COUNTYWIDE : AIDS Group Decides to Rescind Job Offer

Directors of Orange County’s largest community-based AIDS services group said Monday that they have withdrawn an offer to hire the director of a Los Angeles agency that closed abruptly because of financial irregularities.

Rodney Scott, former executive director of Northern Lights Alternatives, an AIDS counseling group in Los Angeles, had been “recommended highly” and was poised to become chief administrator of the AIDS Service Foundation/Orange County, board president Al Roberts said.

But the board decided to withdraw the offer, Roberts said, after The Times last week described Northern Lights’ decision to shut down operations amid financial irregularities.

Northern Lights’ directors faulted Scott for not informing them of the extent of the agency’s debts and cash-flow problems.

Board members said they learned of the money woes only after Scott had informed them that he had accepted the $55,000-a-year post with the Orange County group.

Scott blamed Northern Lights troubles on the recession, saying many pledged donations weren’t delivered. Despite some impressive bids, a celebrity T-shirt auction last December, featuring shirts decorated by the likes of Madonna, Elizabeth Taylor and more than 100 other stars, proved a disappointment as a fund-raiser, he said.

But neither Scott nor Northern Lights officers could explain why financial disclosure statements were not, as required by law, on file with the state Department of Justice or available for inspection at the nonprofit group’s Hollywood headquarters.

“You just don’t want to be associated with that--with even the perception,” Roberts said.

The AIDS Services Foundation, operating on a budget of about $2 million per year, has about 350 current clients.

Among its programs are a food bank, a six-bed residential facility and health care advocacy. Pearl Jemison-Smith serves as acting executive director.

The unexpected turn of events has hurt morale at the AIDS Service Foundation, Roberts said.

“Our staff is absolutely bewildered,” he said.

The agency’s board began searching for a new executive director six months ago. Many candidates were interviewed before Scott was offered the job, Roberts said.

The board hopes to name a new executive director within two weeks, Roberts said.