Norwalk officials are calling for serious changes at the top of a local anti-poverty group.

City officials are asking that Joe Mann, the director of Norwalk Economic Opportunity Now (NEON), resign. They say if that does not happen, they want the entire board to step down.

The city says an external audit found that NEON misappropriated more than $400,000 in government money, but also say the flashpoint came when the anti-poverty agency defaulted on a $150,000 loan from city taxpayers.

NEON oversees the federally funded Head Start Children?s Program.

NEON responds to claims of misused funds