Seeking Affordable Housing answers

Commissioners think the housing group should be accountable to the county.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Lawrence County commissioners say there are millions of reasons why Affordable Housing of Lawrence County should answer their questions.
Namely, those reasons are the county bank accounts held at First Commonwealth Bank in New Castle where one of the two remaining Affordable Housing board members works as a bank official.
"We've been trying to get action out of these guys for at least two weeks. We've been trying to get a meeting set up, and I'm getting tired of it," said Commissioner Ed Fosnaught, who contends the group has been stonewalling the county's efforts to meet.
What happened
The embattled Affordable Housing of Lawrence County came to the forefront last month after taking out a $250,000 bank loan to buy seven homes scattered throughout New Castle. In fewer than two weeks after taking out the loan, four of the group's six board members resigned, including its president, Robert Evanick.
Evanick is executive director of the Lawrence County Housing Authority, the entity that created the private nonprofit Affordable Housing of Lawrence County by giving it a $200,000 no-interest loan. Evanick said he decided to resign when the board moved away from its original plan to build new housing for disabled people and started buying existing homes.
Within a few weeks of Evanick's resignation, attorney Frank Natale, New Castle Councilwoman Karen DeCarlo and the Rev. James Blackwell also resigned. The board was also down a member after the recent death of Jon Librandi.
Donald "Ducky" Conti, who is also a Lawrence County Housing Authority board member, and William Bonner, the bank official at First Commonwealth Bank, remain.
Questions have been raised about the seven homes, including why some were bought far above the county's assessed valuation. There were also questions about why the majority of the homes were bought from Nick DeRosa and John Orlando. Other homes were bought from Harry DeRosa. It's unclear if the two DeRosas are related.
Questions about mission
Commissioner Steve Craig said he has questions about Affordable Housing's mission, its bylaws and its activities pertaining to buying these homes.
Commissioners note they have no authority over Affordable Housing, but believe it should be accountable to the county because it's an offshoot of the housing authority.
"I think when we appoint people to an authority, ultimately it's an entity of Lawrence County government," Fosnaught said.
Fosnaught said Bonner has refused to give them details about the home purchases, citing bank confidentiality.
"He told me it's all private information, and without the permission of the people involved in the loan, he can't talk. He's one of two remaining board members. He should give himself permission to speak. We need to remind him of the several million dollars we have in his bank," Fosnaught said.
Conti could not be reached to comment.
Bonner said Affordable Housing's solicitor, Ed Leymarie, is reviewing the bylaws to determine if they have to speak to the county commissioners.
Affordable Housing is not affiliated with any organization and is an independent nonprofit agency.
Bonner noted the bylaws do allow the group to operate with two members, but they are currently looking to add new people to the board.
Leymarie said he was given that directive only Thursday and is in the process of reviewing all information pertaining to Affordable Housing, from its incorporation to the bank loan. Leymarie, who prepared the incorporation papers for Affordable Housing, said he has not done business with the group since April 2004.
"We're investigating ourselves, but that's not to say there has been any wrongdoing," Leymarie said.
cioffi@vindy.com