Agency for the blind gets audit by state

Client numbers are not adding up, says a district supervisor with the state's Blind Services division.

By JODIE TILLMAN, Times Staff Writer
Published January 12, 2008

ADVERTISEMENT [Lance Aram Rothstein | Times (2007)] Connie Jackson of Lighthouse for the Blind leads a discussion at the Pasco County Affordable Housing Summit last year.

PORT RICHEY - State officials are auditing the nonprofit Lighthouse for the Visually Impaired and Blind after finding what a district supervisor called "red flags."

Those red flags include a discrepancy in the numbers of child clients for whom the organization receives state money as well as questions about the certification of staff members, said John Reynolds, a Tampa-based district supervisor for the state Division of Blind Services.

Lighthouse has two state contracts worth nearly $300,000 a year to provide services to blind and visually impaired children and adults. Such services include teaching independent living classes to help people learn how to use a cane or get around in the kitchen, for instance.

Lighthouse's executive director is Connie Jackson, who has overseen the Pasco and Hernando offices since late 2006. The Times on Friday left two messages seeking comment from Jackson. The calls were not returned, although her secretary confirmed Jackson was in the office.

Jackson is the former local Red Cross manager.

The state review, which is scheduled to begin next week, is not typical, said Reynolds. The audit comes amid complaints from former employees, including a sharply worded resignation letter by former Lighthouse case manager Dawn Fiumara.

Fiumara, who complained about alleged mistreatment by Jackson, sent her Jan. 10 letter to state officials.

The letter said, in part, that Jackson "has complete lack of accountability to the staff that she 'oversees,' rarely reports to work and does not return inquiries submitted by the staff."

"When people start speaking out, and numbers don't come up correctly, we have to take matters into our own hands," said Reynolds.

The Lighthouse also receives about $12,000 in Pasco County funds for providing Pasco clients rides to classes.

County officials discovered last month that Lighthouse billed them for Hernando clients last year, said Adey Reyes, director of Community Services. She said her office is trying to figure out how much.

Lighthouse would have to return that money, though Reyes added that the group did not charge Pasco for some riders they could have. In the end, she said, "it could be a wash."

Jodie Tillman can be reached at jtillman@sptimes.com or 727 869-6247.

[Last modified January 11, 2008, 20:56:43]