The decision was made Tuesday afternoon after a two and a half hour closed meeting at Leath Memorial Library.
The emergency meeting was called by Ed Ormsby, chairman of the board.
Following the unanimous vote by the full board, Police Chief Robert Voorhees requested that locks to the office on Armstead Street be changed.
Until that is done, officers of the police department will secure the building to secure the documents within it.
Voorhees said he expected someone from the U.S. Inspector General’s Office, Housing and Urban Development, to come today to take charge of the office.
At that time, he said he expected to be able to obtain the documents he had requested from Ingram but never received.
Ingram could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.
The meeting included Ormsby and board members George Stone, Denise Sullivan, Cohen Cox and Sandra Smith. Ingram was not present. John R. Daniel, attorney to the RHA Board was there.
For more than an hour, Voorhees met in closed session with the board to present his concerns about not receiving documents under a Freedom of Information Act request for information to determine if a formal investigation was necessary.
Voorhees Tuesday said he was now working in cooperation with the Inspector General’s office on a criminal investigation.
He did not reveal what information he presented to the board in the closed session or any discussion of it.
Back in open session, Cox made the motion to suspend Ingram with pay which was seconded by Stone. Sullivan and Smith voted along with Cox and Stone to suspend her.
In his opening prayer, Ormsby asked for strength for the board to “meet the needs of your children.”
Ormsby said he called the emergency meeting because delaying the issue until the regular meeting would be detrimental to the board considering the complaints which had been made concerning the operation of the RHA.
On April 28, the board attempted to meet but was told it could not legally do so because of a lack of public notice.
A notice for the emergency meeting was posted this time on the RHA office door to meet legal requirements.
Voorhees has complained that Ingram obstructed his attempts to obtain certain financial documents pertaining to RHA operations.
Daniel had said HUD was responding to his request following its procedures. But the documents were never produced.
Christian T. Stearns, field office director of the U.S. Department of HUD, Greensboro, responded to a Daily Journal inquiry April 24 that, “We are aware of the investigation and do not want to comment about an on-going investigation.”
The board of directors for the RHA has the authority to hire and fire the executive director. The board members are appointed to their positions by the mayor of Rockingham.
Operational control of the RHA is through HUD, and housing authority operations are guided by the Code of Federal Regulations.
On Aug. 12, Ormsby and Stone met with HUD officials and Mayor Gene McLaurin to discuss issues related to the RHA.
“It was obvious the HUD officials were concerned about many issues brought to light that day,” McLaurin said. “I certainly share their concerns and am pleased they plan an investigation into activities at RHA so the board of commissioners can learn additional information to either substantiate of mitigate these concerns.”
In a letter to Ormsby, McLaurin said, “From my standpoint some of the concerns focus on the meetings not being held in public, public hearings not being held as required, conflicts of interest with the director, Gracie Ingram authorizing and approving the hiring of relatives without board approval, entering into contracts without board approval, and failing to provide financial and activities reports in accordance with N.C. General Statutes.”
At the time, Ormsby had just assumed the chairmanship of the board.
On March 2, Voorhees asked Ormsby to obtain information for him after issues were raised to him about nepotism and expenditure of RHA funds on personal expenses. He wanted information to determine if an investigation was necessary.
After meeting with Daniel, Ormsby instructed Ingram to comply with Voorhees’ request for information. Ormsby informed the board about the handling of a grant by the RHA, and he was requesting that Ingram comply with the chief’s “entire request without delay.”
On March 31, Voorhees had still not received the information he requested. In a letter to members of the RHA Board, he reminded members they “have a direct fiduciary responsibility for the funds” involved in RHA operations.
In that letter, he informed the board that “a bank account has been opened to handle the funds in the Housing Authority’s name, and persons other than those approved by the board are on the signature card and signing checks for funds that the RHA is responsible for.”
The bank account was for a 21st Century grant received by the RHA.
n Contact reporter Tom MacCallum at 997-3111, ext. 15; e-mail tmaccallum@yourdailyjournal.com.
It doesnt sound to me that this can be at all good for the Housing Authority, I hope it is resolved quickly an either arrest some folks if they did wrong or make a report saying everything is fine, but based on the audit I doubt that is gonna happen. I smell some arrests coming.
Don't worry about who I am. So what if I didn't take the time out to comment on her daughter, I didn't know anything about it so I'm not defending anyone for your information. Unlike your nosey self, I stay out of other people's business. Who are you and what do you do, sit around wasting your time calling people to find out who's on the job NOSETTE. It's none of my business who works there and I could care less. In the article it looks like she had it documented so she wasn't hiding anything. You are just a HATER, so HATE on.
By the way have a blessed week, I'm through commenting with ignorant people.
I hope you took the time to read the audit report today in the Daily Journal. Looks to me like the truth is coming out and it is not favoring Gracie. I noticed you didnt bother to defend the fact that she also hired her daughter in direct violation of the rules... Hmmmm wonder who you are??
First of all, I am not one of her relatives (FACT). I knew somone would go digging there face when I commented on none of her relatives working there. And so what if her neice works down there,(OLD NEWS) is she taking anything away from you, is anything coming out of your pocket NOSETTE. And for your information what is it to you that her neice works there, she has been there over 13 years so what in the world does that have to do with what is going on. Are you jealous, do you need a job? You calling there was just showing how you stick your nose in people's business that you need to stay out of and SHUT your mouth. And YES I know all the REAL FACTS PLEASE BELIEVE ME.
