×

No public response made about Jefferson metro housing audit by HUD

STEUBENVILLE — The Jefferson Metropolitan Housing Authority board of commissioners took no public action and made no public comment Wednesday about an Aug. 3 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Inspector General’s report that cited several concerns about the public housing agency.

JMHA Executive Director Debbie Bailey said she had provided the board with copies of the federal audit but was not yet prepared to respond to its findings.

“Offices were moved and records were moved, but I feel comfortable we will find the documentation. I am working with the HUD Cleveland office and hope to locate the records they are talking about,” Bailey told the Herald-Star a week ago.

The audit listed five recommendations including:

¯ Support or reimburse HUD $964,365 from nonfederal funds for the unsupported procurement and contracting cited in the finding;

¯ Update JMHA’s expected energy savings, including change orders and provide supporting documentation to HUD for approval to ensure the remaining contract amount is appropriately approved;

¯ Work with HUD to develop a plan to ensure the energy savings are realized to prevent a potential default on the $5,869,770 energy conservation loan used to purchase energy conservation equipment attached to the authority’s public housing properties;

¯ Implement adequate procedures and controls to ensure procurements are appropriately managed and adequate documentation is maintained to support the significant history of its procurements and adequate competition is sought for all procurements; and,

¯ Implement adequate procedures and controls to ensure the authority follows HUD’s and its own conflict of interest requirements related to procurements. Such procedures should include but not be limited to selecting contractors based on open and free competition and ensuring real or apparent conflicts of interest do not exist or are appropriately mitigated.

Questions regarding the HUD audit were referred by the Cleveland HUD office to the Chicago HUD office.

A spokesman from the Chicago HUD office said officials there are reviewing the audit.

The board moved into a closed door executive meeting following an 18-minute public session, and board members hear several reports from JMHA officials.

Commissioner Gerald DiLoreto questioned several bills submitted to JMHA. Bailey said she will provide DiLoreto with the answers next week.

Security Director Carolyn Swearengen said proposals for security service at the JMHA public housing units must be submitted by 4 p.m. on Sept. 9.

Maintenance Manager Tony Hollins said he is working closely with the JMHA managers to prepare apartments for lease as soon as possible.

“We are working on a vehicle maintenance contract with Team Ford, Allietta Ford and Firestone. We are also working on obtaining sanitation bids. And, we are working on getting the emergency generators up and running at the Bridgeview Apartments,” Hollins said.

“We recently hired two new employees from the Harrison Housing Authority and their skill level is pretty high. That is helping us keep more work in house,” added Hollins.

(Gossett can be contacted at dgossett@heraldstaronline.com.)

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today