Jan 11, 2008 By Amy Zalar 4 min read

The two newly appointed members of the Fayette County Housing Authority attended their first meeting Thursday and were immediately elected as chairman and vice chairman of the board. At the reorganization meeting, former Fayette County controller Harry Fike was elected as FCHA board chairman and retired businessman Ernie DeBlasio was then selected as vice-chairman.

Nancy Sutton was selected as secretary and Beverly Beal was selected to continue to serve as treasurer. The fifth office of assistant treasurer was not filled.

Solicitor Jack Purcell said the board would leave the position open until they “see what is going to happen.”

Each of the motions were approved unanimously, with the exception of one 3-1 vote, in which DeBlasio voted against Fike as chairman. DeBlasio said later that he voted against Fike only in deference to former Chairwoman Angela M. Zimmerlink, who was conspicuously absent from the meeting.

When contacted after the meeting, Zimmerlink said she has decided not to accept the appointment to fill the remainder of the term of William “Trip” Radcliffe.

Zimmerlink, who is also a Fayette County commissioner, had voted along with Commission Chairman Vincent Zapotosky earlier this week to appoint herself to fill the unexpired term until Dec. 31. Commissioner Vincent A. Vicites voted against the appointment, saying he doesn’t believe commissioners should serve on municipal authorities.

Zimmerlink served two consecutive five-year terms on the housing authority prior to the expiration of her second term on Dec. 31, 2007. Both of her appointments to the board were made prior to her election as county commissioner. This year she began her second four-year term as commissioner.

Fike, the new board chairman previously served two four-year terms as controller, and said he ran a Uniontown business for 40 years. Fike said he didn’t walk into his first meeting Thursday morning with any idea he would become chairman.

“It was a complete surprise,” Fike said.

Fike, whose brother Ed Fike is beginning his first term as mayor of Uniontown, said the housing authority board has always interested him. DeBlasio, a native of Dunbar who now lives in Uniontown, said he hopes to make a positive contribution by serving on the housing authority. The family of the new vice chairman formerly owned Keystone Fireworks.

The board then decided to hold the monthly meetings beginning at 9 a.m. on the second Thursday of the month, instead of 8:30 a.m. The meetings will begin at 5:30 p.m. during the months of March, June, September and December.

At the beginning of the regular meeting, Harry Fike announced that his brother has one or two Section 8 rental units and said he would not be voting on Section 8 matters until the issue is reported to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Purcell told Harry Fike he must submit a written statement and ask for HUD approval.

Executive director Thomas Harkless said such issues have occurred in the past and since Harry Fike has disclosed the information the renters will likely be able to stay but Ed Fike will probably not be permitted to add additional Section 8 rental units.

In agenda items, the board voted to table a motion to award a bid for the purchase of a new 2008 sport utility vehicle for Harkless. In making the motion, Beal said the new board members need extra time to decide on the action. Beal also asked that the $650 monthly car allowance to Harkless be extended another month.

The board also tabled a motion to award a contract for financial services, and voted to extend the current contract with HJ Financial, which expires Jan. 31, an additional month. Beal said she has concerns about Asher & Company, the firm that is being recommended for the contract.

The board voted to convey a permanent easement for a sanitary sewer system on property in Washington Township for a system that will serve the 80 units of Marion Villa. Purcell said the authority currently maintains its own treatment plant for the housing project, and public sewerage will be a benefit to the entire area.

The board voted to award a contract for pest control services from Jan. 1 through May 31 for J.D. Ehrlich of Smock.

Harkless explained to the new board members that the authority spends about $22 million annually, and has 1,336 public housing units throughout the county. He said the authority is doing a lot of work ranging from remodeling older units to demolition to new construction, and he will hold an orientation for new members soon. Harry Fike’s term ends Dec. 31, 2012 and DeBlasio’s term ends Dec. 31, 2011.