It appears the investigation into the books and operation of the
Bradford Housing Authority is coming to a head, and will likely end
with the permanent dismissal of the agency’s executive
director.

Following Thursday morning’s meeting of the authority, Chairman
Terry Lopus told The Era that an official decision concerning the
probe will likely be made within a month. However, he did not
release exact details regarding the investigation or what led to
it.

In August, the authority placed Executive Director Shelley
Whitman on a leave of absence with pay. In return, Whitman and her
attorney Jerry Robinson of the Harrisburg law firm of Robinson
& Geraldo, have indicated the authority failed to provide a
specific reason for its actions, claiming the matter could be a
violation of Whitman’s civil service employee rights.

That month, the authority started auditing its books and
operation as part of an investigation into an unspecified
matter.

A call seeking comment from Robinson was not immediately
returned as of late Thursday afternoon.

“The end result appears that we (authority) will be looking for
a new executive director,” Lopus said. “It’s an unfortunate
situation for everybody involved. While we’re hard at it, it has
taken a considerable amount of time.

“All the parties involved, including the authority, our
solicitor (Bob Saunders), Shelley and her attorney, have been
working to bring this to finality.”

Officials didn’t indicate whether there were any criminal
charges that will be brought against Whitman or if any type of deal
is being brokered.

Lopus said after the announcement is made – likely at the
authority’s regular February meeting – the authority will look to
advertise the position and post it as available to the public.

Until the authority’s investigation is settled, the McKean
County Housing Authority in Smethport has been supervising the
city’s authority on a temporary basis. An independent auditor is
overseeing the audit of the books.

Whitman oversees the city’s public housing units and Section 8
programs on a daily basis and has said she plans on fighting the
authority’s decision.

The authority has housing units on Bushnell and South Center
streets and Brookline Court. The agency is just one of several
authorities under the auspices of the City of Bradford.

In other news, the authority will be looking at its security
measures at the High Rise building on Bushnell Street in light of
several incidents which have occurred where juveniles have been
left into the building at various times during the day and night
and a public bathroom has been abused.

During the meeting, the authority heard from a handful of
residents about the issue, and it has agreed to look into what type
of security measures can be done in an effort to correct the
problem.

One measure the authority mentioned was hiring a security guard
for nights and weekends and possibly installing more security
cameras in the building’s other entrances. Currently, there are
cameras located at the building’s main entrance and back door, but
none on the side doors.

Officials said the problem lies, however, in the authority’s
tight budget; the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
allots the authority between $26,000 and $27,000 a month. That
amount, though, is often used up with salaries and operating
expenses.

By law, the authority has to rent out units to persons age 18 or
over; the criteria used to 65-years-old and older before being
dropped to 50-years-old.

In regards to the bathroom situation, officials said the doors
are locked to the facility as a temporary measure to halt the
problem. Some residents of the building voiced their complaints to
the authority, noting they should have the opportunity to use them
for sanitary reasons.

“Why do we all have to be punished like we are little children,”
one resident named Janice said. Another resident complained of
“garbage” being left on the registers in the building’s
hallways.

Lopus assured those in attendance that the authority is “trying
to get a handle” on the situation, and indicated it might also look
at using some type of access card or key for the bathrooms.

“It’s more than just a matter of paper towels being thrown on
the floor,” board member the Rev. Robert Brest said.

Also, the authority unanimously approved pay raises of 3 1/2
percent for its maintenance employees, effective Jan. 1.

During its reorganizational meeting, the five-member authority
voted to retain Lopus as chairman for another year.