“In short, I’ll be the biggest, meanest watchdog you’ve ever seen,” he said Friday. “I’ve spoken with (Mayor) Gene McLaurin and (City Manager) Monty Crump, and they know exactly what they’re getting with this appointment. The time for pussy-footing around has got to be over.”
The RHA is in a period of transition. It recently elected new officers and officially fired long-time Executive Director Gracie Ingram after an investigation was opened into the organization’s financial transactions by the Rockingham Police Department and the Office of the Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
A documented timeline leading up to the opening of the investigation show that questions from board members about finances went unanswered, and records were withheld from police by the former director.
Former Housing Specialist Mildred McSween was indicted by a grand jury on four felony counts pertaining to fraudulent information given on an application for public housing in July.
She is currently under suspension without pay.
Two of the felony counts against McSween are conspiracy charges, and Ingram is named as the co-conspirator on the arrest warrants.
The interim director of the RHA is Jim McCaskill, and he has publicly said he has no interest in taking the job on a permanent basis.
The hunt for a new director is set to get underway in the coming months.
Mendola’s appointment is set to be officially announced at the city council’s meeting Tuesday night.
“I am pleased to appoint you to a five-year term beginning August 1, 2009 as a commissioner to the Rockingham Housing Authority,” McLaurin said in a letter included in the council’s agenda packet. “Thank you for your willingness to serve in this important capacity. As we recently discussed, the role of a commissioner has important responsibilities in oversight of programs and financial accountability.”
In addition to serving on Rockingham City Council from 1999 to 2003, Mendola has served on various planning and zoning boards, and works with Tri-City Construction in Rockingham.
“Very simply, the task has got to be to give all residents of the Rockingham Housing Authority the best housing possible within budget constraints, and make sure that every cent that is spent goes toward providing affordable housing for them and nothing else,” Mendola said. He said ego, ulterior motives and selfishness will have nothing to do with his term on the board.
“You’ve got to shoot straight from the shoulder,” Mendola said. “I will always do what I feel to be correct.”
When he made the decision to accept the appointment, the investigation and suspensions at the RHA were fresh in his mind, he said.
“There’s an expression that nice guys finish last,” he said. “Well, in this case, it was the residents of the housing authority that finished last. They’re there for a reason - because they can’t afford housing, so it’s provided by the City of Rockingham.
“In my mind, the City of Rockingham has always stood for excellence, and if the City of Rockingham is going to be associated with it, it’s got to be done right.”
These statements are in line with the job description as it was laid out by McLaurin in his letter to Mendola.
“Citizens who reside in public housing deserve to be treated fairly and with respect,” McLaurin wrote. “Taxpayers deserve to know their hard-earned tax dollars are being spent for the intended purpose. I am confident your experience as a former city council member, as a former member of the steering committee Weed and Seed program at the RHA and in business and real estate will be beneficial to the board and our community.” As for his thoughts concerning others that are on the board, Mendola said he doesn’t bring any pre-conceived notions with him.
“Until I work with them I have no impression,” he said.
Post a Comment
