Asheville News

Report: While crying poor, URTV officials were buying a $406 espresso machine, dining at Rezaz and giving employees raises

Jason Sandford April 13, 2011

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

Story by Mark Barrett of the Asheville Citizen-Times:

ASHEVILLE — The nonprofit that runs public access channel URTV made questionable expenditures on employee pay, a $406 espresso machine and restaurant meals around the time its leadership said it was running out of money, according to an accountant.

Asheville accountant Foster Shriner said he was “surprised by the volume of … transactions” at restaurants like The Flying Frog, Rezaz Mediterranean Restaurant, Tripps and Wild Wing Cafe and that he observed “multiple food and coffee purchases from Starbucks, Ingles, (Earth Fare) and Greenlife.”

The Western North Carolina Community Media Center’s three employees apparently received raises in June 2010, the month after the head of the center’s board said it was in danger of closing because of financial problems, Shriner wrote. And similar public access operations devoted smaller percentages of their revenues to employee pay and benefits, the report says.

Shriner’s report makes no accusation of misappropriation of funds.

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

Biltmore to hold job fair Wednesday; big Asheville tourist destination looking to fill 40 slots

Fitz and the Trantrums @ the Orange Peel

5 Comments

Sadie Sartre May 21, 2011

I shall miss seeing Dixie Barkdoll's program as it actually was informative and the guests were well-versed on relevant topics. Come to think of it, I shall also miss the VFP broadcasts, as well. Other than that, well, that's a wrap, folks. Does this mean "the law is still the law," fellows? If it is, enforce it.

Reply
R,Bernier April 15, 2011

Matt,
As a sitting urtv board member, tell us why no effort to cut cost & keep public access going? I see no remarks to this topic in the board mins.
I will be glad to sit down with you on video & expand your thoughts & my concerns.
Maybe you will take a firm stand & speak out.
Let me know.
R.Bernier
URTV Board Member 2008-2009

Ps…. Dont blame others, URTV along with your help has spent over 2million & we no longer have public access – thought you & others said things would get better when the bad board members left, what happen??

Reply
Dixiegirlz April 15, 2011

"A lack of transparency was also noted in the operations of URTV. Bellamy has been finding out about the organization’s decisions with the rest of the public, and did not think the city was being treated with the respect due a partner. Council liaison Jan Davis said the URTV board had not complied with any of council’s requests for things like taking minutes of meetings and giving proper notice for meetings. Councilman Cecil Bothwell said he wanted an audit of the organization’s capital assets, as rumor had it that things had been disappearing. Davis said he wanted the finances audited, too, and ASAP. URTV has threatened it will close its doors at the end of the month, but it has been known to publish misleading information in the past." http://western.johnlocke.org/blog/?p=5055

Reply
Matt Howard April 13, 2011

This is bull.
Im a member of URTV's board, and have been for two years. URTV has been audited by the city and the county, and no mismanagement of funds was found. What's not being said is that Foster Shriner was hired by a former board member who was determined to find evidence of wrongdoing where none existed, all over a personal vendetta. I have seen the report mentioned above. There's a reason no dates were mentioned in relation to the expenses in question. That's because they go all the way back to the original board when URTV was still being set up, No one involved with URTV today are responsible for any of the expendatures above.

Reply
plastic paddy April 13, 2011

Sounds like the rest of our goverment.

Reply