Set personnel, program and fiscal policies. Each community action agency shall set policies and procedures governing employee compensation and employment qualifications for itself and its agents. These policies and procedures shall ensure that employment practices are impartial and are designed to employ only competent persons, and shall guard against personal or financial conflicts of interest. Each community action agency shall also define the duties of its employees regarding advocacy on behalf of poor persons.

Involve, to the greatest extent practicable, poor persons in developing and implementing programs in order to ensure that these programs: a. Will stimulate the capabilities of these persons for self-advancement. b. Will be meaningful to and widely utilized by these persons.

Allow poor persons to influence the character of programs operated by the community action agency.

Conduct its program in a manner free of discrimination based on political affiliation and of personal or familial favoritism. Each community action agency shall establish policies and procedures to carry out this requirement and to hold staff members accountable for complying with matters governed by this section and by other state or federal laws, rules or regulations.

Release any record of the community action agency for examination or copying upon request, unless disclosure would constitute an unwarranted invasion of an individual’s privacy. Each community action agency shall require its agents to make their records similarly available. Each community action agency shall hold public hearings on request to provide information and to receive comments about its activities.

Appoint a representative or representatives to the citizen advisory committee under s. 49.325 (3) (a), in order to participate in developing and implementing programs designed to serve the poor.