Vicites responds to questions regarding media calls
Fayette County Commission Chairman Vincent A. Vicites said he was taking a few days of post-election vacation with his family this week and was unable to receive or return cell phone calls. Vicites said he was “unfairly, negatively attacked” by Commissioner Sean M. Cavanagh, who on Wednesday questioned why the commission chairman hadn’t returned media phone calls regarding the situation at the Fayette County Housing Authority.
“My wife was off this week, and I decided to take some time off to spend with my family,” said Vicites. “I wasn’t available because I was away from work. I took a few days off. I haven’t had an opportunity to spend some time with (my family) for several months.”
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has ruled that the authority must repay nearly $108,000 awarded to two firms that employed relatives of Executive Director Thomas L. Harkless.
The commissioners appoint the housing authority’s five board members, who serve as unpaid volunteers but have no direct control over them during their rotating five-year terms.
Vicites said he thinks Harkless deserves some type of punishment.
“I think that a reprimand is in order. This is something that I will not condone. It was wrong, and the board needs to reprimand (him),” said Vicites. “I think it needs to be a strong reprimand. I think that they (all the board members) should do the right thing.”
Regarding a separate situation at the Fayette County Airport Authority, whose members voted 3-1 to ask the commissioners to expand their number from five to seven, Vicites said he’s not sold on that idea at this time.
“I don’t have a whole lot of information on that at this point. This is something that I would want to actually talk over a little further with all the board members,” he said. “But my initial feeling on it, my gut feeling, is that I see more cons to it than pros.
“I intend to seek more information on it, but at this point in time, I would not be in favor of it.”
Regarding Cavanagh’s willingness to also consider expanding the housing authority board from five to seven members, Vicites said he doesn’t think that move is possible under current state law.
Vicites said he’s fairly certain that state law limits the size of the housing board to five members. “I think the law prohibits that (expansion),” said Vicites.
The two-term commissioner reiterated that he has not been ducking any media inquiries and has only been taking some days off to relax and enjoy some time with his wife and two young sons.