Dan Phelan - Alcoholic, Embezzler, Cheat?
Yesterday's Jackson Citizen Patriot contained a pair of articles about a fund that was set up years ago to give the Jackson Community College a bit of leeway in spending money. The books for this account are privately audited, but he can spend the money just about any way he likes.
The Mackinaw Center for Public Policy reviewed the books and had a hissy fit. The CitPat saw the MCPP's review and had another hissy fit. Chief among their complaints is that he used the money to buy alcohol. Now the CitPat doesn't say that Dan Phelan bought alcohol for personal use, just that he used those funds to buy alcohol.
Another complaint is that he bought trees for his home.....a home that is owned by JCC and used by the current president. That means that he spent the money to improve JCC property. I can't imagine a better use for money that is intended to help the college.
The third major complaint was that money from food vendor Aramark was deposited in the account instead of the JCC general fund. Since this action could not take place without the board's knowledge and since such a co-mingling of funds is apparently legal, I'm not sure why I should be concerned about it. But apparently the MCPP and the CitPat think that this is tantamount to genocide as their feathers are all ruffled.
It was noted that he spent money to get satellite TV for his office.....and for the lunchroom where students eat. He must be some sort of monster to spend money so that students can watch TV in their lunchroom!
The tone of the two articles suggests that Dan Phelan's behavior is highly questionable. Yet looking at the sidebars that go with the articles, his spending of funds from that account is not out of line with that of his predecessors. There are no outright accusations of illegal and/or immoral behavior. And here in the business world, buying drinks is a part of the cost of doing business.
The CitPat owes Dan Phelan an apology. He's done nothing wrong and their article is written to suggest that he has.
by Dann
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