By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – The St. John the Baptist Parish Housing Authority Board has much work to do in restoring order to the office following the tenure of former Executive Director Lawand Johnson.

The Board met with new Executive Director Dale Wolfe behind closed doors to discuss the Housing Authority’s budget situation, which was left in shambles by Johnson and her accounting office.

“He agreed to work on some changes with the budget,” said Board member Paula Hart following the session.

Not everything took place behind closed doors, however. Residents in attendance at the meeting learned the Board is taking steps to rectify the neglected Section 8 department.

New Section 8 Manager Brandy Hayes said she is working on a report to determine which agencies still owe the Housing Authority money. She will have the report, which will include who owes money and how much they owe as well as the expected time frame for payment, by Friday, she said.

Board member Art Smith expressed his desire to see the office brought up to speed in a timely fashion.

“We’re supposed to know at the push of a button which agencies owe us money,” he said. He continued, “That’ something that needs to be fixed, and we’re going to fix things, and we’re going to fix them in the right way.”

Following the compilation of the report, Hart said a plan will be put in motion to obtain all the funds owed to the Housing Authority from agencies that handle Section 8 clients.

It was also noted that inspections of Section 8 units would be done in a regular and timely fashion. Also, the board said it plans to step up enforcement of other regulations, such as the on-time payment of rent and the prohibition of residents who have been convicted of felonies.

Smith said he understood some of the changes being made might alienate a portion of the current residents, but they would ultimately make the housing developments safer, more livable communities.

“We want this to just be a pit stop for everybody,” he said.

One of the residents who is dissatisfied with some of the recent actions of the Board is Tammy Davis, who voiced her concerns at Monday’s meeting.

Referring to the recent six-month probation placed on Wolfe, David said she thought the punishment did not fit the crime.

“Are you here for us or against us?” she asked.

Smith replied, “We’re working as a team. We had to do something.”

That probation is just one of the ways the Board is trying to change the way the Housing Authority does business.

On Monday it also passed a resolution regarding the rules governing the hiring of employees in the Accounting Department.

According to the resolution, those applying for an accounting position will have to meet the minimum requirements set by the state. The Housing Authority will soon begin to advertise the executive accounting position. The Board did say, however, that Wolfe’s recent choice for the position, Colette Anderson, will be able to apply.

“We can’t tell you who to hire,” said Smith. “This only establishes a procedure.”

For her part, Anderson said, “The accounting office needs a lot of work. … It’s going to take a while to fix the accounting office.”

Another notable resolution deals with a parishwide smoking ban in all public housing units. The ban will go into effect Jan. 1, 2011.

Also passed Monday was a resolution moving the monthly Board meeting time from 5:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. on the third Monday of every month.

Wolfe did note some progress made during his short time in office. He said when he came into the position, there were 511 outstanding work orders, and 434 of them have been taken care of.

Said Smith, “That’s very good, Mr. Wolfe, but I think we can do better.”