OXNARD : Maron Quits Board of Charity Group

In the latest twist in a dispute over a city grant to aid senior citizens, Councilwoman Dorothy Maron announced Tuesday that she has resigned from the board of the organization that won a $550 city grant.

In a Nov. 15 letter to the council, the Oxnard Commission on Aging said it believes Maron had a conflict of interest in voting last month on the grant for the Community Service Organization because she sits on the group’s board of directors.

Maron said she does not have a conflict of interest because she doesn’t benefit financially from the council’s vote. But to avoid the perception of a conflict, Maron said she resigned.

The dispute involves a grant that the council recommended last month for the Community Service Organization. The Commission on Aging, a citizens’ group that makes recommendations to the council on how city money should be disbursed to service organizations, had suggested that the city give the organization $250.

However, Commissioner Cloromiro Camacho came before the council Oct. 9 to voice his disagreement with his fellow commissioners and to lobby for more money for the group. The council tentatively agreed and offered to raise the grant to $550.

The other members of the commission responded by accusing Camacho of having a conflict of interest because he is director of the organization that will receive the grant. Camacho in turn accused the commissioners of being racist against the Latinos who are served by his organization.

Commission Chairman Arthur Burr rejected the allegation of racism, saying the members of the commission represent various ethnic groups.

On Tuesday, the council confirmed the $550 grant for the Community Service Organization. In order to raise the additional $300, Burr said the commission must reduce by 1% the grants recommended for other community organizations.