Bruce Stanback was dismissed from his $54,000 a year job by the Rockingham Housing Authority Board last week over a conflict of interest.
The 21st Century Community Learning Center at Falling Creek Park hosts an afterschool program. It welcomes nearly 50 kids a day for tutoring, physical education and character development activities, and is paid for with federal grants.
Stanback is also the former chairman of the RHA board, a post he left in July 2008. State regulation forbids someone serving on the board of directors of a governmental agency from being employed by that agency until after they have been off the board for a full year.
Stanback said his initial focus is the children who participate in the 21st Century program.
“I’m going to find some way to continue to serve those kids,” he said. “I’m committed to finding a way to continue to serve those kids.”
He also reacted to the decision of the Rockingham Housing Authority Board to remove him as the program’s director.
“I was extremely disappointed in the fact that they’re using this program to make a point,” Stanback said.
The program is finishing its second year, and was recently recognized by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
Federal funding of the program has been more than $200,000 a year.
RHA Interim Director Jim McCaskill said the records shows Stanback was paid $55,850 in the calendar year 2008 and there was $54,622 budgeted to pay the director this year.
In the original copy of the grant for the program, received June 1, 2007 by the RHA, 50 percent of the original allocation of more than $207,000 was budgeted for administration.
The cost to hire and pay a full time director was $32,000 in that budget, and $6,400 was set aside to pay for insurance for that position.
There were five other paid positions in the original budget.
In a previous interview, McCaskill said the board expressed its appreciation for the work Stanback has done.
In barely more than two months, Stanback’s conflict of interest would expire as he has not served on the board since July of 2008.
This will mean he could serve as director of the program without violating regulation. McCaskill said Stanback “would be highly considered” for the position.
The management of the RHA has been steeped in intrigue since an investigation was opened by Rockingham Police Chief Robert Voorhees into the financial transactions of the agency.
First, Executive Director Gracie Ingram was suspended with pay as federal officials joined Voorhees’ investigation.
McCaskill was named to temporarily replace her, and has said he does not want to have the job permanently.
Many residents of the housing authority’s apartments have spoken out in support of Ingram, and staged a picket that was disbursed by city police following her suspension.
Chairman Ed Ormsby then announced he will not seek another term on the board.
Friday’s removal of Stanback was the latest move from the organization.
McCaskill said the board will seek “at least an interim” to act as 21st Century Program Director.
Once he got the job the first people that he looked after was his mamma and sister, I do not feel sorry for Mr Stanback, it looks as if the truth about everything is coming out. I suspect tne next stories we will be reading will be about some folks getting arrested.
This story is nothing more than another public offical misusing his infuence to benefit himself and his family. Bruce saying that he is disappointed in the RHA board is a joke. I can't beleive he had the nerve to say it. It sounds like an arrogant statement to me!