Leadership changes at Fayette housing authority
Reorganization has brought a change of leadership to the Fayette County Housing Authority.
The first order of business Thursday was the swearing in of new authority member Kerri Baker, who will serve a five-year term as the tenant representative on the board, replacing Mary Wertz.
Board vice chair Ernest DeBlasio proposed keeping the officers on the board the same as in 2015, with Harry Fike serving as chairman. That motion failed to receive a second, and Joyce Nuccetelli nominated Beverly Beal for the chairmanship. Beal was elected on a vote of 3-1, with DeBlasio casting the dissenting vote. Fike was absent from the meeting. The remaining votes were unanimous, with DeBlasio named vice chair, Nuccetelli named treasurer, Baker named assistant treasurer and Fike placed in the remaining position of secretary.
Meetings will continue to be held the second Thursday of each month at 9 a.m. at the housing authority office.
During the regular board meeting, which followed reorganization, Nuccetelli proposed revising the authority’s personnel policy regarding the executive director, giving the board more say over hirings and firings. Nuccetelli said it had nothing to do with the current executive director, but with the responsibilities of the board members.
“The board is ultimately responsible for all activity of the authority. If we are going to be held responsible, then we should be involved in all hiring and firing and personnel matters,” Nuccetelli said.
Solicitor Jeremy Davis said he would contact Housing and Urban Development for clarification before providing the authority with his opinion paper on the subject, but he said he didn’t think votes to hire or fire fell under the board’s duties.
“This board is the watchdog, primarily in financial matters and in hiring an executive director,” Davis said.
Nuccetelli also raised questions regarding travel expenses and seminar attendance. Executive director Mark Yauger said there were no limitations, other than the budget, on the number of training opportunities an individual board member or employee could take advantage of, with all mileage calculated by computer to avoid overpayments.
“I think travel is something else that should be pre-approved by the board,” Beal said.
Davis said he would review current and past policies.