LAWRENCE COUNTY Housing authority agrees to 2-year pact

The authority laid off five of its employees.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Paul Johnson isn't happy about being laid off from the Lawrence County Housing Authority.
But the authority's executive director said the authority is saving money by contracting out the work Johnson and others did painting and cutting grass at city housing projects.
Housing authority members agreed Thursday to a two-year contract with A General Maintenance of New Wilmington depending on approval from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Executive Director Robert Evanick said A General Maintenance will be paid $236,133 for painting and $113,220 for lawn care for the next two years.
Evanick said those amounts are less than the salary and benefits of the five employees laid off Feb. 12.
Evanick said the authority is receiving less money from HUD this year and had to make changes.
Question raised
Johnson, however, questioned why he was laid off when people who have less time than he has were kept. Johnson of New Castle contends he worked for the authority for 14 years. Evanick said Johnson worked there for seven years, however.
Evanick said there is no union at the housing authority and it does not have to follow seniority when laying off people.
Evanick could not say how much money the authority will save by contracting out the work.
In other business, James Graves was elected chairman of the housing authority board as part of its reorganization. Donald Conti Jr. was named vice chairman. Gary Felasco, who also is county treasurer, was the previous chairman.