9,487
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
m
==Controversy==
On [[March 18]], [[2007]], the ''[[Pensacola News Journal]]'' reported that council chairperson [[Michelle MacNeil]] and vice-chair /treasurer [[Melanie Nichols]] were threatening resignation following claims that Manley had made payments from the group's budget, benefitting herself and family members, without council authorization. In a draft of her resignation letter obtained by the newspaper, MacNeil (who is white) said that her concern regarding Manley (who is black) had been met with "resistance, hostility and personal attacks" and that "my race has clouded reasonable judgment of my character."<ref>[http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070318/NEWS01/703180326 Audit, race shake charity] - [[Pensacola News Journal]], March 18, 2007</ref> MacNeil also alleged that Manley's administrative duties, such as paying utility bills, had been neglected.
On [[March 20]], the News Journal reported that inspectors from the Florida Department of Community Affairs would be sent to investigate the allegations.<ref>[http://pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070320/NEWS01/703200321/1006 State to probe Front Porch] - [[Pensacola News Journal]], March 20, 2007</ref> Later that day, Manley held a press conference where she denied many of the allegations and offered explanations for others. Two council members at the press conference, Reverend [[Hugh King]] and [[Dolores Curry]], defended Manley and accused MacNeil and Nichols of racism. Another board member in attendance, [[Meredith Reeves]] (who is MacNeil's cousin), said of Manley, "She’s not good at doing the day-to-day office business... [but] has good intentions."<ref>[http://inweekly.net/article.asp?artID=4315 The Buzz: Front Porch Debate] - [[Independent News]], March 22, 2007</ref>
*Manley took $3,393 in Front Porch Pensacola funds on [[September 15]], 2004, to pay back taxes from 2001 on a property that had been quitclaimed to her in 1999 and transferred to her ownership on March 20, 2006.<ref name="pnj-032707">[http://www.pnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070327/NEWS01/703270325/1006 Front Porch details emerge] - [[Pensacola News Journal]], March 27, 2007</ref>
*Between 2005-2006, Manley took approximately $19,490 in payments from the [[Escambia County Health Department]] — meant for a "Mentoring Moms" program that matches young pregnant women with professional black mentors — by issuing cashier's checks to herself from the Front Porch account after depositing each $1,624 monthly payment.<ref name="pnj-032707"/>
*Manley leased Building "C" of the [[Long Hollow]] Community Center to a third party for $600. She then "gave a third to the Long Hollow Neighborhood Association, deposited a third in her own bank account and kept a third in the Front Porch account," in apparent accordance with the "30%" policy she believed was granted in 2002. However, Front Porch leases the building for $1/year from the Long Hollow Neighborhood Association, which in turn leases it from the City of Pensacola for $1/year, and no other leases are allowed with City permission, which Manley did not obtain.<ref name="pnj-032707"/>
Following a six-week investigation, Manley was fired in a [[May 2]] letter from the Florida Department of Community Affairs. In the letter, housing and community development Janice Browning instructed Manley "not to return to work at the Front Porch Florida program office in Pensacola, nor may you provide services on a voluntary basis."<ref>[http://pnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070504/NEWS01/705040334/1006 State fires Front Porch liaison] - Pensacola News Journal, May 4, 2007</ref> The state is continuing their investigation and may hold Manley liable for missing funds and other damages.
