Housing Board Seeks Applicants For Director Post

BROOKSVILLE - That doesn't mean, however, that they don't have an obligation to advertise to fill the position on a permanent basis, the board agreed at its regular meeting Tuesday.

"Ron's done a good job," said Jim Brooks, a board member who has served since August - longer than the newest additions. "He came into a very sticky situation, but to do it the way it should be done, I think we should open up it up for applicants."

The board agreed to update the job description, get an advertisement approved and have the ad posted by mid-February.

Board members encouraged McLean to reapply for the position, something McLean said he planned to do.

"I think Mr. McLean's doing an excellent job, but we obviously should follow the procurement policy," said Brian Adair, who was appointed to the board last month.

Then, to McLean, Adair said: "Obviously you should be in the mix."

McLean, who has been working in recent months with a small army of officials from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to straighten out the financial mess left by former director Betty Trent's administration, said during the meeting that the housing authority is "stable now" but agreed that advertising for the director position is "in the best interest of the housing authority."

"I may have just shot myself in the foot, but that's the right thing to do," he told the board.

He agreed to serve until the hiring process plays out and, if he's not picked to stay on permanently, to help ease his successor into the position.

McLean's contract expired last month. A previous board hired McLean last June on an interim basis.

The authority was in a pinch at that time: Former director Betty Trent was about to face charges of stealing money from the authority, and Hernando Housing Authority director Don Singer, hired to fill in on a part-time, temporary basis, left in April.

The authority also faced a crisis at its Summit Villas complex. A fire broke out at the affordable housing complex in March, revealing a dangerously outdated and overloaded electrical system.

McLean, who at the time was a case manager for Youth and Family Alternatives Inc., heard about the opening and applied. There was no formal advertisement for the position at that time.

The board selected McLean over at least three other applicants, including Donnamarie Lopez, a board member at that time; Glenn Claytor, a Spring Hill resident with experience running housing authorities; and Billye Fetrow, the authority's project manager at the time.

McLean's tenure so far has not been without controversy. At least two previous board members were convinced that McLean lied to an insurance agent about the status of his driver's license to an insurance agent working on the authority's automobile policy.

McLean adamantly denied the charges. A personnel committee comprised of board members voted not to further investigate the allegations.

Last month, Mayor David Pugh asked three board members to resign. All but one did; then-Chairman Steve Zeledon fought charges that he failed to efficiently run the board, but the City Council agreed with Pugh's recommendation to remove him.

Pugh handpicked four residents he knew personally to serve on the board temporarily to try to get the authority back on track.

He also wants the temporary members to make a recommendation on whether the city should cut ties with the agency. The authority is funded and overseen by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, but the city council appoints and removes board members.

Tuesday's meeting, held at City Hall, was notable for the absence of tension and outright shouting that marred past board meetings.

In other action, the board agreed to limit to $10,000 the amount that the authority's director can spend without going through a formal bid process; and agreed to hire a second attorney with experience working with housing authorities.