WASILLA -- As much as they'd like answers quickly, the new members of the Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce's Board of Directors aren't likely to lay to rest soon questions swirling about the group's finances.
The board plans to contract for an independent audit of the chamber's books. But it could take up to nine months to get the results, board members said Monday. It could also be costly. Board president Chris Abernathy asked chamber members at a meeting Tuesday to donate as much as $20,000 to help pay for the audit and do a professional review of the group's bylaws, policies and procedures and fiscal controls.
He acknowledged it was a huge sum of money. But he noted it adds up to $61 for each of the group's 328 members and that any money left over would go to the greater good of the chamber.
The all-volunteer board, which includes six new members added in the past two weeks, say getting the audit and doing a review of the chamber's procedures is vital to moving the group forward.
"What we're trying to do is to get to the root of the problem of why we're all here today," Abernathy said during a board meeting Monday.
Problems with the group erupted into public view two weeks ago when five of the seven board members abruptly resigned during a meeting. Several later cited concerns about expenditures by the group's executive director, Cheryl Metiva, who has since been placed on paid administrative leave. Metiva in a written statement has said she welcomes an audit and the opportunity to explain any expenditures in question.
A sixth board member - Chas St. George -- later submitted his resignation after he said questions were raised about his impartiality because he had helped on Marty Metiva run for Wasilla mayor. Marty Metiva is Cheryl Metiva's husband.
The new board members spent the better part of two hours trying to hammer out how to go forward with the audit.
Among the choices they wrestled with were what kind of audit to do -- a full blown one or a targeted one that would look at certain expenses, who to have do it, and especially how to pay for it.
Crimped by the slumping economy, declining membership and fizzled fundraising events, the chamber has been struggling financially. The group currently has a little less than $3,000 in the bank to pay for operations, board members said.
It was clear during their meeting Monday that the new board members were frustrated at being caught between a proverbial rock and a hard place.
They wanted to answer the financial questions and do it fast, but they also wanted to make sure the method they chose was above reproach.
Board treasurer Marcus Reum triggered a heated discussion at one point by suggesting doing an internal audit, tapping three accountants from the membership to do a targeted look at the books, which he argued could be cheaper and quicker than hiring an outside firm.
But others said they worried about questions of a conflict of interest.
"Human resources is one of those things where it's going to be worth every penny to get it right," said board member Mike Gabel.
Still hiring a firm will likely be expensive and could take up to nine months, a figure that caused heartburn given that Metiva has been placed on paid leave pending the results of the audit.
Metiva's paid leave lasts only for three weeks at which point she would be on unpaid leave. The board has pledged to pay Metiva retroactively if they decide to retain her after reviewing the findings of an audit. But the board members worried she could quit because she can't wait months for the results of the audit.
At the meeting board members did not discuss any of the expenditures in question. Past board members have also been reluctant to discuss details.
Find S.J. Komarnitsky at www.adn.com/contact/skomarnitsky or 352-6714.
By S.J. KOMARNITSKY
skomarnitsky@adn.com