By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – St. John the Baptist Parish Housing Authority Board commissioners said Monday they are waiting for clearance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development before they can move forward with finding a new executive director.

At the commission’s regular meeting Monday, Chairwoman Iona Holloway said she and Housing Board legal adviser Randal Gaines are working closely with HUD to ensure the search for a director to replace Richard “Dale” Wolfe follows the federal agency’s guidelines. Wolfe’s contract was terminated during a special meeting of the Housing Board last week for what the Board cited as numerous contract and policy violations in the seven months he was on the job.

Gaines said there is no specific timeline in place because the agency cannot move forward with a search just yet.

“Normally the process would be immediate,” Gaines said. “But since the housing authority is a troubled agency it needs further clearance. They have not given permission to advertise.”

Gaines said the agency had questioned whether the board will have to go through the advertisement process again since it recently conducted the search that netted Wolfe or whether they could draw from previous applicants. He said since it will be a new employment and a new contract a new advertisement will be necessary.

“Because of the recent problems, HUD is exercising some involvement,” he said.

Gaines refers to a litany of issues that stem from a consolidated review of the Housing Authority conducted by HUD last year. The review notes deficiencies in collecting rent, poor maintenance practices and the undocumented spending of more than $1 million by the agency.

At the advice of HUD, Holloway said she enlisted the help of Claudette Raphael, director of the Kenner Housing Authority and a former St. John Housing Authority Director, to guide the agency through some day-to-day activities to get it back on track. Raphael is currently working on her own time, but Holloway said the board is developing a possible contract for her services.

During the meeting Monday, several residents stood up and expressed frustrations with the parish’s housing situation and the agency itself. Some residents said a lack of leadership has them doubting the agency can succeed.

Clarissa Alvis, a resident of the LaPlace development for the past 11 years, said repeated changes in directors has done nothing but make matters worse.

“I have seen three different directors in my time living here, and nothing’s ever changed,” Alvis said. “And now you got rid of Dale when he’s the only one who ever drove past the (office) parking lot and knocked on our doors.”

Alvis, who said she is concerned about litter in the development as well as the safety of the children because of speeding cars in the area, asked the board members present who was available to handle everyday issues of tenants. Holloway said the board appointed the agency’s administrative coordinator Cindy Johnson to oversee day-to-day issues until a director could be found.

“We are trying to get the development up and running, but we are in a quagmire,” Holloway said. “It is important to keep the agency running, but we need an executive director.”

Holloway said she understands the frustrations coming from residents and has asked for patience from the tenants toward the board while they work to find a new director and begin solving some of the problems that hamper the agency.

“I don’t live here, and I’m frustrated,” Holloway said. “But by the end of summer, we hope to have someone in here doing some positive things.”

Holloway said she had also been in contact with Parish President Natalie Robottom about appointing a new tenant member to the board. The previous representative, Clarence Narcisse, resigned May 2, citing failing health. The tenant council must provide a list of candidates to Robottom.