City Council needs a seat on housing board

By A TIMES EDITORIAL
Published August 23, 2007

Mayor David Pugh and the City Council completed their clean sweep of the Brooksville Housing Authority Monday night when they dismissed the last of four members who oversaw the agency's years-long spiral into fraud and mismanagement.

One could rightly argue that the move was overdue, but this unprecedented action leaves no question that the council is willing and capable of asserting itself on behalf of city residents who depend on this very necessary subsidized housing program.

However, there is more the City Council can do to ensure the neglect and indifference of the past do not take root again on the new board.

One obvious step, which the City Council so far has inexplicably refused to take, is to assign one of its members to act as a liaison to the Housing Authority. That would require only that the council member attend the Housing Authority's meetings, scrutinizing its policy decisions and staying on top of what problems residents bring to the board. The liaison then would apprise the council of pertinent information.

This would encourage greater accountability not only from the Housing Authority to the council, but it also should strengthen communication between the council and residents who live in the low-income apartments.

The federal department of Housing and Urban Development is continuing its audit of the Housing Authority following the fraud convictions of former authority employees Betty Trent and Joe Ann Bennett. HUD also is looking into allegations by interim director Ronnie McLean of improper expenditures, record-keeping and other misconduct. All the while, questions remain about the safety and living conditions in the apartments.

Replacing the Housing Authority members who allowed these unacceptable situations to develop begins another chapter in the story of this beleaguered board. We expect the new members to show more respect for their positions of trust and responsibility. Clearly, there needs to be an increased level of care about the expenditure of the public's money and the people for whom it is intended to assist.

But the City Council's work is not done; continued involvement also is needed. Making sure the council monitors that anticipated progress can be accomplished by appointing a liaison to the authority.

[Last modified August 22, 2007, 20:27:45]