Naperville hopes to make good on $148,000 gaffe
Naperville City Council members Monday are expected to make good on a $148,000 mistake that could have had dire consequences for Loaves & Fishes Community Pantry.
City Manager Doug Krieger said Friday that a former city staff member advised pantry officials in July that the pantry qualified for 2011 Community Development Block Grants to assist with the construction of its new facility at 1871 High Grove Lane.
The former employee specifically advised Loaves & Fishes that the construction would be an allowable cost and $175,000 in the preliminary funding was allocated. After a couple revisions, it was determined in October that the appropriate amount would be $148,627.
Krieger, however, said Friday that the project was never eligible for the funding because construction was complete before the application was submitted.
“Because the city provided blatantly incorrect guidance and Loaves & Fishes made budget and financing decisions based upon this guidance, we felt the need to do what’s right,” Krieger said. “So we’ll make a one-time payment to the pantry in the amount they were expecting to receive.”
Mayor George Pradel agreed Friday even though he said the move would push the council’s budget gap back up over $1 million.
“This comes at a bad time, right before Christmas, but I hope the council has open and gracious hearts to fill this need,” Pradel said. ”I also feel that it’s the right thing to do to make sure that we have funds for people who are going through some tough times.”
Charles McLimans, Loaves and Fishes’ executive director and CEO, declined to comment Friday, calling the situation “too complicated” and “too sensitive.”
Last month, however, when the agency was questioning whether the money would ever arrive, McLimans said not getting the cash would mean a severe cut in services performed by the pantry.
“At a time when our services are needed more than ever, we’re forced to reduce our services instead of increasing them as our clients are requesting,” McLimans said on Nov. 10. “Our shelves are not empty yet but that’s only because we’ve been spending our food budget at a ratio of two months to one month. So we’re faced with emptying our shelves or reducing our level of service.”
Krieger said if the council approves the expense Monday night, the check could be cut as soon as Thursday.