ERIK SANZENBACH / L’Observateur / December 30, 1999

LAPLACE – The St. John Parish Housing Authority will start the new yearwith a new executive director.

Wednesday night, the Housing Authority Board of Commissioners unanimously voted in Thomas D. Golsen as executive director.With this appointment, the Housing Authority shuts the door on a year filled with acrimony, federal and parish investigations, accusations and the firing of the last executive director.

“This is a positive step into the future,” said a relieved board chairperson, Sheila Morris. “It will be a long and difficult road ahead, but I believe wecan turn that around and have an agency centered toward the residents.”Ever since last May the St. John Housing Authority has been under intensescrutiny because residents complained of deplorable living conditions and an executive director who wasn’t taking care of the housing units or the residents. The Department of Housing and Urban Development and theParish Council both investigated these claims, and the result was the firing of the Board of Commissioners.

When a new board was put in place it fired executive director Patrena Ester, her assistant and the Housing Authority’s attorney, charging negligence.

Even with Golsen as new executive director, the Housing Authority is still under investigation by the state Legislature and the state attorney general’s office for various infractions allegedly committed under Ester’s administration.

Golsen, a 53-year-old native of Oakland, Calif., with over 30 years ofexperience working in field of public housing, will be given a two-year contract starting Jan. 1, 2000. His salary is still being negotiated.Golsen has worked in executive positions at housing agencies in San Francisco, Las Vegas and Washington D.C. HUD asked Golsen to go to NewOrleans several years ago and help straighten out the Housing Authority of New Orleans. Most recently, he was the executive director of the NationalAssociation of Resident Management Corp. in Washington D.C.After Ester was fired in September, Morris called in Golsen to act as a consultant until a new executive director was found.

“I had no idea I would come here for a long stay,” Golsen told residents and commissioners in his acceptance speech. ” But after a couple of weekshere, talking to the residents and everybody, it sort of grew on me. I hopeto prove myself worthy of your trust.”When the Board of Commissioners first advertised for the position of executive director there were 16 applications whittled down to five. Ofthose five, only Golsen had any public housing experience.

“I feel good about the choice,” said Morris. “With his troubleshootingability and 30 years of managerial experience, I think he will be great.”Several residents at the meeting concurred with Morris’ assessment.

Kalantha Jackson, vice president of the tenant’s association said, “Mr.

Golsen has made a real difference in three months. Before the residentsof Edgard Oaks were being overlooked. Now we are being allowed to collectthe rent.”A LaPlace development resident, Rachel Anderson, said Golsen started getting things done in her community.

“This man got with the people,” said Anderson. “He actually got thingsfixed in my place. He got the grass cut and the trash picked up. He gotthings done.”Golsen’s next chore is to hire an assistant executive director and fill three new positions created by the board before Golsen was hired. Two ofthe positions, grant coordinator and financial officer, are non-civil service jobs, and the third, community service coordinator, is an either/or civil service position.

Morris asked the other four candidates to apply for these positions. Shesaid with their talent they could really help the Housing Authority. Thepositions will be available within the next two weeks.

“I’m going to move slowly,” said Golsen of his plans. “My biggest project istrying to get the residents in Edgard to manage things for themselves. Iwant to get the residents in charge.” His other objective is to smooth things over with HUD. The recent scandaland firings have strained the relationship between HUD and the St. JohnParish Housing Authority.

“I want to extend an olive branch to HUD,” said Golsen. “We really needtheir help.”Morris agreed whole-heartedly.

“We want to work hand-in-hand with HUD,” she said.

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