Housing authority changes its policies

The changes should keep the authority solvent, the director said.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Employees and tenants of the Lawrence County Housing Authority will make up for the loss in federal aid.
The authority board made more than a dozen changes Thursday to avoid laying off employees.
The authority learned earlier this week that it would receive about $267,000 less in federal funding than it did last year, said Bob Evanick, executive director. Overall the authority will receive about $2.9 million in federal funds.
Evanick said they had been dipping into reserves to meet expenses, but the changes made Thursday should allow the authority to finish the year in the black financially.
The changes approved by the housing authority board include:
Canceling long-term disability insurance. Employees are still covered under short-term disability insurance which permits them to be off for six months with pay.
The authority's contribution for pension benefits was cut from 15 percent of the employees salary to 10 percent for administrative personnel and from 4 percent to 3 percent for maintenance workers.
Changed the policy for maintenance overtime, only permitting workers to go out for specific emergencies.
Allow workers to take time off without pay.
Eliminate a longevity bonus given to employees for each year of service.
Increase tenant washing machine costs from 50 cents to $1.
Cancel cellular telephones for two employees.
Cancel bottled water contract. Savings of about $12 per month.
Cancel lawn care treatments. The cost was $50 per building each quarter.
Capping outside faucets in family communities.
Institute a spending freeze.
Rent for Section 8 administrative offices will increase from $200 per month to $400 per month.
Garbage bags will be distributed based on the number of occupants in a unit. Currently they are given out based on the size of the unit.
Enter into a contract with Adelphia Cable where tenant's bills will increase from $16 per month to $20.
Charges for those late paying rent will go up from $1 per day to $2 per day.
In other business, the authority accepted proposals from two attorneys seeking the position of board solicitor. Board Solicitor Lou Perrotta's contract has ended. Perrotta and former board solicitor, Joe Kearney submitted proposals that will be reviewed by a committee.
cioffi@vindy.com