The Los Angeles Homeless Companies Authority Fee authorized a brand new coverage Friday that may present clear, structured steering for disclosing conflicts of curiosity within the contracting course of.
In a unanimous vote, fee members instructed employees to implement the so-called Battle-of-Curiosity Coverage in Contracting for all LAHSA staff. Based on company officers, the coverage is “not a change of values,” however a “refinement” of their current rules.
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“By strengthening construction, centralizing accountability and reinforcing authorized compliance, LAHSA is demonstrating that each contracting choice is grounded in equity, integrity and public belief,” Holly Henderson, director of threat administration, mentioned. “Adoption of this coverage will strengthen our safeguards, promote transparency and supply clear steering for employees and stakeholders.”
In her report, Henderson famous {that a} battle of curiosity can come up when staff, executives, commissioners or contractors have private or monetary ties to an entity that holds a contract or is within the means of acquiring one. With out clear steering, the company dangers authorized violations, erosion of public belief and operational dangers.
The coverage requires employees to reveal conflicts by means of Kind 700 filings, recuse themselves from any stage of contracting the place conflicts exist and undergo stronger impartial oversight.
Based on Henderson, three completely different departments oversee conflicts of pursuits. However her workplace, Danger Administration, is liable for monitoring and guaranteeing duties are met on a month-to-month foundation.
Human sources manages conflicts of curiosity because it collects financial Kind 700 filings. The manager workplace with board secretaries might be in command of the LAHSA CEO and commissioners, and the contracting staff additionally performs a job in guaranteeing compliance with the company’s coverage.
A consultant for LAHSA didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
In February, LAist reported on alleged ethics violations involving former CEO Va Lecia Adams Kellum, who authorized a $2.1 million contract along with her husband’s employer, although she denied any wrongdoing.
The company contracted Norton Rose Fullbright as exterior counsel in March to conduct an impartial assessment of allegations.
“Norton Rose Fullbright concluded its three-month assessment and decided that (Upward Certain Home) was already a LAHSA subcontractor, and particularly for U.S. Housing and City Growth Continuum of Care applications, earlier than Dr. Adams Kellum grew to become LAHSA’s CEO,” a report launched in August from Fullbright learn.
Adams Kellum’s husband, Edward Kellum, serves as Upward Certain Home’s director of operations and compliance.
Adams Kellum introduced her resignation shortly after the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted in March to determine a brand new homelessness division.
LAHSA Commissioners appointed Gita O’Neill, an assistant Los Angeles Metropolis lawyer who handles homelessness coverage, as interim chief government of the homeless company.
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