The East Tennessee Lions Eye Bank (ETLEB) board of directors met a special called meeting on Tuesday to talk about Brandon Johnson’s dismissal.
The ten members who were in attendance unanimously decided to fire him as a director without any debate. Attendance at the meeting was permitted for 10News, but no recordings were allowed.
Johnson had questioned why Valerie Stewart, the executive director, earned around $445,000 in the 2019 tax year, including almost $200,000 in bonus and incentive pay.
The nonprofit disclosed $2,015,435 in total revenue to the Internal Revenue Service that year (IRS). More than a fifth of that went to Stewart’s overall salary.
‘The CEO phoned me and offered me an ultimatum: either I could resign from her board, or she already had the votes together to lead a vote forcibly removing me from the board,’ Johnson stated in a letter to the other ETLEB directors. She asserted that I lacked the authority to “police” the group.
“The other Directors, according to Mr Johnson, are punishing him for raising his concerns. None of these claims is true, “It stated.
“During a recent board meeting, Mr Johnson voiced his concerns; the other Directors listened but eventually disagreed with him.”
The ETLEB claimed that it requested him to back up his claims, encouraged him to join a committee, and scheduled a meeting with the leadership group to talk further about his issues.
Johnson asserted that this is “blatantly not accurate” and that he was never given the chance to participate in a committee. Despite being a current member, he said he was excluded from multiple board discussions.
Thanks to WBIR
ETLEB claims to have repeatedly clarified its board policies to Johnson.
The statement claimed that “he stubbornly refused to collaborate with the Board.” “The Board believes that Mr Johnson’s behaviour during this time is unacceptable and that parting ways with him is in the organization’s best interests.”
Johnson expressed his hope that the other directors would take his concerns seriously and noted that his inquiries stemmed from a passion for the purpose of the eye bank.
He stated in a letter to the other directors, “At the end of the day, we were elected to be good stewards.” Monitoring issues like compensation is one of our most significant duties.
Given Stewart’s duties and tenure, the ETLEB stated that it believes the executive director’s salary is reasonable.
It stated in a statement that “[The Board] has the sole discretion and authority to determine [her] salary.” Ms Stewart’s pay is fair and well deserved given the length of her service and level of success.
ETLEB Full Proclamation:
Brandon Johnson, a current director of East Tennessee Lions Eye Bank, has made claims that the organization’s staff incentive program is excessive.
The other Directors, according to Mr Johnson, are punishing him for raising his concerns. There is no basis for these claims.
At a recent board meeting, the other Directors listened to Mr Johnson’s concerns but eventually rejected them.
The Board requested Mr Johnson to back up his claims, invited him to join a committee, and requested a meeting with the leadership group to further address his concerns. Mr Johnson declined all of these requests.
He steadfastly refused to cooperate with the Board despite repeated explanations of its procedures from the Board.
The Board feels that Mr Johnson’s actions at this time were inappropriate and that parting ways with him would be beneficial for the company.
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Independent community volunteers make up the Board. It is charged with a variety of duties, including establishing salary guidelines.
The Board adopted an incentive scheme in 1991 to recognize and reward the team’s commitment and effort.
Only earned program service fees are used to pay the incentive program. The incentive program does not receive any funding from tax dollars.
Since 1998, Valerie Stewart has served as the group’s leader, guiding it with unwavering commitment and elegance. She and her group never stop fighting for those who are visually impaired or blind.
The Board collaborates closely with Ms Stewart and has sole discretion in setting her salary. When the Board approved the incentive program, Ms Stewart was neither a member of the staff nor a director.
Ms Stewart’s pay is fair and well deserved in light of the length of her service and her achievements.
