BETHEL — Leaders of four village tribes are calling for an investigation into the Association of Village Council Presidents and its spending of federal funds.
Documents obtained by KYUK-AM show almost a decade of misspent federal grant dollars. Despite a federal official denying a formal request from President Myron Naneng, three $250,000 checks from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families account went to a flight school.
A financial report showed TANF funding being used to pay a quarter of AVCP’s Social Services Director Pat Samson’s more than $96,000 salary, with former vice president Zach Brink replying that Samson did a lot of work related to TANF. Emails show then-AVCP grants compliance officer Hansel Mathlaw raising concerns about the pay in 2008.
Samson, who left the council a few years ago, said he didn’t know part of his salary was paid by TANF dollars.
“I did not work for any TANF programs,” Samson said.
Leaders drafted a resolution calling for the investigation and for the council’s top directors to be placed on administrative leave. Yupiit Nation leader Mike Williams helped draft the resolution after 30 council employees were laid off in December.
“They need more explanation rather than (saying it’s) because of economic conditions,” Williams said.
The resolution calls for Naneng’s resignation if the council does not respond by Jan. 15.
Naneng declined to comment and referred questions to AVCP Vice President Mike Hoffman, who also declined to comment.
