WASI board terminates Kaplan

WASILLA — The Wasilla Area Seniors Inc. Board of Directors voted to terminate its executive director Thursday, effective immediately.

The board appointed WASI Office Manager Dennie Jaques and Executive Assistant Mary Lackey as interim co-executive directors until a search for a new leader for the nonprofit can be conducted, board member Stan Mitchell said.

“The board is actively seeking applications for executive director,” Mitchell said.

Sondra Kaplan, who served as WASI’s leader for about two years, became embroiled in controversy over the past several months after a vocal group of seniors began expressing dissatisfaction to the board and the media.

About a half-dozen WASI members formed a group called Mat-Su Elder Watch and took their concerns about what they perceived as the board’s lack of transparency, Kaplan’s alleged disrespectful attitude toward them, WASI finances, a temporary closure of the fitness center, alleged bylaw infractions and Kaplan’s recent scuffles with members over political campaign signs to state agencies, local legal support services and, finally, the American Civil Liberties Union.

Wasilla police officers had been called to the senior center on two occasions responding to incidences involving Kaplan.

Reached on her cellphone Thursday morning following her dismissal, Kaplan only said, “I no longer work for Wasilla Area Seniors. Thank you,” before hanging up.

Outspoken WASI member Elsie O’Bryan and Wasilla Councilwoman Dianne Woodruff, who has regularly attended WASI meetings as a concerned citizen, said the board of directors went into executive session at 8:15 and didn’t reemerge until about 9:45 a.m.

When the public meeting resumed, the first order of business was the board’s vote to terminate Kaplan’s contract, they said.

Board President Mary Sears and members Jim Vrooman, Mike Chmielewski and John Weaver voted in favor the termination, while Stan Mitchell and Katie Carney abstained.

Mitchell declined to share his reasons for abstaining from the vote. When contacted, Sears confirmed Carney abstained from the vote, but declined to comment further.

O’Bryan and Woodruff said Sears was visibly shaken and that they were a little surprised she voted to terminate Kaplan.

“I imagine that was very hard for Mary because she’s been her champion,” O’Bryan said. “I guess they’re trying to do things right.”

Woodruff said there was very little fanfare after the vote and that she is encouraged by the board’s recent efforts to improve relations with members and to conduct meetings more professionally.

“People were very reserved, but some members did make comments during the persons to be heard portion of the meeting that they were grateful for the board’s actions,” Woodruff said. “What I saw today was the most businesslike WASI meeting I’ve ever attended so far. They were actually making motions and voting on things, so that was great to see.”

She said the addition of new board members Weaver and Chmielewski has gone a long way in helping the board follow rules of order.

“I was also very pleased to see Mr. Vrooman come alive and participate more in the meeting,” Woodruff said. “He’s finding his voice and that leaves me so encouraged.”

Contact K.T. McKee at kate.mckee@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.