Carmel city staff uncovers missing records during All Things Carmel store closure

During a recent meeting of the Carmel City Council, significant concerns were raised regarding the financial management of Promote Carmel, particularly in relation to the All Things Carmel store. The discussion highlighted alarming findings from a financial consultant, Coonrad, who reported that Promote Carmel lacked audited financial statements and had unreliable inventory records. This situation has raised questions about the city’s oversight and the impact on local artisans who had consigned products to the store.

The consultant's assessment indicated that there were insufficient financial controls over merchandise inventory, including failures to record purchases and perform periodic inventory counts. As a result, city staff faced challenges when they took over operations after the store's abrupt closure. They discovered that many records were either kept at staff members' homes or were not properly documented, complicating efforts to account for the artisans' consigned items.

Sue McFeely, the executive director of Promote Carmel, was identified as responsible for maintaining these records. The city staff's immediate priority was to ensure that the vendors were compensated fairly for their products, a task made difficult by the disorganized state of the records. The council acknowledged the frustration expressed by the community on social media regarding the store's sudden closure and the lack of communication about the situation.

In terms of financial support, Promote Carmel received substantial funding from the city, totaling $1.2 million in cash grants from 2020 to 2024. This raises further questions about accountability and the management of public funds, as the city navigates the complexities of rectifying the situation and supporting local artisans.

As the council continues to address these issues, the focus remains on restoring trust and ensuring that the interests of the community and its vendors are prioritized moving forward.