LAWRENCE COUNTY Conti steps down from housing group

Affordable Housing's remaining members are looking at its viability.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Donald Conti has resigned from the board of directors of the embattled Affordable Housing of Lawrence County.
Conti's resignation Monday makes him the fifth person to quit the board since December.
"He felt it was in the best interest for himself and Affordable Housing," Bill Bonner, Affordable Housing board president, said of Conti's resignation. Bonner would not offer any more details.
Conti could not be reached to comment.
Bonner and Deno DeLorenzo are the nonprofit organization's remaining board members. DeLorenzo joined the group only this month.
Moves to forefront
Affordable Housing came to the forefront last month after four of its six board members resigned. Those members were Robert Evanick, who is also the executive director of the Lawrence County Housing Authority, New Castle Councilwoman Karen DeCarlo, Attorney Frank Natale and the Rev. James Blackwell.
The group had just taken out a $250,000 bank loan and bought seven New Castle duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes.
Created in 2003 as an offshoot of the housing authority, Affordable Housing started with a $200,000 loan from housing authority Section 8 surplus funds. Its stated mission was to build new housing for the disabled in Union Township. That changed when they could not get proper zoning for the project.
Members then bought the New Castle properties, most owned by New Castle Schools Assistant Superintendent Nick DeRosa and his cousin, Harry.
Conti and Affordable Housing consultant Rob Ratkovich, who is New Castle City Council president, have said they intend to renovate the properties and rent them to the handicapped.
Bone of contention
Conti's involvement with Affordable Housing and his membership on Lawrence County Housing Authority have become a bone of contention with Lawrence County commissioners, who have asked him to resign.
Conti was charged after police raided the Vita Nuovo Club on East Washington Street in July 2004 and removed four poker machines. He faced numerous liquor and gambling violations and pleaded guilty to a gambling charge in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court as part of a plea agreement. He will be sentenced March 1.
County commissioners have decided to go to court to have Conti removed from the housing authority, a board to which they appoint the members.
"I think it's a good thing he has resigned from Affordable Housing, but I don't think it's a step on his way to resigning from the housing authority," said Lawrence County Commissioner Steve Craig.
Bonner said he and DeLorenzo are looking at the viability of Affordable Housing. The group was recently informed that it was losing its income from laundry machines in housing authority high rises and that the authority contends the Affordable Housing group was in violation of a management agreement it had with the authority.
cioffi@vindy.com