Dec 15, 2002 By Paul Sunyak 6 min read

The “disgusted” chairman of the Fayette County Housing Authority board of directors has instructed an unnamed solicitor to investigate the possibility of asking the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to take over the operation. Kenneth L. Johnson said that his action stems from a belief that internal and external politics are interfering too much with the authority’s mission of providing safe, decent and sanitary housing for low-income people.

“I’m highly disgusted,” said Johnson. “I have asked one of our solicitors to look into the possibility of turning the whole operation over to HUD. That takes the politicalness out of the housing authority …to have the political atmosphere that we’re having at this time is not good for housing.”

Johnson said that internally, the board “does not have the control” that it should over “a few key people.” He also said that externally, at the county commissioner level, he’s hearing concern about losing votes in next year’s election regarding housing authority board seats.

The county commissioners, who appoint the authority’s five board members, are scheduled to vote Dec. 27 on either reappointing or replacing board members Angela M. Zimmerlink and the Rev. Howard E. Dantzler Sr.

“I’m hearing if they vote for this person, they may lose votes (for commissioner), or if they vote for (that) person they may lose votes,” said Johnson, who added that he’s left to ask, “Are they looking for a person who would help housing or would destroy housing?”

Although he said he’s spoken with board members Dantzler and Beverly Beal about asking HUD to take over, Johnson said Friday that they were not aware that he’d gone so far as to tell the solicitor to look into the matter.

The authority employs two solicitors – the local Davis & Davis law firm and the Cohen & Grigsby law firm of Pittsburgh.

Johnson said he’s mentioned his idea to Executive Director Thomas L. Harkless and that he “didn’t seem too happy about it,” but otherwise didn’t have much to say.

Johnson said that if HUD takes over, local control of the housing authority would vanish – along with all of its jobs and contracts that pump millions into the local economy. He said the five-person board of directors could disappear in favor of a “business team” or private entity appointed by HUD – and thus the county commissioners would lose all control over who is selected to run the authority.

“Everybody would be on the sidelines,” said Johnson. “The county’s going to lose. It’s going to be out of housing. Fayette County as a whole will lose … I personally would hate for people to lose their jobs down here. We need more people to support (public) housing.”

However, Beal said that while Johnson has mentioned the possibility of a HUD takeover, she’s not prepared to vote to extend that invitation, which even Johnson admits would likely require at least a three-vote board majority.

Beal said she’s not willing to sacrifice the authority’s employees by taking such a drastic action, one that would throw them out of jobs and could adversely impact thousands of tenants.

“I am definitely not for HUD coming in (to take over),” said Beal. “What’s that going to do to all the employees? (Ken) has brought that up a few times and wanted me to go along with it.

“I told him, ‘Kenny, I can’t do that to these people who work down here.’ I’m not going to hurt all those employees and those tenants. One woman called … and cried about losing her house. I told her that’s what (this controversy) is all about.”

Beal said she’d prefer that the board members become more actively involved in overseeing the authority’s operations. She suggested that the authority start holding workshop meetings so board members can become better aware of problems, policies and proposals.

Zimmerlink said that Johnson, as one board member, lacks the authority to unilaterally instruct the solicitor to do anything. However, she noted that based on past practices where this has occurred, she doubts that her fellow board members will have much to say on that count.

Regarding Johnson’s reasons for researching a HUD takeover, Zimmerlink said that the housing authority has “been political as far back as when Ken was first appointed in 1994 and before,” and when informed of his disgust, she noted, “Welcome to my world.”

Zimmerlink said a HUD takeover isn’t necessary.

“I see no reason why HUD should be asked to take over the FCHA,” said Zimmerlink. “Rather than certain board members washing their hands of it, why (don’t they) simply take responsibility, assume your role and do what you were appointed and entrusted to do?”

Zimmerlink said that as recently as four months ago, at the August board meeting, Johnson proudly read from a list of 74 accomplishments at the authority that had taken place since Jan. 1, 2000 – and stressed that those were only the highlights.

Zimmerlink also said that Johnson and Harkless have referred to the many “positive comments” they received from HUD officials during a meeting held in Pittsburgh to discuss a monitoring letter HUD sent to Harkless.

The findings in that letter included HUD’s request for a response to questions arising from authority contracts given to two firms that employed relatives of Harkless. That matter is yet to be resolved.

Zimmerlink, who asked for a HUD probe into those business dealings after Beal brought them to the board’s attention, said she doesn’t understand the reversal of opinion on the board in such a short time.

“One minute they are applauding themselves and the next they are attempting to wash their hands of the FCHA,” said Zimmerlink. “It comes back to what I have been saying all along: We, as board members, being the caretakers of federal and state housing funds, are responsible for ensuring that these funds are used properly, that public housing laws are being followed” and that policies are set to provide safe, decent and sanitary housing for low-income people.