Troy McFarland Forced Out As TFAC President
Members Will Ask For Investigation Of Finances
PHOTO: Tullahoma Fine Arts Center President Troy McFarland, MTA file photo, © 2010, Russel Mobley/MTA.
Story by Russel Mobley
September 9, 2011
Troy McFarland, who replaced Lucy Hollis as president of the Tullahoma Fine Arts Center during a membership revolt last year, was forced to resign at a TFAC board meeting Thursday night.
After TFAC Treasurer Becky Shelton presented the center's first treasurer's report made available, since McFarland took office last September, and TFAC bookkeeper Jamie Knight revealed the findings of a financial audit conducted in August, McFarland was told by members he would have to resign and repay $10,441 to restore funds withdrawn from the center's bank account without board approval.
"It was never my intention to sink the Fine Arts Center."—TFAC Pres.Troy McFarland
During Shelton's report to the board, which also included a time-line of events during McFarland's term as president, she said in June when she went to US Bank for a signature card so that she could co-sign checks as the new treasurer, she was “told about two unexplained checks made out to Troy for kitchen remodeling reimbursements. I approached Troy about the two checks . . . . and he was afraid that the bank was going to turn him into the attorney general.”
According to Shelton, she was offered a job by McFarland at $300 a week. He also hired Knight as a grant writer for $300 a week.
“Troy said he was going to be paid $600 a week,” said Shelton. “He assured me, the center had enough money to pay employees to run the center . . . . Jamie and I were both paid $600 in cash for the two weeks ending July 22 and July 29. Troy also paid himself $1200 in cash.” She said he also paid himself $900 in August.
Shelton said the audit was conducted in August to regain the ability to solicit funds.
In June, 2010, MiddleTennesseeArts.com discovered that the center had never registered with the Tennessee Department of State's Division of Charitable Solicitations and Gaming as required.
According to Shelton the audit, conducted by Allen McGee and Associates, revealed, “records are missing and findings were very alarming . . . I am obligated by the state and also I've been told that we have to adopt a resolution to ask Troy McFarland to resign and terminate his rights to the Fine Arts Center and all banking accounts.”
McFarland did not dispute anything that Shelton or Knight told the board.
“We had a great idea, but I did it completely the wrong way. It was never my intention to sink the Fine Arts Center, but completely the opposite,” McFarland told the board. “The idea for this place was to
actually do pretty much by any means necessary to get it where it was successful and could thrive and could work. Did I do it the right way? Obviously not.”
Knight said she would ask the District Attorney's Office to investigate the matter.
Shelton and Knight consulted a law firm before attending Thursday's board meeting, and were also informed that new bylaws McFarland has been conducting business with were not legal. McFarland used a clause in the new bylaws to remove board member Keith Moore, who narrowly lost in his race against McFarland for the TFAC presidency last year.
According to Knight, the center owes more than $9,000 and “has only $1,000 in the bank.”
But Knight told members she is still optimistic about the center's future.
“Because we are going to elect a viable, liable board to keep the center moving forward.”
McFarland also served on the Highland Rim Kiwanis Club's board of directors.
According to Jason Redd, Kiwanis treasurer, McFarland also resigned from the Kiwanis board on Thursday.
Of the seven board members elected last September, only Kevin Farris remains. He will now serve as interim president until the next TFAC election is held on September 29.
