MOORPARK : Bowers Criticized for Funding Ely’s Trips

Moorpark College President Stanley Bowers did not have the legal authority to allocate thousands of dollars in college funds to pay for trips taken by alumni association official Ingrid Ely, according to a Ventura County Community College District report.

The report said Bowers had approved allocating $3,152 to the Moopark College Alumni Assn. for Ingrid Ely, wife of college trustee Tom Ely, to travel as the group’s representative on five trips in 1988 and 1989.

The trips were to community college conventions in Sacramento, Monterey, Louisville, Ky., Washington, and Vancouver, Canada.

The report, released last week and prepared by attorney Stuart Rudnick, said the majority of Ingrid Ely’s travel money came from Moorpark College bookstore profits.

College Trustee Timothy Hirschberg said bookstore proceeds are intended for student programs and services. He said the alumni association, founded by Ingrid Ely in 1979, is not recognized as an official student organization.

Neither Bowers nor Ingrid Ely could be reached for comment Monday.

Hirschberg declined to discuss Bowers’ role in approving the money for Ingrid Ely’s travel.

In September, the Ventura County district attorney’s office filed a 31-count criminal complaint against Tom and Ingrid Ely, alleging that they padded their expense reports with more than $15,400 in improper claims.