Saturday, July 16, 2005
A new member, who is a resident of public housing, was named vice chairman.
By VIRGINIA ROSS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The Lawrence County Housing Authority has named Robert Heath its new chairman.
Heath, who had been vice chairman, succeeds James Graves, whose five-year term expired at the end of last year. Graves was not reappointed to the board. Rather, county commissioners last month named Ernestine Wise to replace him.
Wise was elected vice chairman. Like Graves, Wise is a resident of the county public housing system and serves as a tenant representative to the board. At least one member of the board must be a resident of the county public housing system.
County commissioners said Wise's appointment was made as part of an overhaul of the housing authority board. They said the term of another member expires at the end of this year, and they will begin considering candidates for that post this fall.
Accepting applications
Individuals interested in serving on the authority should send a letter of intent to commissioners. The letter should include the applicant's birth date and Social Security number, and his or her authorization to have a criminal background check conducted, as is required by the county's ordinance that governs how those appointments are to be made.
The applicant may also make his or her intention known in public at a commissioners' meeting.
County authority appointments are nonpaid, voluntary positions.
Also at its meeting Thursday, the board increased tenant maintenance charges by 10 percent. Those fees had not been changed since 2001.
The board also revised maintenance superintendent Robert Ratkovich's responsibilities to include the title of deputy director. Angelo Burrelli, who retired in the spring, had held both titles.
Gene DiGennaro will retain the title of Section 8 coordinator/deputy director.