Posted by JCHA brass seeing HUD in Newark today on March 19, 2004 at 10:47:00:

Housing boss is barred from Jersey City office

JCHA brass seeing HUD in Newark today

Friday, March 19, 2004

By Earl Morgan
Journal staff writer

The locks were changed on the doors of the Jersey City Housing Authority administrative headquarters yesterday to deny the agency's recently hired executive director, E. Troy Washington, access to the building.

At approximately 6 p.m. yesterday, JCHA Board Chairman Arthur Williams arrived at the administrative headquarters, at 400 U.S. Highway 1, in the Marion Gardens complex, with several JCHA employees and ordered everyone out of the building.

Several employees, including consultant Jim Scott and the deputy director of security, Alvin "Duke" Sims, were ordered to leave.

Washington is currently in Cuba, according to agency sources, and could not be reached for comment.

After the building was vacated, a police guard was set up to assure that no one could enter the building until the agency opens for business today at 9 a.m.

According to Housing Authority documents obtained by The Jersey Journal, the JCHA board yesterday approved a number of actions in a phone vote, including passage of a resolution informing Washington that he will not be paid for this week's absence.

One letter also rebuked Washington for leaving without letting the board know he would be out of town or advising it of who would be in charge in his absence.

A resolution was also approved by phone rehiring Sandra Robertson as deputy executive director of management and operations. She was terminated the day Washington took over.

Another document rescinds the $2,200-a-week contract paid to consultant Scott, who served as the agency's interim executive director before Washington took over in mid-January.

Washington took over the JCHA on Jan. 16 after serving in the same position at the Hoboken Housing Authority.

After his departure from Hoboken, the interim executive director of that agency, Bob DiVincent, reported finding a number of budgetary problems. Last Friday, DiVincent released a report showing the HHA has a $3.6 million budget deficit.

The HHA receives most of its approximately $10 million budget from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Following DiVincent's disclosures, HUD officials announced they were sending the report to that agency's inspector general for further review.

While Williams, the board chairman, refused to make any statements concerning the JCHA's actions yesterday, it was learned that the agency's commissioners are scheduled to meet with HUD officials in Newark this morning.

Yesterday, Jersey City City Council President L. Harvey Smith called for Washington's ouster.

"I believe it is in the best interest of the city and the JCHA that Mr. Washington step down from his position until the HUD investigation is completed," Smith said in a memorandum sent to Mayor Glenn D. Cunningham.

Responding to Smith's memo, Stan H. Eason, a spokesman Cunningham said: "We have not been notified by any agency, HUD or anyone else, of any wrongdoing. However, if we need a sheriff, we'll be sure to call Mr. Smith."

Eason's comment was meant as a dig at Smith, who is also a Hudson County undersheriff. Cunningham in the past has questioned Smith's qualifications for the post.

Follow Ups:

• Shredded papers, overdrawn accounts wtg 09:05:04 03/22/04 (0)
• >WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES....way to go Stan ONE DAY LATER STAN EASON SINGS A DIFFERENT TUNE 15:26:57 03/20/04 (0)
• Damage Control Chakotay 11:47:38 03/19/04 (1)
  • Spring has sprung BlindJustice 21:21:44 03/19/04 (0)

Post a Followup

Name    : 
E-Mail  : 
Subject : 

Comments:
:  
:  
:  

: Housing boss is barred from Jersey City office 

: JCHA brass seeing HUD in Newark today 

: 
: Friday, March 19, 2004

: 
: By Earl Morgan 
: Journal staff writer 

: The locks were changed on the doors of the Jersey City Housing Authority administrative headquarters yesterday to deny the agency's recently hired executive director, E. Troy Washington, access to the building. 

: At approximately 6 p.m. yesterday, JCHA Board Chairman Arthur Williams arrived at the administrative headquarters, at 400 U.S. Highway 1, in the Marion Gardens complex, with several JCHA employees and ordered everyone out of the building. 

:  
:    
: Several employees, including consultant Jim Scott and the deputy director of security, Alvin "Duke" Sims, were ordered to leave. 

: Washington is currently in Cuba, according to agency sources, and could not be reached for comment. 

: After the building was vacated, a police guard was set up to assure that no one could enter the building until the agency opens for business today at 9 a.m. 

: According to Housing Authority documents obtained by The Jersey Journal, the JCHA board yesterday approved a number of actions in a phone vote, including passage of a resolution informing Washington that he will not be paid for this week's absence. 

: One letter also rebuked Washington for leaving without letting the board know he would be out of town or advising it of who would be in charge in his absence. 

: A resolution was also approved by phone rehiring Sandra Robertson as deputy executive director of management and operations. She was terminated the day Washington took over. 

: Another document rescinds the $2,200-a-week contract paid to consultant Scott, who served as the agency's interim executive director before Washington took over in mid-January. 

: Washington took over the JCHA on Jan. 16 after serving in the same position at the Hoboken Housing Authority. 

: After his departure from Hoboken, the interim executive director of that agency, Bob DiVincent, reported finding a number of budgetary problems. Last Friday, DiVincent released a report showing the HHA has a $3.6 million budget deficit. 

: The HHA receives most of its approximately $10 million budget from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Following DiVincent's disclosures, HUD officials announced they were sending the report to that agency's inspector general for further review. 

: While Williams, the board chairman, refused to make any statements concerning the JCHA's actions yesterday, it was learned that the agency's commissioners are scheduled to meet with HUD officials in Newark this morning. 

: Yesterday, Jersey City City Council President L. Harvey Smith called for Washington's ouster. 

: "I believe it is in the best interest of the city and the JCHA that Mr. Washington step down from his position until the HUD investigation is completed," Smith said in a memorandum sent to Mayor Glenn D. Cunningham. 

: Responding to Smith's memo, Stan H. Eason, a spokesman Cunningham said: "We have not been notified by any agency, HUD or anyone else, of any wrongdoing. However, if we need a sheriff, we'll be sure to call Mr. Smith." 

: Eason's comment was meant as a dig at Smith, who is also a Hudson County undersheriff. Cunningham in the past has questioned Smith's qualifications for the post. 



:  


Optional Link URL:  
Link Title:         
Optional Image URL: 

 

Hoboken Guide

Jersey City and Hoboken Real Estate Waterfront Apartments and Condominiums

Featured Link Featured Listing Advertising Program Business name, Web Site Link and a brief description or motto – runs for one month in the Page (or Pages) of your choice. Sales Associates Wanted! GET NJ seeks sales associates to market ads on a commission basis. For more information, e-mail your resume and contact information to sales@getnj.com – Be sure to mention the area of New Jersey and/or the market segment that you plan to serve. GRAVE ROBBER Jersey City Computer Repair 297 Griffith Street, Jersey City, NJ - 201-798-2292 - In the Heights just off of Kennedy Blvd. - Very close to Journal Square and Union City, just five minutes away from Hoboken, Downtown Jersey City, Newport, the Waterfront, Secaucus, North Bergen and Weehawken - Tech support for The Jersey City Mayor's Office during the administration of Bret Schundler - PC repair - Tivos, too!, upgrade, hardware install, software install, data recovery, spyware removal, virus removal, replace hard drive, replace motherboard, copy files from notebooks, backup information from dead laptops Wanted! Used Computers! Used computers bought and sold. Located in Jersey City, NJ - convenient to the Hoboken 2nd Street Light Rail stations and the Journal Square PATH subway station. E-mail graverobber@verizon.net with an itemized list (description) of what you have for sale and the price. Pickup in the New York City Metro area -- minimum 10 units. Secure, guaranteed data removal is available.

For All Sorts of Unique New York City Information, Visit GET NY!