Part I – A Developing Story

The termination of Executive Director Dr. Sherri Carter-Green during a special meeting on Oct. 9 has prompted questions about whether the Okmulgee- Okfuskee County Youth Services (OOCYS) Board acted in accordance with its own bylaws. The agency plays a crucial role in serving youth and families across two counties.

Eight days later, on Oct. 17, the board reconvened for another special meeting to address agency business, drawing residents who questioned the board’s composition, quorum, and transparency.

— Oct. 9 Meeting – Executive Director Terminated According to statements and documents, the OOCYS Board voted on Oct. 9 to terminate Executive Director Dr. Carter-Green.

At the time of publication, the board has not released official minutes or confirmed whether the meeting was properly filed under Oklahoma’s Open Meeting Act, which requires public notice to be posted with the Secretary of State.

One issue causing concern was that a sitting board member who had previously sought employment with the agency participated in the vote to terminate Dr. Carter-Green.

The agency’s bylaws state that “employees and family members of employees shall not be eligible to serve on the Board of Directors.” (Article VI, Section 1F) — Oct. 17 Meeting – Questions About Quorum The Oct. 17 special meeting was held at the Anne Moroney Youth Services Center. Only Chair Rae Ann Wilson and Vice Chair Ron Sawyer were recorded as present.

After an invocation, the board entered executive session to discuss personnel and insurance matters. Upon returning to open session, the two members voted to:

• Approve employee health insurance

• Approve general liability and property insurance

• Renew membership in the Oklahoma Association of Youth Services (OAYS)

• Schedule the next full-board meeting for Oct. 27 Questions were raised whether two members could legally act on behalf of a board required to have at least seven. Chair Wilson stated the meeting was “in compliance.” When a copy of the bylaws was requested, only a portion was provided, and non-agenda questions were deferred for written submission.

— What the Bylaws Require

• Board Size: Not less than seven and not more than 14 members (Art. VI §1A)

• Quorum: “Members present at any duly announced meeting shall constitute a quorum.” (Art. VI §2A)

• Conflict of Interest: Employees and family members of employees are ineligible for board service (§1F)

• Transparency: Governing documents must be available to the public upon request (Source of Authority, p.35) • Open Meetings: Notices must be forwarded to the Secretary of State (p.36)

• Minutes of Board Meeting: Minutes shall be kept and include: A. Date of Meeting, B. Names of members who attended, C. Approval of minutes from previous meetings, D. Topics discussed, E. Decisions reached and actions taken, F. Dates of Implementation of recommendations, G. Reports of the Executive Director and others, H. Signature of a board officer shall appear on the minutes upon approval and on all items requiring documentation While the quorum clause allows business to proceed at any “duly announced” meeting, the bylaw’s seven-member minimum raises questions about how quorum is defined when the board has fewer than seven seated members. That interpretation will depend on the full set of bylaws and legal guidance from state oversight bodies.

— Oct. 27 Meeting – Board Expansion & Policy Updates At the board’s Oct. 27 meeting, four new directors were confirmed, bringing the total membership to seven. Officers were elected for the coming year.

During that session, the board:

• Reviewed and approved August financial statements • Discussed and tabled portions of the September disbursements for clarification

• Approved United Way funding for 2026

• Approved the FY 2026 Office of Juvenile Affairs contract, valued at $683,413.50 (as discussed during the meeting) Staff also presented proposed policy updates to align with OAYS recommendations, including:

• Changing the title “Clinical Coordinator” to “Clinical Director”

• Adjusting minimum education requirements for key positions

• Revising the meeting-notice policy to reflect statutory timelines Community members attending the Oct. 17 meeting voiced concerns about the number of active board members, access to the full bylaws and policy manual and oversight and accountability procedures.

When asked by an attendee whether members could form a quorum and asked who provides oversight of the board, Chair Wilson stated that the board was “moving forward with business to keep the agency open” and that written questions would be reviewed at a later meeting.

— Governance & Transparency Standards

Summarized from state-level guidance documents A statewide advisory issued to Oklahoma youth service boards earlier this year emphasized:

• Adhering to due process and progressive discipline in personnel matters

• Avoiding conflicts of interest in employment and board participation

• Maintaining accurate and accessible records The guidance also cautioned that failing to comply with open-meeting or conflict-of-interest requirements can expose boards to legal challenges or state review. — Outstanding Questions (Records Requested) The Times has formally requested or is actively investigating the following for verification:

• Meeting notices and filings for the Oct. 9 and Oct. 17 sessions

• Official minutes from August, September and October meetings

• Conflict-of-interest disclosures or recusal forms

• Confirmation of board membership and term limits

• Documentation related to Dr. Carter-Green’s termination process

• Any written policies or correspondence concerning employee communications The Times will continue to review documents and interview involved parties for Part 2 of this series.