I hope that you are not a Christian because you are already convicting her and she hasn't even been accused of nothing. You are just like the people in the BIBLE who cried Hosanna Hosanna, now you are crucifying her. Do not accuse Ms.Ingram she is innocent unitl proven guility. And she still doesn't have nothing to hide and the truth will come to the light, keep on reading whoever you are.
Either you are misinformed or you are one of her realtives that work there hoping this all goes away. I know for a fact that her daughter has and her neice still does work for the RHA. And that is public knowledge because I called and asked. So either Mrs Ingram has lied to you or you are not telling the truth here. Either way, you should not take such a passionate position without knowing all the real facts and yes, we will be watching the paper to see the guilty pay, whomever that might be. She wouldnt be the first Christian to have to ask forgivness.
First of all, do you know JESUS? You said the FBI is now involved, what does that mean? Mrs.Ingram has GOD on her side. And for a FACT her family doesn't work at the housing authority. So you need to keep your MOUTH shut and stop wishing Mrs.Ingram harm because you will be eating every single word back that you said. You digging a ditch for her, PLEASE dig one for yourself.
First of all, you need to know all the facts before you start basing your opinion. You are saying that Mrs. Ingram ought to help people come out of Rockingham Housing and own their own homes but little do you know, some of the residents staying in Rockingham Housing can't even pay $2.00 a month for rent (and yes that is two dollars). This is a fact, not a opinion. Mrs. Ingram doesn't have to take money from Rockingham Housing. If Voorhees would have followed the right proceudres to get the documents needed, maybe he would have received them and this wouldn't have come this far.
No she didn't comply with (MASSA VOORHEES)slavery was over 200 years ago. Why they trying to dig a ditch for Mrs.Ingram they better dig one for theirselves. And this is a FACT, that none of her family members work for Rockingham Housing. Talk what you know and SHUT your mouth on things that you don't know since you so educated.
I could not agree more with you, You are always reading about other housing authorities being involved in home ownership programs and it seems to me that I recall Gracie Ingram going to Rockingham City Council asking for it to turn several pieces of property over to the RHA so she could build houses for low income folk and help get them into a home ownership situation. I have not seen anything like that take place. I wonder what happened to the property that the City gave her.
Maybe if she would have took the money that she was paying her and Mr Stanbacks family, she could have built a few houses and gave some folks a hand up. I know several people that would love to have a chance to own their own home and get out of public housing.
I think that is tragic that these allegations have been brought against Ms. Ingram but from what I witnessed during my time in the projects it is not suprising. The comments made by RHAresident are indeed correct, Ms. Ingram ran that community as if she was a queen while being glorified in the local paper. Ms. Ingram has does nothing for the Rockingham Housing Authority or its tenants, she should have implemented programs that would strive to bring families out of poverty. She could have set up programs that focused on home ownership and education. Programs such as these would be a more effective to reduce crime instead riding in the community in a Mercedes acting as a sheriff. Ms. Ingram was not a friendly person neither approachable. I think it is a shame that people such as Ms. Ingram and Bruce Stanback are recognized as leaders in the black community. What have they done to help those in the black communtiy. I am not saying that they need handouts but what I am saying is that we need people who have obtained leadership positions in the community to go into the projects and let the people know that they can make it out of their situation and show them how to obtain success. What has Ms. Ingram done about the drug problem in the community. Have she instituted programs in the community to warn the people of the dangers of drugs and the lasting effect that drugs will have a person and their family. I can go on and on about this issue but I will not. The evidence against Ms. Ingram is strong and if she is guilty she needs to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
And to armymama you wrote this "
I have know Gracie Ingram for over 30 years and I know she is a good Christian Lady. I pray for the person is trying to destroy her reputation because you don't mess with God's people !"
I beleive that the paper is only reporting the facts and just becuase Gracie claims to be a Christian does not mean she is not guilty of these crimes. As a Holy Ghost filled, Santified Christian I must say we all can fall into the trap of the devil and it is possible that she fell. If she is a true Christian, she need to answer these allegations, if she is guilty admit the guilt, face her punishment and ask for forgiveness.
There is alot more going on here than is being told, I wonder if the police department is covering up for the chairman of the board of education or Ms. Gracie? We need help.
I am glad to she the police department and the board is finally taking action to rain in this out of control woman. She was not professional and only took care of her freinds and family.
Maybe now that the FBI is involved they will get to the bottom of what was going on, either way I for one am glad she is gone.
And to Mr Vorhees...My son is Iraq and is a hero to me, but we went to you and gave you drug dealers names in our area that was providing My son with drugs and you did Nothing ! Clean up your own house before you try to tear down Gracie's !
Me thinks this is another case where our illustrious chief of police is after his prey and we all know what happens when the Chief speaks, heads roll.
There is entirely too much comaroderie between department heads and the big shots in our city government and this makes it hard for the council and the city manager to be objective and not biased, prime example, Chuck Gardner and the Firemen.
Looks like somebodys buddy wants Mrs. Ingrams job, bad decision.
If Mrs. Ingram has a fault it is that she tries so hard to help everyone and is concerned about the people she serves, give her a break before you judge what has been said.
Please do not hold judgement on her until you hear the ENTIRE story.