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PEEKSKILL, N.Y. -- The Peekskill Housing Authority has seen significant changes in recent months and likely will see more in the months to come.
The board of commissioners will be replacing two members and adding a tenant representative, according to city manager Brian Havranek.
The current chair of the board is Leyla Ditterlizzi, whose term was finished in July. However, Havranek said he has kept her and city councilman Don Bennett on the board as holdovers for the time being due to a shortage of members after the recent resignations of commissioners Joanna Dunn, Karen Watson and Ron Abbad.
"I needed someone with experience," Havranek said.
The board is supposed vote on new chair and vice chair in December, according to housing authority bylaws, Havranek said.
Havranek must appoint two new commissioners to the board to replace Ditterlizzi and Bennett. He just appointed three new commissioners that started on the board at its Sept. 20 meeting. Nancy O'Connor of Lincoln Terrace and Diana Buress of Hendrick Hills were joined on the board by former Democratic City Committee Chair Michael Kane.
Kane said he still was reviewing notes and getting up to speed on what's been happening in the Peekskill Housing Authority the past few months. As someone who rents an apartment himself, he can relate to many of the issues facing tenants, he said.
"I am a tenant, I have a landlord - that's probably why Brian asked me to join the board," Kane said.
When asked about the status of executive director Harold Phipps, who has been coming to meetings and serving in that role despite his contract not being renewed, Kane said he still was trying to understand Phipps' current status.
"I cannot explain why he's sitting in on the meetings," he said of Phipps.
Havranek said he did not have any updates on Phipps' status or if, or when. he would be replaced since he did not attend the board's executive sessions.
The board also must have an election to fill the two tenant representative positions on the board in the near future, according to Havranek. Currently, the board has one such representative, Pauline Gilchrist, who has served for more than a year. The five-year term of housing authority attorney William Florence also will expire in October.
Comments (6)
I hope all the members would comply to the new changes that are implemented. By this time I can concentrate more on the paper discovery that the board has tackled. Hope it would be more easier with me.
How much taxpayer money- Federal, State and Local, is being pumped into this Housing Authority every year? What oversight is there besides a local board that is controlled by the City Manager and thus is totally politicized? From reading these articles it seems like the only requirement for membership is to be someone's political buddy.
Putnam 1955,There is no State Funding despite the lie Foster told about the board I sat didn't have State certification(PHA) has nothing to do with DHCR only the City workers that administer Sec8 should have such certs PHA does not have section 8..The funds for Operations basically come from the rent payments and they lost $750.000.00 of that funding because flat rates have not been increased and are about $80.000.00 in rent arrears.The federal funds are based on scoring(ie) FASS/MASS/.PHAS/RASS.....The Board that has been newly appointed doesn't have a clue,and if they think that they can ride in and save the day and just right out fire this Idiot of an ED based on untruths they need to be cautious all of the above conditions and more need to be examined...FYI: Mel Burruss(former board chair) sat as Attorney for years until it was questioned and then he quit on us so that's how Florence got there in the first place via then Asst Housing Secretary..Put folks in place that will reform.....Diana Burruss is the wife of former board member/Attorney..
Lastly....The Tenants need to know that if Phipps is fired now the Board will be responsible for putting the Housing Authority into trouble status resulting in lack of services and funds...The new Board like any new boss must insist that it's employee(Mr Phipps) do what he is asked and to communicate with the Board on all matters that involve Federal Funds..Learn the laws before you(Board) just jump in and act not in favor of the program not stroke anyone's ego the mission is to protect the Authority at all times...
I heard the Tenant Association had a ban lifted..no can do and I don't know who told them they could,but the Association should probably put $500.00 a month to good use like programs to improve the environment,and tenant patrols(radios,and uniform) not pay for Davis's attorney fees,or to represent Sandy Allen in her attempt to stay in Public Housing after years of being a nuisance(40) tenant complaints I know of and that was in 2007.The City has placed some members in the past 5years that should not have been placed in the first place.Should Mr Phipps be removed?!! Yes but for violations,and incompetence in not keeping policy, enforcing lease requirements and the Occupancy policies not based on the many lies.I personally take offense to the Guilt Ridden White Folks that come up to the podium week after week to echo these lies, the residents should stop basing life decisions on advice from people who don't have to deal with results..Also the Board Chair must appoint a tenant commissioner of her choosing(alone) until there is an election in December and that person must be in good standing (ie) up to date in rent/no police involvement/no pending litigation...
First off Mike Kane has absolutely no business on the Housing Board he is a political hack(PDCC) and should have never been placed in the first place(it's unethical) the Mayor or City Manager is charged with placing five members one being a council member.Don Bennett's term too expired last July2011. I 'm not sure what the resumes of the new appointed members are but I know both Ms O'Connor and Ms Burruss.Leyla Ditterlizzi is a former officer of the court,and present substance abuse counsler and would be a great asset to the authority giving a chance.I notice that Davis didn't mention that his friend and former board chair(Renee Smith) who hired Mr Phipps has been illegally hired after a two year stay in SC to mentor children 8-13 @the Kiley Center with federal funds which has to be approved by the Housing Board(grounds for Phipps removal) the position was not advertised,she does not have Child Care Council training and no Board approval.Tonight I received several calls from parents and Grandparents who's girls attended and were "Outraged" at the questions...like..Do you know what a tampon is,and where it's put?!! or the the most upsetting question...if you were "Raped" would you keep the baby?!! Yeah I'd say the board has it's work cut out for them..PS:Kane all ED's sit in on Housing meetings..what are you doing there is my question?!!!