casey O’Brien will draft up suggested notice to post in office regarding employees’ legal rights to blow the whistle, and the Chair will work to get these posted promptly.

Adjourn:  Susan Young moved to adjourn at 10:15 pm (EST).  No objection.

Votes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 above
        no/yes/ o/ o/ o/ o             Nia Bediako (WBAI) Chair;       
        yes/no/abstain/no/no/no    Carolyn Birden (WBAI);     
        no/yes/no/yes/yes/yes       Lisa Davis (WBAI);
        yes/no/yes/no/pass/yes      Seth Goldberg (WBAI);
        no/yes/no/yes/yes/yes       Evelyn Bethune (KPFT);
        yes/yes/pass/yes/x             Staci Davis (KPFT);
        no/yes/no/yes/yes/yes       Susan Young (KPFT) Secretary;       
        yes/x                               Tracy Rosenberg (KPFA);
        no/yes/no/yes/yes/yes       Andrea Turner (KPFA);
        yes/no/yes/no/no/yes        Joe Wanzala (KPFA);
        yes/no/yes/no/no/no         Shawn Casey O’Brien (KPFK);
        no/yes/no/yes/yes/yes       Jack Van Aken (KPFK).

(These minutes were approved on 12/02/2008)

MINUTES – drafted November 7, 2008 by Committee Secretary Susan Young

Committee Members attending:            Also attending: none
        Nia Bediako (WBAI) Chair        [Streaming]
        Carolyn Birden (WBAI);        
        Lisa Davis (WBAI);
        Evelyn Bethune (KPFT);
        Susan Young (KPFT) Secretary;            
        Tracy Rosenberg (KPFA);
        Shawn Casey O’Brien (KPFK);
        Jack Van Aken (KPFK).

Absent:   Seth Goldberg (WBAI); Ambrose Lane (WPFW); Staci Davis (KPFT);    Andrea Turner (KPFA); Joe Wanzala (KPFA); Donna Warren (KPFK).
        
Meeting called to order 8:40 pm (EST).  Chair convened the meeting.  The Secretary called the roll and confirmed that the quorum requirement of 7 was met.

Agenda:  Lisa Davis moved to approve the following agenda, and there was no objection:
       I    Call to order (5 minutes)
       II    Approve agenda (5 minutes)
       III    Ratify
            -   Pacifica Foundation Whistleblower Policy (5 minutes)
            -  Whistleblower Employee Protection Policy (5 minutes)
            -  Whistleblower Policy Tracking Form (5)
        IV    Discuss prior meeting minutes (5 minutes)
        V    Set next meeting date (5 minutes)
        VI    Adjournment

Ratify Pacifica Foundation Whistleblower Policy:   

Three documents were under consideration that had been worked on extensively in prior meetings:  Whistleblower Employee Protection Policy; Whistleblower Employee Protection Policy (Agreement); and Whistleblower Policy Tracking Form.  Lisa Davis made a motion to adopt the Policy.  Carolyn Birden made a motion to table the Policy.  That motion failed.  The motion to adopt failed.

The following motion (bold) made by Carolyn Birden was approved by a vote of 4 yes and 3 abstentions:

The Audit Committee asks the foundation [Counsel] his opinion on the conflicts with California Code brought up in committee by Shawn Casey O’Brien, specifically with

1. the following paragraph in the Policy:

"Disclosure of reports of Concerns to individuals not involved in the investigation will be viewed as a serious disciplinary offense and may result in discipline up to and including termination of employment, dismissal from un-paid position or removal from Local or National Board.  Such conduct may also give rise to other actions, including civil law suits."

2. the apparent conflicts in the employee agreement in the following sentences:

"An employee is protected from retaliation only if the employee brings the alleged unlawful activity, policy, or practice to the attention of the Foundation and provides the Foundation with a reasonable opportunity to investigate and correct the alleged unlawful activity."

"The Foundation will not retaliate against employees who disclose or threaten to disclose to a supervisor or a public body, any activity, policy, or practice of the Foundation that the employee reasonably believes is in violation of a law, or a rule, or regulation mandated pursuant to law or is in violation of a clear mandate or public policy concerning the health, safety, welfare, or protection of the environment."

Any and all opinions shall be offered in writing and accompanied with and supported by citations from case law.

A copy of “California Whistleblower Protection Statute,” an article dates November 11, 2003, appearing in the “corporate law update” published by the corporate department at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP was emailed to committee members by Shawn Casey O’Brien in support of his request for clarification by Counsel.

Minutes:  Prior meeting minutes (September 10, October 14, and October 30, 2008) will be addressed at the next meeting.

Set Next Meeting Date:  8:30 pm EST, Tuesday, November 18, 2008.

Adjourn:  Susan Young moved to adjourn at 10:00 pm (EST).  No objection.

(These minutes were approved on 12/02/2008)

MINUTES – drafted October 14, 2008 by Committee Secretary Susan Young

Committee Members attending:            Also attending: none
        Nia Bediako (WBAI) Chair        [Streaming]
        Carolyn Birden (WBAI);        
        Lisa Davis (WBAI);
        Evelyn Bethune (KPFT);
        Staci Davis (KPFT);            
        Susan Young (KPFT) Secretary;            
        Tracy Rosenberg (KPFA);
        Jack Van Aken (KPFK).

Absent: Seth Goldberg (WBAI); Ambrose Lane (WPFW); Andrea Turner (KPFA); Joe Wanzala (KPFA); Shawn Casey O’Brien (KPFK); Donna Warren (KPFK).
        
Meeting called to order 8:35 pm (EST).  Chair opened the meeting announced that Committee had recommended PNB Helen Donovan with Tony Pohl to the PNB and they have been engaged. Secretary called the role and quorum was met.  

Agenda:  Moved by Lisa to approve the following agenda.  No objection:
       I    Call to order (5 minutes) – approval of agenda
       II    Approval of Minutes (10 minutes)
       III    Forensic Audit (10 minutes)
       IV    Pacifica Foundation Whistleblower Policy (60 minutes)
       V    Adjournment

Minutes:  Prior meeting minutes not available.

Forensic Audit:  Susan Young asked about the status of the PNB decision to perform a Forensic Audit.  Nia Bediako indicated insufficient funds.  Staci Davis mentioned allegations of fraud.  Nia Bediako invoked need to convene a meeting of the Audit Committee within 7 days in capacity as whistle blowing committee once formal complaint made in writing.  None were brought forward in this meeting.  Explanation of differences -- regular annual audit, operational audit and forensic audit is conducted when there is an allegation of fraud.

Draft Pacifica Foundation Whistleblower Policy:  The committee discussed a draft previously distributed to committee meetings. Committee Chair agreed to make global change to bring consistency to listing of those affected.  Motion by Susan Young, seconded for the Committee Chair to review with Dan Siegel the entire document, with case law citations, especially to address concerns raised by Carolyn Birden that this policy not conflict with law.  (Redlined copy created by Chair will be circulated by Secretary.)

Next Meeting:   October 30, 2008 at 8:30 EST.

Adjourn:  Susan Young moved to adjourn at 10:30 pm (EST).  No objection.

(These minutes were approved on 12/02/2008)