Council requests HUD take an in-depth look at housing authority

Published 12:00 am Saturday, June 3, 2000

ERIK SANZENBACH / L’Observateur / June 3, 2000

LAPLACE – Councilman Cleveland Farlough called a special meeting of the St.

John Parish Council Tuesday in order to have an “in-depth look” at the St.

John Parish Housing Authority.

At the meeting, attended by only five council members, a resolution was passed requesting the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development conduct a comprehensive audit of the St. John Parish HousingAuthority. The results of that audit will then be discussed with the councilalong with recommendations on how to improve the housing authority. Moreimportantly, HUD should also tell the St. John Parish Council exactly whatpowers the council has over the St. John Housing Authority.The motion passed 5-0. Councilmen Duaine Duffy, Lester Rainey, RanneyWilson and Steve Lee were absent from the meeting.

Farlough’s concerns stem from the recent firing of Sheila Morris, the former chairperson of the housing authority’s board of commissioners.

Parish President Nickie Monica fired Morris after getting a letter of complaint from Charles Drozdowski, head of the New Orleans office of HUD, which said Morris was responsible for the lack of financial and procedural responsibility at the housing authority.

St. John Parish Housing Authority Executive Director Thomas Gholson wasalso told by HUD that Morris represented the link between the old and new parish administrations, and as a result, should be removed from her post.

All this has Farlough concerned over the role the council has with the housing authority.

“We on the council have no dealings with the housing authority except to approve appointments to the housing authority’s board of commissioners,” said Farlough. “We are told to keep our noses out of it, but when problemsarise we are asked to solve them, even though we have no jurisdiction over the housing authority. We are caught between a rock and a hard place.”Farlough is also concerned over the “lack of specificity” regarding the charges against Morris. At the May 9 meeting of the council in Edgard,Councilman Dale Wolfe asked for the termination of Morris and said he had information that would show that Morris should be removed from office.

When asked at the time to present his proof, he said he would do so during Morris’ appeal.

At Tuesday’s meeting, Allen St. Pierre asked Wolfe if he had brought theinformation against Morris.

Wolfe said, “No. When it got to the point when Morris did not appeal her firingthat information was not needed.”St. Pierre asked, “You’re saying that information is not needed?””Yes,” responded Wolfe. “But if you want the information, I’ll give youwhatever I’ve got. What I say I have, I have.”However, Farlough was not satisfied.

“We felt we did not have enough documentation. That is why I called thismeeting,” Farlough said to Wolfe. “Members of this council do not haveeverything to make the right decision. Will getting rid of one person be theright thing and make things right?” Wolfe said, “We made decisions on the right information. I had adequateinformation. I don’t want anyone leaving here thinking I don’t have theinformation. It’s a dead horse. I was withholding the information for thehearing. Now it is not necessary.”When questioned by St. Pierre on Morris’ termination, Monica also wasreluctant to impart the reasons for her firing.

“The reason to terminate her was a combination of information I got from the meeting with Charles Drozdowski and the HUD lawyer,” Monica told the council. “Her decision not to appeal means this information will not appear.”Despite Wolfe’s assurances he would present the information to anyone who wanted it, he refused to impart that information to members of the press after the meeting. He said he didn’t want to cause Morris any more pain thanshe had already been through.

St. Pierre couldn’t understand why the incriminating information couldn’t bemade public.

“I am not 100 percent satisfied with this. I just don’t feel comfortable withthis,” said a frustrated St. Pierre, “This just leaves a lot of doubts.”Farlough said, “That’s why I wanted this motion passed. At least now we canget some questions answered.”So far Monica has not appointed anyone to fill Morris’ position on the board.

Tuesday he asked that council members submit names to his office for consideration.

For the present, board member Eulah Young is acting chairperson of the board of commissioners.

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