Nov 13, 2009 By Amy Revak 3 min read

The Fayette County Housing Authority Thursday observed a moment of silence for recently deceased member Nancy Sutton before beginning the monthly meeting. Sutton, 94, a former resident of Marshall Manor in Uniontown, died Nov. 6. She was the secretary of the board at the time of her death and had served as a member for nearly nine years.

Executive director Thomas Harkless explained that Sutton, who was in the fourth year of her second five-year term, was the tenant representative for the board.

Harkless said the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has a requirement that a member of the five-person board must either live in public housing or live in a Section 8 subsidized property.

Harkless said Sutton signed a letter of resignation prior to her death and also notified the countywide tenants association. Although the tenants association makes a recommendation, the Fayette County commissioners must fill the appointment.

Harkless said the tenants association recently accepted nominations to fill the vacancy and unanimously recommended the appointment of Mary Wertz, a resident of South Hill Terrace in Brownsville. Harkless said the recommendation is being forwarded to the commissioners for their consideration.

Commission Chairman Vincent Zapotosky said he had not yet received the recommendation, but added that an appointment likely will be made soon. Whomever is appointed will serve until the end of 2010.

In a related matter, the authority voted unanimously to appoint Robert Onesko as secretary until the reorganization meeting of the board in January. Onesko also will continue to serve as assistant treasurer also. Voting in favor were chairman Harry Fike and board members Beverly Beal, Ernest DeBlasio and Onesko.

During the executive director’s report, Harkless said that services provided by the tenant organization have ceased. Harkless said the company, which included tenants, primarily performed painting or landscaping work.

Harkless said there is talk about starting another organization, but for now there isn’t such a business. He said the resident owned business hasn’t been used as much in recent year, as the vacancy rate has gone down and unneeded units have been demolished.

Onesko asked if the authority’s current staff could handle the extra work. Beal said the authority should hire two additional custodians to help with work at the authority’s 17 sites. Harkless said employees have left the authority in the last couple years, and hiring any new employees would be discussed when developing the budget.

In other business, the authority approved revisions to policies to include admission preferences for families displaced by public action for public housing and Section 8. The change would give eligible families first priority in the event they are displaced by a public entity purchasing their place of residence.

The authority also amended procurement policies and procedures for the $3.1 million in federal stimulus money the authority received.

The amendment stipulates that a push must be made for local and minority owned businesses, and all materials that are purchased must be made in America. The authority is performing renovation work to make units accessible to people with disabilities.

The authority also voted to make changes to the authority’s housing plan for future development.

The changes including adding a provision that Uniontown Hospital is leasing 2.4 acres for parking, plans to purchase five parcels on Woodlawn Avenue for future development and to list another building in the Bierer Wood Acres site for demolition.