Future of JMHA board in spotlight
One of five appointed board members resigns
STEUBENVILLE — One of the five appointed board members to the Jefferson Metropolitan Housing Authority resigned Friday during a one-hour private meeting that included the government entities that appoint the JMHA commissioners,U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, R, Marietta and representatives of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Cleveland office.
Dave Hindman of Steubenville, a county commissioners’ appointee, said he stepped down from the JMHA board of commissioners effective Friday.
” I fully agree with the Wisdom (James 1: 5) of our advisers and have selflessly stepped down as a board member of JMHA with great respect and the tremendous love that I have for the residence, employees and our great community. I do not want to see JMHA be divided against itself and fall,” Hindman said in a prepared statement.
“The Jefferson Metropolitan Housing Authority Board of Directors, over the last three years, has been unified in rebuilding and restructuring to focus on the residence, employees and our great community. We have accomplished a lot towards the success of our goal. There is still much work to be done to correct the past director and his administration’s refusal to move the agency in a forward direction. The JMHA Board was unified and focused on a common goal for JMHA,” said Hindman.
“That all changed at the June 2015 board meeting when The JMHA Board of Directors became split over a decision on the choice of the new director to be hired. From that date moving forward the board has been split on a majority of issues. We had become divided on the vision for JMHA. Matthew 12:25 states a house divided against itself will fall” continued Hindman.
We sought guidance from our appointers and legal counsel in attempting to get our board unified as a hole again. After being unsuccessful in our numerous attempts to unify our board it has been highly suggested by our board advisers and legal team that The entire JMHA Board should consider stepping down and replace the board with a fresh and unified vision for JMHA,” stated Hindman.
“My hope is that the four remaining JMHA Board Members would follow my lead and take the legal team’s advice and selflessly step aside for the love of JMHA and our community,” Hindman concluded.
Board member Ruel Mitchell said Friday night he will not resign.
“I didn’t do anything and I will be at the next board meeting. I will not quit,” said Mitchell.
“I am not resigning at this time but I will give it serious thought for the good of the board,” Gerald DiLoreto said Friday afternoon.
Board members Joann Welday and Dr. Frank L. Petrola could not be reached for comment Friday evening.
Steubenville Mayor Domenick Mucci, who has two appointments to the JMHA board, said he thought the Friday conversation, “went extremely well.”
“Everyone involved wants to move the housing authority forward and wants to do what is in the best interests of the residents in the housing authority facilities. I am very grateful for the board members and their loyalty to the JMHA and am pleased all board members are taking this under consideration,” stated Mucci.
Jefferson County Commissioner Tom Gentile attended the meeting on behalf of the commissioners and said he was happy the commissioners’ appointee, “is leading the way to put the community and the JMHA first and not himself.”
“Hopefully the rest of the board members follow Dave Hindman’s lead,” Gentile said.
“It was a good meeting and the issue is coming to a culmination. The appointing officials offered and the board members understood tough decisions need to be made for a corrective action in the JMHA,” Johnson told the Herald-Star.
“It is clear some changes are needed to be made. The question is how to attain those changes. I believe everyone is united in the belief there are tough decision that need to be made. Accountability and responsibility are important here and the process needs to be fixed,” added Johnson.
“I have been working on the JMHA and public housing issues since 2011 and what is clear is under the law and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development guidelines the JMHA has the tools they need to address crime, dilapidated buildings, the criminal element and the safety of the JMHA residents. The process is ongoing,” declared Johnson.
Three of the JMHA board members met at the scheduled July board meeting and immediately moved to remove Pat Mader as executive director of the housing authority and elected new board officers.
The board members, DiLoreto, Petrola and Welday then approved the hiring of Debbie Bailey, a 21-year JMHA employee to serve as the interim director with a salary and contract to be discussed at a later date.
DiLoreto said the board will conduct a search for a permanent executive director.
“We will take our time and ask Congressman Bill Johnson, City Manager Jim Mavromatis, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the JMHA residents for help. We have a problem with a lack of leadership in the administration and certain board members who try to run everything,” DiLoreto stated during the meeting.
DiLoreto later told Bailey all office locks should be changed as soon as possible.
Mader was appointed executive director of the public housing agency during a special board meeting in October 2015.
During the July meeting the three board members also voted to hire attorney Pete Olivito to represent the JMHA for eviction cases at $900 a month and to offer advice at JMHA meetings when necessary for $400 a month.
The board members approved a resolution to keep the JMHA central offices at the JFK building and to have all material already moved from the JFK building to the Washington Square building to be returned and any expenses incurred for moving the material to be charged to the individuals who signed the lease.
Johnson also addressed recent discussions regarding the Fort Steuben Hotel apartment building.
“We are continuing to be aware of the issues and will discuss the issues with Steubenville officials. We will do all that we can do to help resolve those issues. I started working on all of this in 2011. I am the kind of guy who rolls up his sleeves and gets to work,” said Johnson.
(Gossett can be contacted at dgossett@heraldstaronline.com.)
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